The Magnificent Seven.........

Thank you so much to the following ladies for their kindness in giving me the following awards;

Thanks Lesley

Lesley, you're too kind...

Now you're REALLY spoiling me Lovely Lesley!
Thank you for thinking of me Sian.

And to Joanne thank you for the following award.

I feel a bit of a fraud, as you may have noticed that I have been somewhat 'absent without leave' over the last few weeks. I have been extremely busy (I'll blog about this at a later stage - don't get too excited though, all very boring)!! I've had to be very disciplined however to get things done, as once I sit down at the computer, one blog leads to another and another....you know how it is?!! It's amazing how much I've achieved in the last few weeks though staying out of 'blogland', I must admit though, I have missed catching up with everyone's news.

Now, I've been tagged by Joanne to reveal 7 things about myself, well 42 actually, blimey that'll get the old brain going!...so here we go;

7 Things I'd like to do before I die.

Take my children to visit the countries and homes I lived in around the world.
Take a 3 month 'whistle stop' tour around the world with the girls before they leave home.
Live in our home in Cyprus for a period of time, enabling the girls to experience another culture/schooling system, as I did.
Own a Donkey!
Watch my children grow up, whilst growing old with Mr PL.
Study photography.
Learn to sail and buy a boat to keep near my 'dream house' in the South Hams (obviously haven't yet bought boat OR house)!

7 Things I do now.

Hyper-ventilate every time I look in the mirror at how many lines I now have and how tired, old and haggered I'm looking these days!!!
Wonder; "Should I have botox"?!! at least 5 times a day.
Spend far too much time and money internet shopping having not quite got to grips with 'window shopping'.
Dream about what lovely things I'd buy if I hadn't spent so much money shopping on the Internet.
Bake lots of glittery cupcakes.
Attempt to fill grey/dull/wet days with interesting and fun things for two very 'demanding' pre-schoolers.
Try and remember to buy 'essential food' at the supermarket when there are far more interesting things to spend money on!!

7 Things that I can't do.

Stop myself pressing 'Confirm Order' on the Boden website.
Cook; I can bake but I am a hopeless cook.
Crochet.
Anything too technical on the computer!
Speak a foreign language fluently.
Stop worrying about silly things.
Leave my daughters and husband without telling them I love them.

7 Things I say often.

Be nice to your sister.
Go back to bed, 5'o'Clock is far too early.
I'm SO tired.
Archie be quiet (the 'vocal' dog).
You're driving me bonkers!
Do you need a wee? we're going.
It wasn't 'that' expensive!

7 Things I find attractive in the opposite sex.

7 x 1 million pounds in the bank!
Oh and of course, caring, good sense of humour, nice shoes and all those things!!!!

7 Foods I like.

Cinnamon Rolls.
Cheese (The stronger the better).
Potatoes in any form.
Enchiladas.
Pickled Onion Monster Munch.
Key Lime Pie.
Stilton and Sweet Potato Soup.

So, if I ever I come to your house for dinner you'll know what to make me....Stilton Soup to start, followed by Enchiladas smothered in strong cheese with potatoes on the side, and Key Lime Pie and Cinnamon Rolls for dessert...Oh and a bag of Pickled Onion Monster Munch to take home!!!! Anyway fancy joining me?

News in Norwegian......

To most of you reading this today it's just 'Wednesday 12th November', just another day, a day of normality, off to work, taking the children to school, a supermarket shop maybe? or a little preparation for Christmas festivities. To our family it holds a little sadness but also love and fond memories of a strong and wonderful woman that left our world one year ago today surrounded by her children as she passed away, free of pain and suffering. The woman I talk of is my Mother-in-law; Adit.

It was just under 80 years since Adit (pronounced 'A'dit) was welcomed into this world by her mother Friedl and father Willie in Berlin, Germany, and who would have thought where her life would take her, on a path to England where she would spend the rest of her life.

This courageous young woman, just 18 years of age came, over to Britain in the late 1940's from her home in war blitzed Berlin, it had been an extremely frightening place for her to grow up during the war years. I remember her telling me on one occasion of how frightened she was when one day the Russians invaded, forcing her and her family into a secret hiding place in the flat above the bakery where she lived, her story had similarities to The Diaries of Anne Frank.

It must have been terrifying for her to travel, on her own, through a very fragile Europe before arriving in England, which up until 3 years previously, was the enemy of the leaders of her country...and to make matters even harder she didn't speak a word of English, How brave this young lady was in her search of a better life.

Her English however turned out to be perfect, although she did manage the odd spoonerism or two, which down the years has had us in fits of laughter with her jumbled up words. When she'd talk of 'Cleest Intwood' (Clint Eastwood to you and I), or when she went to buy fitted sheets and asked the shop assistant where she could find "Shitted Feet"!!

Another fond memory that has me in fits of giggles is when I remember the story of her sometimes rather suspect hearing! She was extremely confused one day when the national news reader announced; "And now for the news in Norwegian"; what he actually said was "And now for the news in your region"!

There were many times, as with all us, when she'd have to reach deep within for that inner strength to get her through difficult times. One of these being when her father, Willie Klopsch, was living in what became West Berlin. In August 1961, he was working on the east side of the city the day the Berlin Wall went up. He was unable ever to return home, his family home where is wife and family were awaiting his return from work that day. That never happened. Can you imagine, leaving for work one day and never being able to return to your home? He died 6 weeks before the wall came down in late 1989. I remember being in St Louis, Missouri the day the wall came down, such an historic day. Little did I know at that time what significance it would have for my future family, the story it would hold for my daughters, of their great-grandfather.

Another time that Adit showed her true strength and spirit was when her husband 'Ted' sadly died over 20 years ago. Instead of becoming a lost soul, she started to re-build her life again and after 30 years of marriage she decided that life was for enjoying. She began to travel and loved it, visiting The United States, California, New York, Chicago...Australia and Europe.

Adit kept a very close circle of friends over the years, many of whom were German. We still don't know how she managed to find so many German friends, but she did! One of these friends included a wonderful lady, Ilsa, who was a friend going back to her childhood days in Berlin, they would often travel back in their minds to the fun they'd had together during those early years. It was lovely that she still had such a strong connection with her past. In fact the picture at the start of this post is of Adit (left) and Ilsa at 16 yrs of age, proudly wearing clothes they'd made from remnants during the war. I believe these particular dresses were made of parachute silk.

Her 2 bundles of joy were her only grandchildren, my children, Imogen and Beatrice. When Imogen was born just over 4 years ago, Adit was no longer Adit/mum anymore but suddenly became Omi, which is an affectionate term in German for Grandmother. Her biggest regret was that her time would be cut short with them. She would have dearly loved to see them grow just a little bit older. How I cried when I walked away from the hospice just a year ago holding their tiny little hands, knowing that the goodbyes we'd just said to this woman whom we all loved so much would be for the last time. How I wanted to run back in and hug her just one more time whilst she was with us instead of having to stay strong and happy for my two little girls.

Omi lives on in many ways however...Imogen has taken on her German formal side and has Adit as her middle name, whilst Beatrice has her looks, expressions and sense of fun, oh, and lets not forget the singing, like her Omi she sings ALL the time! Both however, have inherited her stubbornness and independence!!!! Oh my, am I in for a fun time ahead! Imogen can however say "Fitted Sheets" so that's an advantage!!!

Adit, we all miss you greatly but we all hold you close in out hearts and in our minds. locking away precious memories we'll treasure forever.

Ghosts and Ghouls...

Oh my, what a week! Lots of sickness here in Petticoat Lane. With a week full of half term Halloween celebrations and gatherings this was not good news!

Having had to cancel arrangements earlier in the week, by Wednesday we were more than ready to take a step outside and breathe in the fresh air, so as planned, we donned our Halloween costumes and drove on our merry little way to Lacock Abbey for a Witches and Wizards day.

Two minutes after arriving at the Abbey...

"Mummy I feel really poorly"

"Oh, you'll be fine when we arrive and you get some fresh air"

"But mummy I feel sick and have tummy ache"

We had a little chat about how poorly she 'really' felt and decided that we'd just go and have a quick look, but if she felt unwell come straight back to the car. She asked for the pushchair which was a sign that she really was poorly as she now feels far too old for a pushchair, and rightly so!

Imogen looking as white as a sheet, perked up slightly when she saw how many other witches and wizards were promenading around the abbey grounds, but she still didn't manage to haul herself out of the pushchair, leaving me to manoeuvre around the crowds, trying not to run over too many dainty little toes as I went.

Lacock Abbey is beautiful and was used for some of the Harry Potter scenes, I think this 'extra' got left behind!



Inside the Cloisters there were magicians roaming around entertaining the hordes, arts and crafts activities (that is if you could fight your way to the table or were willing to push small children flying in order to participate in such activities)!! and 'spooky' storytelling.



This magnificent cauldron wasn't displayed just for the day, but is infact a permanent fixture in the Cloisters and dates back to the 1500's. You may have spotted it in the first two Harry Potter films.




The patient managed to haul herself out of the pushchair for me to get pictures of them both, looking a little like Michelin Men with the amount of layers I had put on underneath their costumes! As you can see, I was only allowed approximately 2 seconds to get the shot before she was heading back into the pushchair!





Beatrice was a 'Pumpkin Princess (?) by the way, just incase you were wondering! I did mention how pale Imogen was didn't I?!!!

We decided to cut our visit short due to the amount of whinging and whining coming from the lady in the witch costume, and take a stroll around the magnificent village of Lacock. As a family we love this village. If you ever get the chance, please go and take a look, it's full of beautiful old buildings like this...

Lacock is often used for filming as there are no street lights, pavements, lines painted on the road etc, with every turn into the next little street you really do feel like your stepping back in time...like you're an extra in some beautiful costume drama...... Productions filmed here include; Pride & Pejudice, Cranford, Chronicles, Emma, Moll Flanders and The Other Boleyn Girl.

We waved this 13th Century picturesque village goodbye and returned home to rest and recuperate for the following day's party, filled with lots of Halloween themed party games.

Being blindfolded to find chocolate 'eyeballs' in bowls full of worms....





......and jelly 'brain matter'...YUCK!!!! They thought it was great fun!


Back home ready to carve out the pumpkin and for Mr PL to make us all some delicious Pumpkin Soup... Forgot to take a pictures of the soup, it didn't last too long!!! But credit where credit's due to Mr PL and his culinary skills, it was delicious.






We decorated the porch....

We got the big bowl of treats ready incase we had any 'trick or treaters'....

Did we get any?...did we heck! Not a single ghost appeared on our doorstep. I guess not many ghosts and ghouls venture down little country lanes! At least I was prepared. Anyone for Smarties?!!

With such a big build up to the 'big' day, (obviously this had nothing to do with me also trying to fill half term week and catch up with the girls friends), Imogen woke up on Friday 31st October expecting something similar to Christmas Day, she even wished the man that came to fix the dishwasher "Happy Halloween", he was slightly surprised!

She had to wait all day for the finale of our week's activities and spend most of the day asking; "Is it 4'o'clock yet"? as I'd told her she couldn't put her dress on until then. I must say, even I was a little excited as our Halloween evening has become somewhat a family tradition for us. Meeting up with friends and their children and taking a walk down Catherine Hill.

Each year on Halloween, Catherine Hill in Frome, Somerset, is closed to the little amount of traffic it sees and all the wonderful vintage shops, jewellery designers, florists and gift shops stay open between 5pm -7pm, giving out treats so that all the local children can enjoy Halloween in a safe environment. It's a fantastic idea with a great atmosphere. It also stops people being frightened in their own homes by knocks at the door (I know my grandmother used to get so scared on Halloween). The above picture was taken at 5pm, believe me, by 5.30pm you couldn't move for fancy dress costumes!

All the shops decorate their windows.....

Even the delectable 'Fifi' outside one of my favourite shops 'Fifi de Villes', got into the Halloween spirit..




The streets were decorated with Pumpkins....




The resident Accordion player entertained the crowds adding to the wonderful atmosphere. Only I could manage to take his picture in front of the only graffiti in the whole of Frome!!





My own little Pumpkin Princess had a wonderful evening popping in and out of the shops with her pumpkin bag and her sister collecting sweets and chocolates from all the shopkeepers....





The evening is always finished off in the same way, a visit to a local family pub where the children dance around and count out their sweets whilst the adults get to enjoy a glass of wine and a little conversation before taking the happy, sleepy, little people home exhausted to their beds...to dream of ghosts and ghouls.......................................BOO!