Birthday in Paris

We had a bit of a crazy year with the old birthday celebrations.  Most winters I’m ill and I’m not really in the mood for organising anything.  Then others I’m full of beans and over the top.  This year we had an actual party and we invited all of Daisy’s school class.  Lisa Lollipop joined us to entertain the children.  We tucked into Hot dogs, Popcorn, Slush Puppy and enough sweets to stock a small shop.  One of the mums brought the biggest homemade cheesecake I’ve ever seen and it was all gone by the end of the party.  Truly Scrumptious – cakes by Joanna made the most incredible Birthday cake.  It was so beautiful I didn’t want to cut it up, again it was gone by the end.  People were loading up with boxes of the delicious cake.   My friends and family were as usual, all hands on deck and the party was a roaring success.  I'd like to say thank you to everyone who made the party special and for all gifts Daisy received.  

That would have been enough for one little girl to take in, but as I mentioned, I’m a bit crazy over the top at times.  I thought it would be an idea to go to Disneyland Paris, the very next day!  I only thought about it two or three weeks before the party.  When you are sick, it's not practical to book something miles in advance.  You have to go when you feel well.  The adverts sucked me in and before I knew it, it was booked.  I’ve priced it up before and thought it was a bit expensive, but there seemed to be adverts after adverts all over the TV saying “book now and get this that and the other free”.  You know sometimes these deals are not as great as the make out, but I swear this one was good.  We were staying in a top-notch Disney Hotel, having three course meals everyday, drinks and cakes everyday and practically spent nothing because we had a complimentary voucher for most things.  I couldn't believe our luck.

Daisy loved meeting all the characters, Spiderman, Merida, Woody and Jessie, Mickey, Minnie, the Disney Princesses and of course, no Disney visit would be complete without meeting Anna and Elsa!  There were a few hairy moments at the start, namely a scary roller coaster in disguise.  I've never been so glad to get off a ride.  I swear we though it was a child's train ride, you know quite tame, but Jesus!  It was a super fast roller coaster and believe me I'm no thrill seeker.  We got into our seats, I casually rested my arm behind Daisy and within seconds it became apparent to me that arm was going to move to pin Daisy in like a seat belt.  We saw the funny side of it, while mum and I were telepathically saying all our swear words.  Daisy was shouting at the top of her voice "this is fun", she had the best time. It was a very tiring holiday for the adults however. 

So if you ever forget where you were for your 5^th Birthday Daisy  Well, you woke up in a Disney hotel in Paris and had breakfast with Mickey Mouse.  Then we took the train into the centre of Paris and went up the Eiffel Tower.  I even managed to take the photo I would use on our family Christmas card.  Looking forward to our next adventure, whatever it may be.

Brighton Baby - The Hen Weekend

Our family had two weddings this year and like most weddings these days the bride and groom go away for weekends, usually with friends and/or family instead of just going out for the night.  There were lots of talks about where we might go and one day it was decided we were going to Brighton.  I was very pleased as Brighton is a place I've always wanted to go but had no reason to.

We travelled down to London Gatwick with easyjet at the end of June.  Once we landed it was a short distance on the Gatwick express to the train station that would take us through to Brighton.  It’s a really easy place to get to and as we travelled with cabin bags, there was no waiting about in the airport at baggage carousels.  Arriving around lunchtime, we headed straight to the beach and into a café overlooking the sea.  The sun was shining, the sea breeze on your face, the location, the atmosphere; friends travelled from afar to celebrate.  I decided quite quickly that I would like to take Daisy one day.  


We ordered food, drinks and relaxed while chatting to one another.  It was so warm you could easily have worn a bikini and jumped into the water.  Some of the ladies were optimistic in that they packed shorts, the rest of us cursed that we should have.  I guess you get used to the Scottish climate where summer is literally days in the year rather than weeks.  With Team Gauld being a super organised bunch, our food shopping was being delivered to our rented house while we were sat there at the beach.  


Back at the house we cracked open the Prosecco and toasted the bride to be on her upcoming nuptials.  The house was then decorated with pictures of our Hen.  It's amazing the comedy gold your life long friends hold in the form of photographic evidence.

The next morning breakfast was cooked, we got on our glad rags and did our own thing before heading to the pier around lunchtime.  The plan was to have a fun and stress free weekend without the stereotypical hen activities in sight, well not in public anyway.  Eating marshmallows will never be the same again.

The Brighton Pier is a great place.  The rides are pretty scary, being right on the edge of the pier.  I went on the helter skelter and almost wished I never.  The pier had a Harry Ramsdens, ice-cream parlours, take away style counters selling noodles. I honestly could have stayed the entire week!  I know there's much more to see and do in Brighton and I was sad to leave.

On the Saturday night the girls organised a fabulous meal.  As you could imagine we could hardly contain our excitement when we found out that the brides boss had located us in Brighton and pre-ordered some bubbly for everyone!  How amazing is that!  What a cool boss.  The celebrations continued into the early hours and as you can imagine it was carnage in the morning.  Luckily myself and the brides sister, the non-drinkers, made breakfast.  

This was such a memorable weekend and I’d like to say a big thanks to all involved in the planning. 

The Second Trimester

So much happened in the second trimester, some great, some extremely stressful and scary.  Turkey was good for me, just the break I needed and lets face it, I probably wasn’t going to get another for a few years.  This blog is a direct follow on from The twelve week scan

My mum has friends in Turkey, they live on a farm way up in the hills far away from the regular tourists.  It’s pretty basic, almost like Roma villages you see on television.  We stayed for the night and I was really cautious I didn’t eat anything.  There’s all these lists in the western world about what you can and can't eat while pregnant, but in places like Turkey you eat what you have and milk comes straight from the cow.  I slept on the only bed they had in the house, under a mosquito net that my mum had purchased for them a few years earlier.   I lay on the bed listening to bugs flying about and it made me feel really grateful for the life style we sometimes take for granted here in the UK. 

Once home the hospital appointments started up again.  I was seen frequently, usually every two weeks. We were a little upset that my husband missed the twelve-week scan but being seen and scanned again at fourteen weeks made us feel happy.  I actually felt really good in this trimester.  I had loads of energy, no morning sickness and I was out buying or looking at baby bits and bobs every chance I had.  I started a Pilates class early in my pregnancy and when my stomach started to grow too big I found a pregnancy yoga class.  I wanted to be in the best possible shape for what lay ahead.  I also had to think about parting with my beloved pink smart car. My favourite car ever!  We planned a little holiday to Cornwall, driving about and exploring was just the thing we loved doing.  My cousin who lives down that way was seven months pregnant and I thought it would be nice to go visit her, you know so we could compare bumps.  It‘s somewhere I’d always wanted to visit and it was scorching hot, just like being abroad.   My husband was a bit of a Rick Stein fan so we were definitely going to visit Padstow.  It was so lovely, we knew we’d return one day with Daisy in tow.  I bought her first toys in a Rick Stein boutique; at £40 each for some crochet rabbits Daddy Bear needed a little persuasion.  I will treasure the memories of that grumpy face, so to make him feel even better; I bought a bloody cake stand too!

I was really looking forward to starting my first antenatal classes but unfortunately, my dreams of a “normal” delivery were shattered when I was diagnosed with Placenta Praevia.  It can correct itself as the pregnancy develops and plans can change right through pregnancy from one week to the next.  I soon needed another course of IV antibiotics, as my body wasn’t coping.  My CF team were voicing concerns about a vaginal delivery knowing I was struggling to breathe and I resigned myself to the reality that I was going to have a planned caesarean section.  There were a lot of mixed emotions around this time because of the worry surrounding the various tests that are carried out to determine major birth defects.  This included the 20-week scan, which we were looking forward to, but there is always that worry we would find out there was something wrong.  By this time you look pregnant, you have accepted you are going to have a baby.  I could not imagine finding out there was some serious birth defect at this point.  How would we deal with that.  I remember my mum trying to explain years ago that your thought process is completely different when the baby is inside you.  I had casually said in my teens that I wouldn’t keep a baby it if had something major wrong with it.  I used to think a cleft lip was major defect and that I’d never keep a baby with that.  I guess our beliefs change with time as we mature.  We came home with another handful of scan photos and there was a really cool one showing her curled up in a ball showing all of her spine.  The lady said that was the best possible picture you could get to check the spine was normal.  

Even though I was clearly unwell at times, I loved being pregnant and our happiest times as a couple since the early years of marriage were around this pregnancy.  As I started to get bigger I suffered from leg cramps and foot cramps.  I think it’s pretty normal, but it was scary at the time.  So many changes is happening in your body and being ill I worried if it was normal or was it just something that was happening to me.  I had a good run of weeks feeling well so we organised a family meal with my late father in law and his parents.  I even went out and bought a new maternity dresses for the occasion.  I was feeling really good.  I wasn’t that close to my extended family.  Relationships were somewhat strained, but I was slowly trying to accept that not all families are like your own.  My husband was supportive of my beliefs and I was going meet him halfway in being more tolerant of the situation for the sake of our little family.

Letter to Daisy - The Wonders of the World

I almost forgot it was the last Sunday of the month!  This is just a quick blog I've pulled out of nowhere.  

My Miracle Flower,

I got chatting to one of the guys from one of my photography classes a few weeks ago when we all went out for dinner.  He’s a really interesting man with loads of stories about places he’s been over the years, I guess he travels a lot with work.

He spoke about trips to New York, watching baseball games in the rain and drinking in the old under ground bars like in the film the Great Gatsby.  There was also a story about him getting in trouble for reading his paper in the hotel bar because BB King was about to perform and how he realised near the end of the show that he was the only white guy in the room.  He got up and said in his Welsh accent, well that was bloody brilliant that.  Best show I’ve ever been too!  Then this old guy said, "you think that was good, I could take you somewhere better".  So, the guy left the hotel with this man, his wife and two grown up daughters and just got in their car to be taken to somewhere that was better than BB King.  I was sitting beside one of the guys from my class last year and I think we were like two little sponges sucking up all these tales of adventure.  We said, did you not worry about getting into some random persons car that you didn’t know.  He said I’m hardly gonna get murdered by a sixty year old man that’s out with his wife and two grow-up daughters for the evening.  He said it was the best night out he'd ever had, yes better than BB King.  He was out with that family until 3am and the old man dropped him back off at his hotel as he said he would.

It got me thinking about travelling.  I’ve not really been to any “wonders of the world” type holidays but after that chance meeting with the man from Wales.  I think this is something I need to start doing and soon!  The Spanish holidays have been done so many times and I’m not knocking them, but wouldn’t it be nice to really travel.  To go to places and be amazed at how different they are to where you stay.  I’d love go back to Paris, it’s been a long time since I was there and I would love to take you to New York when you're a bit older.

If I can’t go myself, Daisy I hope you will travel to all these interesting places and think of me and the man from Wales.

Some old photos from 2011

Letter to Daisy - Girl's Got Guts

We went on a bit of a road trip for a few days over the holidays and it got me thinking about Gut Instincts, because I didn't seem to have any when it came to navigation!  I left the sat nav at home, I knew it was wrong but I ignored the voice in my head saying go back in the house and get it. Struggling with the crappy signal and google maps on my phone we got to where we needed to be in the end, but life could've been so much easier.

My Miracle Flower,

Gut instinct is a thing you should never ignore and it’s helped me out on countless occasions.  It’s called gut instinct because of the feeling you get at the pit of your stomach that makes you feel a little queasy, like you could be sick.  I’ve been told that some of my voiced instincts are like a sixth sense, almost likened with Witch Craft! Of course, that is a piece of nonsense.  I actually struggle with gut instincts and think at times they are non-existent in me or maybe it’s that I am unable to read them correctly.  Although it’s helped me in many situations, it’s equally caused me trouble.  If I had managed to read the signs correctly in tricky situations, it may have saved me a considerable amount of time and energy with people who were frankly not worth bothering about.  What I’m saying is, it’s easy to ignore that feelings that we all have when something seems a bit odd.  The consequence of not listening to your gut may be that you end up experiencing another feeling, called Regret!

Gut instinct can be used in many areas of your life, e.g. health, wealth, travel, work and relationships.  Some people may experience bad health, however the signs are maybe not there to justify a trip to the doctor, but there are certain types of people out there that would just know something is wrong and will take themselves to the doctors anyway.   I bet if those people who ended up in their doctors surgery listening to some bad news looked back, would they manage to pin point the actual time they maybe should have acted; who knows.  Did their gut tell them something was wrong and did they perhaps ignore it.  I believe that there are always clues around us to support gut instinct and this is why you should face problems head on and not stick your head in the sand.  Just because you ignore a problem, it won't make it go away. 

I’ve experienced similar feelings with relationships and know I’ve disregarded important gut feelings and acted on wrong ones because I’ve let emotion cloud my judgement.  The hardest decision you will ever make is whether to walk away or try harder.  Everyone has to make their own mistakes in life, I agree, this is how we learn.  Remember this though; nothing you do will ever be so bad that it can’t be fixed.  There is always a way and yes it might be hard but I will help you.  As you get older the mistakes you make can sometimes have catastrophic consequences, so listen to your Mother, sometimes you just have to trust us old people because we’ve been there before and have made similar mistakes.

Crovie

Letter to Daisy - Life Lemons

I’ve been super busy this weekend helping organise my brother’s surprise birthday party with team M&M; that’s his best boyfriend and the GF of course! Daisy is not too keen on Uncle D having a girlfriend and recently she has been horrified at the fact.  She tells me SHE is Uncle D’s girlfriend!  It’s been busy busy busy over the past 48hrs and I must say we did a great job, Uncle D was a very happy boy.  Just a short letter this month as I think I’m still in need of some sleep!

My Miracle Flower,

You are going to be 4 soon! I can’t quite believe it.  It took so long to get you and now you are almost FOUR.  My regrets for the past year would have to be not taking as much pictures of you as I would have liked.  My hopes and dreams for the coming year is to change this.  Maybe I’m just trying to give you a break as I can have my camera out like I’m part of the paparazzi chasing a super star.  You’re my wee super star and I guess I just want to have lots of memories of the fun stuff, because we have lots of fun together and when we do, we do it in style!  High tea in five star hotels is good, but travelling on Thomas the Tank engine is a bit of an adventure right?  

You see life is precious. Your life is precious to me, partly because of the way in which you were brought into the world and the struggles faced to get you.  My life is precious because of the struggles I have to stay in the world with you.  We have a lot in common you and me.  I loved you from the moment I saw you and you are my favourite girl.  I do wish I could have more patience at times.  You are a bright little girl and you know what you want but because you are young you get frustrated quite easily.  I know exactly how you feel because I am that person too.  I want everything done yesterday.  When I was at school I was told I needed to work on my tolerance of others and I’m still working on it. 

We’ve had to deal with some more changes this year and sometimes I’m not so sure how you’ve coped and I hope there’s no long term damage, but our new life is definitely better.  Many years ago a colleague made comment that, no matter what happens I will always come up smelling of roses.  He was right you know, I think he was trying to make a derogatory comment but I laughed with the knowledge that he was a fool. 

The moral of the story - When life gives you Lemons, make Lemonade!

Goofing about when Mummy is trying to take a serious picture!

Boarding the train with GG

Looking at Thomas close up

Letter to Daisy - My Girl

In my previous blog There's no place like Home, I wrote about our recent holiday together.  While writing that blog, it got me thinking about something I read a few years ago, so I asked one of my university lecturer friends if she could find the piece for me. I've put it at the bottom of the page, it's really interesting how our behaviour can impact on our children and it is food for thought. Our blogging circle is back on track this month.  Zoë was without internet for three weeks while moving house.  We welcome an old friend Diane, of Diane Whyte Photography this month.  She has been planning on joining us but has been busy with her boys during the school holidays.  This month I am linking to her blog: You never get two the Same.  Diane has years of experience and I'm looking forward to reading her letter.

My Darling Daisy,

I wanted to let you know that I was really proud of how well you behaved being away from home, considering we were in really busy unknown places.  To be absolutely sure I was not going to lose you, Nanny suggested I use my old reigns, the very ones that were purchased for me when I was a toddler and are over thirty years old.  I put them on you, unclipped the back loop and attached it to the belt loop on my jeans.  You weren’t all that keen on being tied up like a dog at first but you soon realised that it was for your own good.  That, or you accepted the fact I wasn’t going to cave in and remove them.  You’ve been on a train before but this was the first time on the Caledonian sleeper and it was very exciting.  As soon as you saw the berth you immediately wanted to be on the top bunk.  I was a little concerned that you might fall out but I didn’t want to disappoint you and I told myself that you would be fine.  There are two safety belts that act as a barrier at the head end of the top bunk so I felt a little better about it, however I woke up every hour of the journey with worry. I was constantly in and out of my bed checking that you were ok but you slept like a log the entire way.

You know that when we go anywhere different I usually take my camera; you never know when there will be a photo opportunity.  Being in the south of England, we were pretty assured that the weather was going to be nice so there’s more chances to get photos of you in your summer dresses.  You were extremely patient with me this trip and only moaned about the camera a few times.   Your new way to show your annoyance at the camera is to pull funny faces or do the complete opposite of what I'm directing you to do.  When we were at Blenheim Palace I wanted a photo on the stairs and knew I only had a small window of opportunity before you would get grouchy.  I was saying, left a bit, right a bit, up a step, down a step and was making you wait until the steps had cleared and I couldn’t believe you were actually doing as you were told.

You are getting older and much more grown up.  I can't believe you are starting pre-school nursery next month.  We've had a great summer holiday together and we've done some really exciting things.  I'm just a little sad that this will be the last summer before we are bound by school holidays and can't just disappear when we feel like it. Next week is officially our final week of the holidays.

I feel like we learned a lot on our mini break holiday.  You have been more tolerant of my photo taking and I have persevered until I got what I needed without an argument.  I have been more laid back like Nanny since coming home and realised that getting all worked up about small things is totally pointless.  You learn from your surroundings and I think I if I can be calm you will grow up to be calm too, although there’s that teeny weenie bit of genetic personality that I’m glad you’ve got.

Mummy
xx

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

There's no place like Home

We're just back from a mini break in the Cotswolds, which is a lovely place to explore if you ever get the chance.  I thought the least stressful way to travel with Daisy was going on the Caledonian sleeper train, as you leave at night time and arrive at your destination in the morning; easy as pie.  I did consider a flight but the thought of arriving at a busy London airport with said three year old made me feel a little queasy.  I felt much safer on the train.  We arrived at 7:30am and waiting on the platform for us to go on our pre arranged breakfast date, was my lovely Aussie friend; although the Australian accent has disappeared, maybe it’s something to do with living in Kensington, I must ask.

We had a few fun filled days out, the first being a trip to Tetbury Rocking Horse works.  I’ve been trying to get Daisy into Rocking Horses because I have very fond memories of one from my childhood.  There’s lots of Rocking Horses out there and it's hard to tell the machine made imports from the actual hand carved ones, which I love.  I’ve taken Daisy to the Rocking Horses that are in the local hospital but she’s not too sure of them.   Some can be a bit creepy if not painted quite right and I’ve done a fair bit of research to know that each workshops horses are unique.  I specifically chose to visit Steve & Bea's workshop because of the style of horses they lovingly create.  I called ahead and Steve said he would make sure the kettle was on and Daisy got a cup of Blackcurrant juice, which luckily she managed to drink without spilling down her clothes.  We chatted for a bit, got some snaps and then Bea showed us the different colours of hair and options should you want to buy a horse.  I’d love a horse for Daisy, but they are expensive if you want to get a decent sized one.  You have to weigh up what’s most important don't you, a toy verses a holiday of a life time maybe. However, I think a Rocking Horse is a heirloom purchase, it’s an investment right?  Maybe one day we will have the money to buy one.  Mum keeps saying, "how do you know if she would like one, you sure it's not for you".  I said how do we know she wouldn't like one if she never gets the chance?

Our next day trip was to Snowshill Lavender Farm near Chipping Camden.  I saw a BBC documentary about the farm recently and thought, I’m going to take Daisy there!  I wasn’t sure how long we would stay at the farm as I didn’t think Daisy would be entertained for long with a field of Lavender, how wrong was I.  Bees obviously love Lavender because there were hundreds of them!   Daisy was not phased.  I just said to her, “you must not stand of any of them while they are having a rest from drinking up all the nectar.”  I didn’t realise that as well as bees loving the Lavender, Butterflies love it too!  Daisy now loves butterflies and she managed to catch not one, not two, but FIVE Butterflies at the farm.  She really loves her creepy crawlies, but only held onto them for a few seconds before releasing them back into the air.  We were there for several hours, there’s a café and gift shop on the farm.  After our picnic was finished and Daisy was all Butter flied out, we went down to have a look at the shop and buy some smelly souvenirs.  In the cafe we tucked into some tea and scones, with clotted cream and jam, it was delicious.  We went back up to the Lavender again before we went home.  I couldn’t believe the amount of Japanese tourists that visited, the women were all dolled up with heels and designer handbags and I saw two men wearing Chanel handbags!  Then a few of the older ladies started picking the Lavender.  Now where I come from you don't pick certain types of flowers, nor do you pick flowers on private property that belong to someone else.  At first I thought, maybe they were just picking a small bunch for a souvenir, next I see one with scissors and they were stuffing huge bunches into carrier bags.  I was thinking, some people just spoil it for everyone else.  

The following day we visited Blenheim Palace on the recommendation from the friend we were staying with, as it was only five miles away.  With it being our last day and the hire car having to go back, I didn’t want to go too far afield.  The palace was great, I didn’t know what to expect but again it was a good day out.  Lots of information on Winston Churchill, I had no idea he was from that area and is actually buried in the village.  As much as people go on the pilgrimage to Graceland to see Elvis’s grave, I was not thinking Daisy would be remotely interested in a visit to the cemetery.   We were also surprised to see a horse and carriage entering the grounds with a Japanese bride who was about to get married.  Daisy was really impressed by the princess like carriage, it was like something out of a fairytail.  We explored the palace and grounds working up an appetite for our tea and cake time.  I can't believe I nearly left, missing out on the children’s area.  It was tucked away behind the trees but as soon as I saw it I recalled my friend saying there was a play park and a children’s train ride. Needless to say, we stayed for a further two hours playing, eating ice-cream, souvenir shopping, painting pottery and trying to catch more Butterflies of course.  Later that evening we treated our hosts with a Chinese meal as a thank you for letting us stay. 

On our return to London we met up with Lexi again and went to a much-loved Sushi Bar for a spot of lunch.  Lexi was mortified when she managed to spill a pot of garlic sauce down Daisy’s dress, but I just said “no worries”, it will keep the witches away.  Afterwards we went to Hamley’s toy shop on Oxford Street, you could easily spend a whole day in there; just as well Daisy is easily distracted.  Soon we escaped the hustle and bustle of oxford Street and headed to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Gardens and spent the afternoon playing, riding on the ferries wheel, eating ice-cream and Daisy managed to get Lexi back by spilling a cup of coke on the table, which was a very near miss for her super duper camera.

We ended our trip back at Euston Station with some fish and chips at Harry Ramsdens, although Daisy had “mermaid and chips,” another mystical topic Daisy has cottoned onto from her mama.