It is 3 years to the day since I have set foot in England.  We flew out of Heathrow on July 6th 2005.  I was tired and grouchy being in the early stages of my last pregnancy.  We flew back here to Colorado and made it home after a long drawn out trip in UK, driving up to Scotland for a 'break' and then just really hovering about waiting for the return flights....it was not a good trip back to say the least and shortly thereafter we put our flat over there up for sale. 

Once we got back to the house here and put the kids to bed, I recall reading the BBC news website where reports were coming in of smoke from the Underground and then there were reports of a gas leak.  It all sounded not quite right and sure enough, the proper news the next day (our time) was all about the July 7th bombings in London.  Terrible.

Sometimes I miss England more than others.  Hubby could not go 6 months without a visit.  His work takes him back regularly and otherwise he has no real qualms about making a long weekend trip.  Whilst we have spoken about me going back for a 'break' there doesn't feel an urgency on my part.  And despite having friends over there I am not sure I would be rushing around trying to see them at all.  I think I would be staying put in and around London.

In the past 3 years we have had numerous visitors from UK - (not just the in-laws) and invariably they ask if they can bring us anything.  Over the years this list has subsided an awful lot and the majority of UK things we can get over here.  Even English foods, if you really want them you can suck up the ridiculously overpriced articles and mortgage your house for the shipping costs and you can get your Heinz sticky toffee pudding or the like. 

Here's a selection of things I normally ask for......

Softgentleafterhoursrollon50ml

Still a fan of UK deodorant after 12 years..... and normally stock up on these.  I did try US ones (sprays) and came out in a terrible rash so I have never really tried again!

Tesco_ground_almonds_100g8

Crazy as I don't really do a lot of baking (although I have actually in the last few weeks) but these are in many pudding recipes and they are hard to find over here....as are SULTANAS..... and they do taste different to raisins in my mind.

Also for the Sunday Roast I usually ask for

Bistobestgravygranulesbeef8

just beef and chicken flavours usually.  If you have been here you will know that 'gravy' has very differnet connotations over here! 

And if they have time at the airport, I am always grateful to receive

Uk magazines - although I can sometimes find them over here.....there is just domething slightly different in the writing style and the humour.  I used to always get a UK Marie Claire but found that the articles were often reprinted versions from the US edition  and I acttually ended up preferring the US edition!

But it is fascinating to see what you will and won't miss.  And some things like this

Carex_handwash_collagen_boost_250ms

are not even things i recall from when I lived over there - just from more recent summer visits!  So these cam also be quite nice to have.  It is all about indulgence - it's not like any of these are life threatening necessities at all.  Just nice ti have reminders of there.

I am sure if we moved away from USA I would miss lots more US stuff.  A British friend who used to live here, she asked me to take back Brownie mix and also the covers for her American ear thermometer thingy.  Other US friends who were in UK and Germany for a while wanted Pringles......

It may seem quite bizarre what I miss - there are other things hard to explain too.  Englsih humour, the new flavours of crisps.....daft things really.  And fish and chips - I really miss fish and chips then I seem to binge on them when we're over and then that gets it out of my system for a while!

I remember one of our first married rows (rhymes with cow) back in UK.  I had been to the Supermarket to stock up on things to bring back to USA and when hubby saw what I had in the boot he went ballistic.  I was not being rational.  Why did I want to fly back 6 cans of Heinz Baked beans when I didn't even like them?  Probably because I had been to the Ex Pat shop in California and seen how ridiculously over priced they were considered to the local Tescos.  I recall Daz (?) washing powder liquid stuff - well I just liked the smell.  A big bottle of Ribena.  Lucozade. The boot was full.  The row was loud - outside the in-laws house too and I think I remember my father in law tweaking the curtains to try and listen in.  I think I had to compromise and now, many years later I hate to admit it but I can see exactly where hubby was coming from.  We drove around to friends' places and left little bags of shopping on their doorsteps - all the things I had been vetoed from schlepping back!  At least I am not a tea drinker so tea bags don't play into the eqaution,

Over the years some of the crazy things I have lugged back on Transatlantic flights include a snazzy frying pan from M&S - the lid looked like a fried egg), Le Creuset Casserole dishes (and we all know they are not light) - I once had to open my case up for Virgin Atlantic as they couldn't work out what my stainless steel lemon juicer was from the X ray machine.  Honestly.

But if the shoe were on the other foot,  then what do you think you would miss???

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My brother in law was over visiting last month.  He lives in UK, is married, but doesn't have (and is unlikely to have)  kids.  A solicitor in the North,  Travels little for work but seems to go on his holidays a LOT. He doesn't have many hobbies at all but has (in my mind) quite an unhealthy fascination/obsession  with all things Elvis, including tacky Elvis impersonators.  I know, you couldn't make it up.  When he comes to stay with us (very rare) he is flabbergasted by the kids - their presence, their noise, their energy, their ability to zap your patience, the fact that they really are all time consuming.  It is just the other extreme of his life.  But he is amazed I read.  That I choose to that in my 'down time' I suppose.  He reads a fair bit for work, granted but he also has a bood 40 mins each way on the train to fill - yet he said he probably reads 2 books A YEAR.  TWO BOOKS A YEAR???

He asked me how much I read and since I had been keeping track of books here on the blog I worked it out to one every five days. I might as well have told him i worked part time as a hooker, he was so shocked.  Sure, I always have a massive list of things I could be doing rather than read...but at some stage you just have to draw the line and do something for YOURSELF.  Am I alone in this observation or does anyone else get that?

I just finshed this

The Spa Decameron

Fay Weldon

which I got ages ago from UK and was looking forward to reading immensley.  It had good reviews. I have read Fay Weldon before and very much enjoyed her.  But this took me forever to get through and I really didn't enjoy it.  Probably read it over the space of 3 weeks with other things on the go too.  It just didn't captivate me - but I didn't dislike it enough to stop reading. 

Where as this

Water for Elephants: A Novel

Sara Gruen

which had a similar amount of pages and a subject matter, that. truth be told, I thought was going to bore me to tears - I read in two days. 

Hubby has just finished reading this

Noble House

James Clavell

which had 1376  pages of small print.  He bought it when he was in Asia last year and has taken it on all his trips in the past year so it has literally been around the world a bit.  It took him A YEAR to read.  It became a real joke in our house - even the kids got it "When daddy finishes 'Noble House' " = not for a very long time.  He didn't even enjoy it in the end and put it straight in the trash (it had lost it's cover. was way more than 'dogearred and therefore not suitable for my www.paperbackswap.com ).

But just as growing up I never inagined being married with 4 kids and living in America, I also never really thought I would devour books in the way I do.  I am far happier gonig to Barnes and Nobles than any clothes shop. 

I am a bookie.  Not necessarily a book worm, but a bookie.

And I am thrilled my oldest two kids are readers too - and I don't think it is necessarily anything they have had pushed on them.  Bee is sat eating her breakfast now, reading something.  She is quite remarkable in that she can have several books on the go at once.  There'll be this one in the kitchen, probably a different one by the side of her bed and another in the cabin outside.  Paddy is getting into longer chapter books and concentrates when he reads - like me he doesn't like distractions - I find it hard to read with music in the background even.

But there are lots of books in our house which I know to some families would be a very boring outlet.  But I am always happy to receive a book.  Always happy to give a review or a recommendation.  Having said that I just donated a load of gently used books (early readers) to a reading program in town - the books I read to the younger two or rather the books I loathe reading to the younger two.  I don't think they even noticed as their shelves are full of them.  With the good Scholastic book deals through pre-school there are always books coming in.  So I don't feel guilty there.

And hubby is reading a  lightweight John Grisham now... to have a bit of easy reading after 'Nobel House.'

I am already thinking which books to pack when we go off on holiday next month.

Oh and hubby just ordered this for himself...

Kindle

  look it up on Amazon.com for more info.  I was not amazed by the reviews...but I'll let you know how it is once it turns up!!

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No big plans for Independence Day at Mumof4's house I am afraid.  Hubby is off work but is already plotting his day of escaping the kids route to go and exercise with a 40 mile bike ride.  Bee has a day of hiking and Paddy a day of kayaking on their outward bound course.  I will be with the little ones and apart from dropping off/picking up the others we only need to buy baking powder,  how exciting is that!!!!

But for all of you celebrating properly. Happy July 4th.

July 4th

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My 4 year old is quite obsessed with George Bush it seems.  Yesterday when I picked him up from his pre-school camp his teacher said the following:-

Teacher "Apparently, according to Mac, George Bush the President is his cousin."

Me (tihnking Oh God, not again..)  "Well, he's not actually but that's not the first time Mac has said that....."

Teacher "Yes apparently he thinks he should stay the president and this 'Obama Guy' should not be the  next President."

Look of horror frrom ALL THE OTHER LIBERAL PRE- SCHOOL MUMS...

Me "I don't know WHERE he gets it from," I joke.  "We can't even vote and so we don't even talk about it."

It's true - we never talk politics and the news is never on tv at all.  Bee and Paddy were talking Hillary vs Obama - not so much on their politics but more the male vs female stand point.....

Then getting Mac in the car he had more to say on the matter..

Mac "Did you know that George Bush is not going to be the President soon?"

Me "Erm, yes, that's right."

Mac "Because he has done it two times and it is someone else's go now."

Me "Yes that's right."

Mac "Well what is he gonig to do then?  Geroge Bush I mean?"

Me "Well, erm, I'm not sure... maybe he'll go on his holidays?"

Mac "Will he send me a Postcard?"

Me "You never know!!"

Mac "Then I can send him one back and he'll send me another and we'll be pen pals."

I am not sure Mac (aged 4) would recognise President Bush at all but he sure has a lot to say for him!

Oh and today we just had a playdate at a local park, or according to Mac, we went to play with Brandon at the United States.

So now you know!  

George Bush's cousin apparently.

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I heard today how the NHS is turning 60 this year.  I  haven't regularly used it in over 12 years although I hear very good and very bad reviews from mates in various parts of UK.  By the way..my mother works for NHS in an administrative role although listening to her you would think she ran it single handedly.....

Here, we have insurance to cover medical/dental issues.  It comes automatically out of hubby's paycheck but it is a lot.  Think hundreds of pounds each month.  And we still have to pay more - normally 20 dollars (10 quid) towards the cost of a Dr's visit....a huge part of prescriptions sometimes - that is providing we see a Dr/get blood tests etc that are at a Drs the insurance people approve of.  It is quite a faff to work out at first.  When Bee had her tonsils out recently we ended up paying about $350 in the end on top of insurance.  And hubby came back from the dentist last week with a quite for a few treatments which will cost over $7000 - Insurance have just decided not to cover this.

A friend of mine gave birth to healthy twins today.  Her husband is a teacher and because of the academic calendar his medical insurance changed company July 1st.  And their 'new' medical insurance has a huge deductible ($4000) that they have to pay for a hospital stay before they take up the remainder.  Friend needed a C- section.  Under her old insurance (expired June 30th) she would have only been responsible for the first $1000.  So she wanted to have the twins delivered in June but her Doctor was very reluctant to do so as she wanted to wait until they were 37 weeks (today) gestation to be better weights.  Understandable I suppose.

Friend also decided to have her tubes tied today - she now has 3 children and this is apparently quite easy to do at the C-section site once the babies are delivered.  She was all set to deliver at a local hospital - let's call it St. Peters.  But as they are a CATHOLIC hospital they will not allow this procedure on their grounds so she had to go to a different non catholic hospital that luckily her Doctor also works at.......

Whilst there is little insurance wise which surprises me about medicine over here anymore even I was blown away with the Catholic sterilisation aspect!  It is 2008 after all..........

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Or potentially embarrassing situations.....in the space of the last 3 1/2 hrs.

Yes I am tired, and trying to do a lot and mind on other things but even so........

Went into my bedroom to get ready for swim class with Rory.  Could not find usual swim suit so instead wore tankini - not a huge fan of this but I was running late.  Got dressed in a rush on top of swim gear - underwear (for once) and shorts.  No problem.

Accident on the road meant we were late for picking up the older two kids but I called ahead and gave them a heads up.  Got there just 10 minutes late.  No big deal.  Went to sign out the older kids and I saw the teacher looking at me a little strangely through her dark sunglasses.  Wondered if I had maybe left my cell phone in my tankini top as she was starring at me - or wondered if she was a lesbian (bad but still thought it).  Went inside to get Bee and Paddy. 

As we left Bee burst out laughing at me and then got very embarrassed as we still had to walk past the other teachers on the way to the car..... Apparently in my rush to get out of the door I had put my shorts on inside out!  Or as we say in our house 'Paddy style' as he ALWAYS has things inside out or back to front.  So then in car I sorted myself out. I know it is sort of hip for college age kids to wear their pants/shorts inside out with labels showing but I think I am way past all that, don't you?

Head to swimming lessons.  Normally I get changed with Rory in a locable changing room and then just head out.  Today it was quite quiet so went in the womens' communal changing area.  Whipped off flip flops and shorts and was ready to go.  Then was getting Rory and Mac into their swim stuff.  Bee comes in and exclaims:

"You are not going out like that are you?'  I thought it was her disapproval at tankini as belly button ring is visable and she think I am far too old for this. 

"What do you mean?' I asked...

"You have still got your knickers on!' she points out.  And it is indeed true.  I have one of my nicer hot pink G strings OVER the bottom half of my tankini.   Not a great look.  That's what you get for wearing underwear I suppose.  And being away with the fairies most of the day.  Thank God I didn't get changed in a room after all otherwise I would have been straight out into all the waiting parents,  Pink G string and all.

Going to double check everything tonight before I head out.   

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Despite sleeping REALLY well last night I am knackered today.  It's not been too strenuous a day either so I don't know what the deal is.  Dropped older kids off at camp (Kayaking and hiking today), came home with younger two and had a quick fly around the house cleaning up before my best mate M came over.  Was skyp(e)ing with Surburban Mum whilst tidying....she was very impressed with my lights around my sink - likewise I was impressed with her Madonna headset!! 

M came over handed me a Starbucks (that is always a good ploy to get in my house) and we had 4 kids between us who played quite well whilst we discussed men. playgroups and life in general in that order.  She left when her baby started to melt down. and then I put my youngest for a nap.

Played with Mac a little and then read a book and nodded off.  Woke when the phone rang and for a minute didn't know if it was morning, night, weekday, weekend or anything.  Could this be a sign of Alzheimers?  Was reading today how people with short arms and legs are said to be at greater risk of this so maybe this is why I am overly worried.

 Was phone the real L friend and had a good talk to her.  Now need to go and get ready to go and pick older kids up and schlepp us all to swim class. 

Book club tonight

Water for Elephants: A Novel

Sara Gruen

which I am going to despite hubby being off in Detroit (I think).  Honestly only  need him to watch the kids one night a month and he is out of town.  Have a new sitter tonight so hope that goes ok.  I know her from swimming and she seems great. 

Need to stay awake.  See coke or other caffeine drinks playing a role tonight.  I will no doubt be up again at 2am (always up late when hubby is away) wide awake and then remembering too late I have Brazilian and canoing planned for Wed too. 

Same, same, same.

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It was terribly hot here once again today.  Around tea time the dark clouds tease you...hinting at rain but very rarely providing any.  If you don't take care of the grass and garden, things dry up very quickly.  We have two sprinkler systems for the front and back gardens - each with about 17 zones.  Three or four times a week the system sprinkles away during the night although I tend to give new plants extra water at night once the kids are in bed.  It is actually quite theraputic to stand and water the things and notice the changes, the colours, the blooms.

However I can override the sprinkler systems...and I do often water between 10am-6pm even though you are not supposed to.......today was one of those occasions.....

Rory takes shelter

No escape

Bee dodges the worst of it

Ready for a race?

Wet but happy

My dare (from Bee)was to run right through

It actually felt good!

Human shield

                                       Remind me of how much fun we had when my water bill arrives, will you?  It was priceless...

Plus we were actually watering the grass, weren't we??

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Do you remember that game as a child?  Maybe it has a new name now with PC being the phrase...well there is always similar going on in our house - unfortunately not with the whispering aspect but with miscommunication and the kids. Here are 3 recent examples:

1.  Bee and Paddy are doing an outward bound course this week with various activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, biking, hiking and canoing.  The group organising it is called 'Avid4.'

Today Mac asked me if he has been good....and then whether Santa would be bringing presents soon.  I just fobbed him off with an answer and then he asked me if I had his chocolate calendar ready.  Took me a while to figure out that he is mentally getting ready for ADVENT because they had been talking about AVID4..... Vague connection not.

2. In the car last week Paddy was going on and on and on about  something or other and whatever he ended up saying was quite aloof for a 7 year old (probably MIL's influence kicking in).

"You are such a snob!' exclaimed Bee.

Two  minutes silence then Mac (aged 4) asks, "What's a snog?"

Me - chuckled to self and hoped I could put off this conversation for another few years.

3.  Paddy seems to have got two words muddled up.  Sensible and sensitive.

We were talking about soft toys and Webkins and Bee and Paddy were working out how best to use their money to buy one perhaps........and I was trying to persuade them they didn't really need them at all and that it might be a better idea to save their money....

"Don't worry about me mom," said Paddy "I am very sensitive for my age y'know."

I was bad  - I said a loud 'Ha!' before I realised his mix up.

Then today I was showing Bee some clothes of hers that I was giving to a friend (they no longer fit her) and she started getting upset about it even though she knows she can't wear them again.  Paddy walked in and teased her saying 'Ooooh being overly- sensible are we????'

Again I was very bad and smirked.  She saw.  Cue 10 year old going off in a huff .

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Had a very easy day so far...in the garden with the kids, singing silly songs with the boys, lots of laundry done and some baking too  Just Rocks Cakes and a trial of Pear and Ginger muffins which everyone seemed to like but no one guessed the correct flavour?!  Could class myself as Martha Stewart but haven't had the beds yet and despite being dressed (with mascara of course) I have no underwear on unless you counter my built in bra thingy in my halterneck top.  Which did not impress Mac as it has 'no arms.'

Football (soccer) is being watched and we've all been told to stay out of the study.  Fine.  I am hoping Spain wins.  Will just seem a bit predictable if Germany gets it.

Been listening to lots of music today...letting my mind wander.  Also exchanged interesting e-mails with someone today about love and marriage, perspective and seeing things in hindsight.  It was a fascinating take on issues that affect us both but is adding to my mind being full of 'what ifs' etc.

Kids are playing well today so far.  2 year old is not napping but he'll go to bed easier for that tonight.  May go to the movies if I am still awake.  Went to bed at 1am lastnight/this morning so a tad tired.

But dressed!  Can at least say I am dressed.

Dido - White Flag

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