We're back (boo hoo)

We had a wonderful time in Holland.

Suzanne and Sijbolt were great hosts as always and we spent a lovely couple of days in the Hague. Chloe, Hugo and Georgie ran wild together.

Centerparcs was also good and we managed to get there using the trains and buses. It was fantastic being able to study the countryside and architecture rather than worry about car crashes, motorway exits and driving through unknown cities.

We had a relaxed time feeding ducks, visiting a children's farm and hiring bikes. Chloe (who was towed around in a 'bike carriage' by her dad) claimed to be exhausted by all the cycling! She transformed into a water baby and went swimming seven times going on lots of slides and rapids. The sauna in the villa was a hit with A and I once the girls had gone to bed - bliss!.

So we are all chilled out and happy - long may it continue.

J
x

Leaving On A Jet Plane

We're off to Holland tomorrow for our first trip abroad since Provence in June 2004. Three days in the Hague with my sister and her family will be followed by five days at Centerparcs. We have our own private sauna in our 'VIP' villa, so we should come back feeling very relaxed indeed (and we'll have beautifully clean pores).

We are all still diseased and look forward to spreading this pestilence across Europe.

J
x

Love

We bought Chloe this cool balloon and left it at the bottom of her bed. She was thrilled when she woke up and said, "It is the kind of balloon that a child would get if his or her parents really loved him or her!". Sums it up nicely, really.

As a Brucie Bonus her little sister has spent an hour playing with the Balloon of Love and I have managed to get the house half tidy for the arrival of my pretendy Auntie Margaret and my lovely in every way but pretendy cousin Michael (the London milk tycoon) later today.

Happy Valentines!

J
x


PS: I suddenly have a social life and have enjoyed lovely girly afternoons and night sout this week. Following my cinema visit last night I must say that you must all go and see 'Brokeback Mountain'. It is wonderful. I didn't cry as I have a heart of stone!

An Exciting Day

Elizabeth put on 5oz this week - all that butter and cream is working...

Today's new experiences included eating naan bread and playing the drums - looks like she may take after her dad.

J x

The Joys of Motherhood

Still not getting any sleep. I am considering joining a nunnery, but I suspect A would want to come too. That might appear to be unworkable, but he's got great legs and 'Mother Angelica' would look fine dragged up.

Wibble wibble.

J
x

PS: A belated thank you to Charon and Dr G who came to stay over the weekend from Bonny Scotland with Grace the Gorgeous.

Welcome to the world, Edward Cruthers!

Our great friends Ally and Howie (who have been an enormous support over the past few months) saw the arrival of child number three yesterday - Edward Joshua Cruthers! Mother and baby doing fine as they say. Congratulations to all the family!

We have received complaints about the lack of fresh photos of Elizabeth from A's colleague Lucy who checks the Blog daily. Lucy is having an op tomorrow so these shots are for her. The one on the left is Elizabeth's very cool passport photo - it was hard to get a photo of her without a smile!

J
xxx