Daddy's little girl

Today was our last family day for a while, because tomorrow Chicken and I are off to NZ for three weeks (excited much!!) We didn't do anything special, tidied the house, folded laundry, went to the supermarket, got my eyebrows threaded (since they don't do that in NZ), and generally chillaxed in the heat 27c/80f .  It was a really nice day, especially the part with  ice-cream mid afternoon!

While I was packing Andrew kept Eilidh entertained downstairs.  I could hear this chatter from her and the occasional comment from her Dad, while she doesn't look a lot like me, she sure talks like me!  It all went quiet and I came down stairs to this - I mean how cute!!

When it got time for Chicken's bath, I got the camera out  because I was feeling a little sad that this would be the last time Andrew would bath her for a while.  It's their special time, Dad and his little girl, where they catch up on the day and hang out.

I know we'll Skype everyday so Chicken will still get to see her Dad, but I'm sure they're both going to miss their bath times!

PS since it takes 24 hours to fly to NZ I won't be able to blog until Tuesday, see you then!

Friday Five - New photos

Another Friday Five linking up with Kat at Living like the Kings

Today Andrew's been off work and we've had a nice family day out.  We went to a (very busy) pub by the river and had a drink and we also picked up a new camera!  Last Easter when we were in NZ I rather stupidly left our 'good' camera out overnight on the beach.  I'd been taking pictures of Emma our God-Daughter and then decided to help her build a sandcastle so I put the camera down above the high tide mark.  Then of course it started to rain, really rain!  So what did I do?  I picked Emma up and raced back to the beach house, completely forgetting about the camera.  The next morning I remembered and raced to the beach, and thankfully the camera was still there!  The memory card was saved but the camera of course was full of sand and not working.  So for the last twelve months we've been using our basic point and shoot and our iPhones.  While I'm in NZ Andrew is visiting a good friend in Norway and decided that since we'd both need a camera it was time for the upgrade.  I've been doing lots of research about what sort of camera to buy and finally settle on the Panasonic G10.  So far I'm really pleased and I can't wait to work out how to use it properly!

So for my Friday Five I'm choosing my favourite photos I took today!

Three Word Thursday

Well three key words anyway.  In the immortal words of P-Diddy 

"I'm coming home!"

Yep, that's right in three more sleeps Chicken and I are getting on a plane at LHR and heading to New Zealand for three weeks!  I am the luckiest girl on the planet!  I am also super excited, can you tell by my overuse of the exclamation marks!!!

Not only am I supper super excited I also have to pack, which is of course not exciting.  Normally when we go home I pack the night before (usually while drinking a glass of wine) and I just throw stuff in my rucksack and hope for the best. 

Not so this time, I'm really going to have to think about what to pack.  Chicken and I are both allocated a bag each but I don't honestly think I could carry two bags, and push the pushchair at the same time.  This means one bag between the both of us, and well, we are both clothes horses, hehe.

The clothes I think I can handle, its getting colder in NZ, so I'm going to take the clothes Chicken has been wearing here for the past month or so - long sleeved t-shirts, trousers and a few jumpers.  I'll also need a couple of her sleeping bags and body suits for bed.  I'm also going to take home all the clothes Chicken has grown out of to store under my bed, along with all our unopened wedding gifts (man I really want to use all our cool stuff!)

Its the other bits and bobs that I'm sure I'm going to forget!  I was thinking about this and chatting to my friend Ange (who took her daughter to NZ for a holiday when she was a baby) and she said, don't stress, they have it all there, and I'm sure you'll be in the supermarket within twenty four hours.  So this is what I'm going to do, focus on packing a useful carry-on bag for the plane, nappies, wipes, spare clothes, liquid paracetamol etc   and then I'll worry about the rest when I get there!

Until then I'm going to enjoy a couple of days as a family, Andrew is off work for Easter so we're going to chillax in the cracking sunshine!  Hope your Easter is great too!

Books from my childhood

A couple of weeks ago I was in a second hand book store and was browsing in the kids section, looking for books for Chicken when I came across a couple of titles that took me straight back to my childhood.  They were Five on Finniston Farm, and Anne of Green Gables.  I've since read these books again and I think I enjoyed them even more as an adult.  This got me thinking about books I want to find for Chicken to either read to her or have her read when she is older.  I realise that this is a long long way away, but hey, you can never start too young!

I think I first read Anne of Green Gables and the subsequent series when I was fourteen as a part of my high school English class.  Luckily I went to a girls school, as cool as Anne is, I can't see boys getting into it!  I do remember watching the TV series before that, and wanting to wear my hair in a pouf like Anne when she got older.  I just love her character, her feistiness, caring nature and the love story that develops between her and Gilbert, whoops did I give too much away?  Maybe this is why I feel the need every couple of years to dye my hair red?  I also found myself crying like a baby (and I can't even blame the hormones) when something sad happens at the end, even though I knew it was coming - does anyone else do that?

I starting reading Famous Five books when I was much younger, we used to go camping a lot but I was very jealous of four children who were allowed to go off by themselves!  Somewhere at my parents house there are probably quite a few of these books hidden away.  Recently these books were given a modern makeover, and I think that the one I read was one.  I have to say, I'm not a fan, the classic language is all part of the charm of these books, and when I try and track down the others (for Chicken of course...) I'll aim for books published before 2010.

I think I'll also be on the lookout for Charlotte's web, Bridge to Terabithia, No One Went to Town, and quite a few others.  First though, we'll start with picture books, Dr Seuss' The Lorax or Where the Wild Things Are anyone?

A list of ten things on Monday

1.  My house was a mess at the start of the day, it is now much (but not completely) cleaner.

2.  I have my ante-natal group coming over for lunch tomorrow, hence number one, I'll do the hoovering tomorrow.

3.  Chicken and I had a huge nap this afternoon, from 5pm till 6:30pm, good thing we're not too big on routine!

4.  I have pin-wheel scones and a cake to make tomorrow before the people arrive.

5.  I'm probably only going to manage the scones, and I might squeeze in some biscuits (much quicker than cake!)

6.    Andrew mowed the lawn tonight so we can sit outside if its nice.  I should have found out how to put up the gazebo to make shade for the babies.

7.  Now I've said there might be sun, it will probably be cloudy!

8.  I have a £4.55 worth of fines to pay at the library, I hate library fines!

9.  We are going to go for a walk on the moor tomorrow, hopefully my shoes don't get too muddy cause I'll have to get them washed in customs in New Zealand!

10.  Thats right, I'm going to New Zealand.  On Easter Sunday Chicken and I are going home for three weeks.  My wonderful Mum and super Dad have missed their little Possum so much they had to see her again, I have the best parents ever, thanks G, and Pops!

And now for a few cute photos taken at Kew Gardens last week, Chicken enjoying the warm sunny weather!

Friday Five - Short Haul holiday destinations

Its time for another Friday Five with Kat @ Living like the Kings

In the six years we've lived in the UK, we've been on twenty six trips abroad/overseas.  I knew we'd been on a lot of trips but not that many!  Therefore choosing my favourite five has been hard, but here we go!

1.  Ireland.  I've been to Ireland three times, once by myself to visit my brother Scott, once with Mum and once with Andrew.  The Irish are incredibly friendly people and welcome you to their country.  It is quite an expensive place to visit but totally worth it.  Highlights were seeing the Cliffs of Moher, going to the Guinness Factory, and kissing the Blarney Stone twice (once with Mum and once with Andrew, and do you think they could take a photo of it - no, too scared of heights!)

2.  France.  We've been to France more times than you can shake a stick at, seven times even!  We've been to Paris (disappointing sadly), Marseilles, Normandy, and a host of other places.  The best trip was last summer when we went 'glamping' and stayed in medieval tents for a week.  We also visited Monet's garden in Giverny, a Chateau in the Loire Valley and went boating on the Marais Poitevin.

3.  Czech Republic.  We spent a week in the Czech Republic in October 2008, a few days in Prague and then travelled around in a very small car for a couple of days.  This has been our only trip into Eastern Europe and we had a great time.  One of the strangest things we saw was the Bone Church in Kutna Hora,   totally fascinating but disturbing at the same time.  We also drank lots of great beer!

4.  Barcelona, Spain.  This was our first trip back in 2005, and we spent a week walking around this fascinating city.  In fact, I'd go back there in a second!  We hung out on the beach, visited Gaudi's amazing buildings and went to a Barcelona FC football match! 

5.  Jersey.  We visited this small British island off the coast of Normandy, in 2007.  We hired bikes and cycled the island, stopping at places such at Durrell Wildlife Park.  During our stay Jersey was celebrating a wine and food week so we got amazing deals and some fancy restaurants.  Jersey was occupied by the Germans in WW2, and they have preserved the War Tunnels and Hospital which we visited - very moving.  I also managed to open a toilet door in a restaurant onto my head and give myself a black eye!

Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Today I baked raisin oatmeal cookies to take to my coffee group.  Last week I made hot chocolate cupcakes and to be honest, they didn't go down that well.  They tasted great but I think icing and wrappers are just a bit tricky while looking after a baby.  These cookies are my all time favourites and I could eat them all the time!  I even made a batch the day before I went to hospital to have Chicken and took some with me, and I can tell you at 3am they were the best thing ever!

Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

makes about 20 cookies

135g butter at room temperature

80g caster sugar

80g soft brown sugar

1 large egg

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

190g self raising flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

55g rolled oats

110g raisins

1. Pre-heat the oven to 170c (325f)

2.  Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, add in the egg and vanilla and continue to beat till well combined.

3.  Add the dry ingredients and beat until well mixed.

4.  Stir in the raisins with a wooden spoon until evenly dispersed (sometimes I just use the beater)

5.  Using a dessert spoon scoop even sized amounts on to a tray (I have to bake this in batches) and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are going golden brown.

6.  Leave on tray for a few minutes to cool and then transfer to a cooling rack to finish.

Top tip:  You don't want them over cooked, chewy cookies are the best!

Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: A trip to London on the Train

Today we went to London to see some friends for the first time since Chicken arrived, a big day out, fun but exhausting, hopefully we'll sleep well tonight.