Monday, October 31, 2005


Superbaby Posted by Picasa

Happy Halloween! Posted by Picasa

Oscar the sheep

Well that's how I'm thinking of it - he has hand foot and mouth disease. Which basically means he's in a very bad mood, can't eat anything because his mouth hurts, isn't sleeping well because his mouth hurts and is totally pissed off.

So is Mummy as I can't go anywhere since he's contagious. He's drooling so much over everything. So no swimming or Monkey Music tomorrow. Don't know what to do with him - he's so bloody grumpy because he feels rotten. He throws tantrums if I try and take him in the garden or play. He'll sit in front of the TV but that's about it and we can't do that all day every day. I'll go mad!!!

Any suggestions gratefully recieved - the weather is grotty so going out to parks isn't really in.

What a fun few days we're going to have. NOT.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Everything to Dance For

Last night I went to the first ever screening of the film Everything To Dance For at the Rex Cinema in Piccadilly. I got all dressed up - very sparkly - and met Rob at Charing Cross. Mum babysat (and Oscar was quite difficult, wouldn't eat or anything).

The film was wonderful - it was brilliant to see it up on the big screen. And Sasha, the lead, was amazing - she's only 17 (16 when we shot it) and she gives a very mature performance.

Pearl Howie wrote, directed, produced and shot the film. It's a testament to her amazing talent as a film-maker. She's also my best mate. I'm very very proud of both her and Sasha.

And even though I'm not at my most glam in this film, I am happy with what I did - got lots of lovely compliments last night which was fab.

LATER....
Oscar isn't well today - got horrible ulcer like blisters on his tongue -as I said, he wouldn't eat last night and it's got worse as the day has gone on (I started this entry this morning full of film excitement and now I'm all tired and worried about my baby - from enjoying non-motherhood evening to being full-on MUMMY)

I rang NHS Direct and our out-of -hours doctor. They recommended what I was already doing - calpol and ibuprofen. The doctor said it could be a common virus where ulcers are inside the mouth called Herpatic something - I should have written it down so I could look it up but I wasn't in a sane state of mind.

I went out shopping tonight as I didn't get any done today and he was screaming when I got home - Rob tried to comfort him but he just wanted his mum. So I rocked him and laid him back down again and he seems to be sleeping now but I don't know for how long. He's in a lot of pain I think.

If he isn't any better tomorrow we'll get a doctor out - and I'll definitely take him to the docs on Monday. We were supposed to be at a Halloween party this afternoon/evening....his superman suit was all ready to go - ah well. I just want him to feel better and be able to eat - he's so hungry but eating really hurts his little mouth....

I'll keep you posted.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Oh by the way

Forgot to mention - the film I made - Everything to Dance For - the one where I'm the mum of a 16 year old - was on the front page of the Sunday Mirror today - read it here. It's a horrible story suggesting that Sasha, who played my daughter, has dumped her boyfriend for Brendan Cole. It's totally untrue - I know this for a fact - the two of them are great mates but there's nothing else to it.

I know they say all publicity is good publicity but still - it's horrible. And wierd - to see my friends on the front page of a paper! We've got a screening of the film this week and I hope it doesn't get ruined by this. So if any of you saw it - know that it's all lies but that it's a great film as you can see from the stills in the paper.

ooo - showbiz gossip straight from the horses mouth - and I get to be the horse....

Back in Blighty

The flight home was very full and Oz didn't sleep much but we're home and I'm so happy. Rob was waiting at the door for us and so happy to see us - Oscar was so excited - running from room to room rediscovering his toys and hugging his Daddy's legs. He's been a bit unsettled - was awake at midnight for 2 hours last night and has already woken up twice tonight. Hopefully he'll settle down soon.

It's so nice to be home - hearing nothing but English accents. And to sleep in my own bed- god I love my bed - and to be with my man again. I'm still knackered. Just watched Lost and now I'm off to bed

What a brilliant couple of weeks - meeting my stonecutter chums was the best and I miss them already - and having such a wonderful time with my amazing sister and sis in law - two of the most generous women I am priveleged to know and be related to. Thanks K - you gave me a wonderful gift of you these last two weeks. I know you miss your nephew - he misses you too and sends you dribbly kisses.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Home tomorrow

Our trip is coming to an end. I've done so much, had such fun and spent a ton of money! Oscar has been a total trouper - adapting to long drives, late nights and weird food. He tried his first olive last night and wasn't impressed! The day before he had seafood fest - fried shrimp with noodles and steamed veg for lunch, sushi for an afternoon snack (cucumber ones, not raw fish - I'm not that adventurous) and yesterday it was olives in salad.

He seems to share my tastes in food - I don't like olives either.

I bought him his halloween costume- it's kind of tacky - superman! I didn't get myself one as they aren't cheap and I'm running out of cash fast!

Visited Lane Bryant - another favourite store - and got 2 pairs of fab jeans and lots of sexy undies - all silky and lovely - as a present to Rob as much as myself!!! Also went to Borders and got some good books.

The only thing I haven't been able to find are some wide calf boots with a flat heel - I have such fat legs I can never get ones to fit - I've looked everywhere but I don't think they exist.

On Tuesday night Kirsti and I went to the most amazing cinema - a classic 1930's style americana movie house - with neon outside and the little booth outside the door to buy tickets. It's in an area of Detroit called Birmingham and irony of ironies, it's the poshest bit - Birmingham! It was like being home again - streets with pavements and shop fronts, no strip malls - although everything was very posh and swanky and CLEAN so not like the UK B'ham at all! We saw In Her Shoes - a great film - very sisterly - and I ate the best popcorn I think I've ever had in my life. Total fun.

Kirsti and Terry have been amazing hostesses - even down to not letting me pay for my own aspirin! We went to Terry's parent's house last night for a proper sit down family dinner with cake and ice cream in honour of Terry's brother's birthday. Oscar got to play with his three cousins - Spencer, Kallen and Tess who are 5, 2 and 11 months. We were trying to work out what kind of cousins they are - my sister's spouse's brother's kids...anyone any idea? I think cousin works anyway - Oz had great fun chasing them around and playing with cars....typical boy.

I'm excited about going home though - those are the best holidays aren't they, when you've had a brilliant time but you're also happy to be going home. I've missed Rob so much and I know he's missed us - I feel mean having taken his boy away from him for 2 weeks.

So next entry should be back in Blighty - if I manage to pack all the stuff I've accumulated and don't end up having to check Oz in as excess baggage! Hopefully the flight home will be fine - I've learnt that my son is a good traveller which is brilliant.

Monday, October 17, 2005

I'm back

from the longest roadtrip Oz or I have ever done - 10 hours to get there on Friday then 9 hours back on Sunday - phew - but it was worth every minute.

The gathering of women was awesome. And I wish I was as eloquent as Beege when she describes it but I'm no good at summing it up here - just magical. We laughed, we cried (especially when saying goodbye)....

The thing that gets me, is that I've known these women for about 5 years and the last time we all met up it was wild - drinking, flashing our boobs, smoking, staying up all night.....and it was brilliant. This time it was different - so many of us have had babies....it was a bonding session that often got interrupted by one of us chasing our child, that ended a lot earlier as babies had to be put to bed, but was still an amazing, oestrogen filled, womanly celebratory wonderful weekend.

I met some Stonecutters I hadn't met before including the incomparable, beautiful, wonderful Beege - she's so much younger than I picture her in my head because she's so wise and clever I always see her older - but in the flesh she's a blonde babyfaced gorgeous lady - and her daughter Linnea is an angel - Oz was very impressed.

Poppy was there and it was amazing to see Clara Jane - last time I saw her was at my baby shower and she's so grown up! And so chatty! I loved listening to her talk and chatter and play with Oscar (who is the same height as her!! My child is a freak). Oscar has now joined me in the Poppy food fan club - he ate a HUGE portion of her spinach pesto lasagne and I was so grateful - he needed veggies badly after all the junk we've been eating!

There were so many parts of this weekend I can't write about them all - I will elaborate more later but I just have to thank Tiffey for being the best driver ever and getting us safely there and back. Sara and Cyn for being the best hostesses.

I love my stonecutter sisters. They are truly my family - it's unbelievable to me that we met online because I feel so close to them. If you'd have told me 10 years ago that I'd be hanging out with a bunch of internet buddies in America I'd have laughed. Hell, if you'd have told me I'd be writing about it on the internet I would have pissed myself.

It's just really hitting me how much I've changed, how my life is changing, and how my friendships are evolving and growing and changing but remaining strong throughout my life.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Oscar's new favourite food

You'll never guess....

We spent the day at Great Lakes Crossing - my favourite place to shop in Detroit. We met a friend of Kirsti's who I've met before and had a great time playing around and I spent AGES in Torrid

We had lunch in the Rainforest Cafe - I've always wanted to go there but it's exorbitantly expensive in London. It isn't cheap here but relatively it's possible for us to eat. I ordered Oz the kiddie Mac n Cheese meal - yum yum you'd think. But no. He wasn't interested. He was stealing the food from my plate and I'd ordered.....Calamari. Yes the boy is nuts for squid rings. He was stuffing his face with them. Couldn't get enough.

There's me thinking....aren't you supposed to avoid shellfish until 2 years? But then I remembered a very good article I read about baby food myths. I suppose the main reason is allergies and I watched him very closely in case he reacted. But he seemed absolutely fine. He stuffed himself. And has just eaten the leftovers for dinner.

He's his mother's son. I'm a seafood freak (plus a SEE food freak - I see it, I eat it). I ate a lot of fish and seafood when pregnant and also when breastfeeding so I'm sure he'll be fine. I've got a really good baby monitor here so I can hear him breathing at night - so if he has a late onset reaction I'll know. But I don't think he will.

My NCT group will probably be horrified that I've broken a rule of feeding! But I think the more tastes he tries now, the wider his palate will be. And he loved it. Every bite!

I've tried him on sushi maki rolls before - just the cucumber ones - and he loves those....my cosmopolitan gourmet!

I bought some lovely clothes - 3 tops the same in different colours and 3 pairs of trousers for $50 total. Hoorah for America. And got a couple of sexy bras in Torrid - one is leopard print!

Right - Oz is watching Baby Einstein so I'm going to join him

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Frankenmuth

Today we went to one of the most bonkers places I know - Frankenmuth - Michigan's Little Bavaria. It's also home to Bronners where it's Christmas 365 days a year - and they put the CHRIST in CHRISTmas....bonkers! But brilliant. Frankenmuth is famous for it's chicken dinners which I appreciated but Oscar wasn't interested. He was a little sod during dinner! It's a total comfort food fest - fried chicken, american stuffing (called dressing), mashed potatoes, buttered noodles and gravy to die for. YUMMMM. I am so fat.

We then wandered around the touristy bits - had our photo taken in Victorian americana outfits in sepia! I'll get Kirsti to scan the pic in. I went to a "stuff your own bear" shop and got Oz a little ginger monkey who is the same colour as Oscar's hair! I stuffed him myself! He has a little wish star inside him and also squawks in a jungle styley. Oscar loves him.

We went inside a maze made of mirrors and Kirsti was totally disorientated. It was hilarious - she really couldn't work out which was reflection and which was person! They gave you plastic gloves so you can hold your hands out in front and not walk straight into a mirror. Good job or K would have been bruised!

A great day out - topped off by a yummy sushi dinner at home in honour of Kirsti and Terry's second wedding anniversary - happy anniversary Sis!

What a good day (apart from Oz's lunchtime tantrums)!

Monday, October 10, 2005

Having a fantastic time

I do so love it here! We're having a great time - yesterday we spent the day here at Blakes Farm in a traditional October Michigan Sunday out - drinking cider (which isn't alcoholic here in America), eating donuts and corn on the cob - walking round a pumpkin patch and hay, riding on a tractor. Oz had a blast!

We had chinese takeout for tea from those cartons like you see in American movies! I had Mu Shu Pork as I've seen Will and Grace have it and had no idea what it was - it's weird - pork and vegetables, rice and hoi sin sauce and pancakes. Like pork crossed with peking duck. Very strange. And I also had Crab Rangoon dumpling thingies which are TO DIE FOR

This morning as a treat from Kirsti and Terry I had my hair done - highlights and cut - I look like a pixie - it's brilliant. I love it - I'll post a pic once Oscar has woken up from his nap as I left the camera in his room! This afternoon we're off to Detroit Zoo.

I love being on holiday. I miss Rob like crazy though....

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Here safe and sound!

The flight was fine - Oz was an absolute angel. Slept while I had my dinner, charmed all the passengers - didn't cry once. Even adapted to the time difference - he slept for an hour on the way home from the airport, then came out to IHOP with us, ate dinner, went to bed at 8pm local time (1am in his mind) and slept through till 7am.

We've had a lovely day hanging out with my friend Tiffany and her family. Went to Red Lobster for dinner - I think it's my new favourite place to eat!

Oz went down like a dream tonight and I'm off to bed myself now

I'll post more when I'm more awake - but just wanted to say I'm here and happy as larry!

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Off we go!

To America tomorrow. I'm still very nervous about the flight. I've packed most of our stuff....got some last minute shopping to do for baby food and stuff to take on the plane...

I'm really excited and really apprehensive at the same time - it's mad. I'll have access to the computer and internet while I'm away so will post about the journey over the weekend. Kirsti had forgotten she has a wedding to go to this weekend so I'll be home alone on Saturday and Sunday and I'm sure I'll blog to pass the time.

Wish me luck on the flight!