So, what do we do now????

I find it kinda weird being a mother, those who know me best won't be surprised by this, not one bit. When I was a kid it was all about me, the youngest and probably the most outspoken of four, I was going to rule the damn world when I grew up.

My first job was with the Civil Service in England and I was the youngest in the office, dealing with Jo Public in a benefits (welfare for you yanks) office and taking no shit from no one!!! I was pretty self assured in a really introvert kind of a way, I am actually pretty shy deep down... LOL...You, Ali, SHYYYY???????? yes I am, now shut the hell up and let me finish. After a move out of home and into my sister's place, my first time fending for myself, with the help of big sis, I entered the world of Life Insurance and once again found myself to be pretty good at what I did and being groomed for management. Another stab at world dominance. Well at least something more than the tea girl, right??? All of this time while I was establishing myself in the world of high finance and investments I was planning a childless future. One of long days at the office followed by long evenings in the pub, I wanted to be top dog and prove I could move up the corporate ladder with the best of them.

Then along came this gorgeous American who swept me off my feet and crossed oceans just to see me (he actually told me that once!) and I made the BIG move...not just one of geography but a move into a whole different way of life. MARRIAGE... scary. Sharing...scary. Accountability....scary (that one still causes problems cos I forget to check in with him every five minutes sometimes!). I had to learn that now I am two people and it's not all about me anymore.. well it still is... but he's around so I have to take note.

Soon we were a little family, four of us all together with Mama at the helm so to speak. It's taken a while, Syd is now eight but I'm getting used to this family thing. There are always a trillion things to think of, dates to remember, appointments to be kept, school stuff to organize blah, blah bloody blah. But, with the hubby as my crutch, I said crutch, not crotch!! I manage to get from day to day without too many mishaps. The occasional forgetting to feed, bathe or pick them up but pretty much it's smooth sailing.

So getting back to the point, this week the kids are gone... yes they're gone... with the grands... having fun... not thinking about poor Mommy missing them... not thinking about how damn quiet it is.. not thinking about how I really don't have to make dinner if I don't want to... or how I'm not juggling car rides, play dates, friends spending the night, library books, taking note of screen time. I am just me... and him... in this house...this quiet house with no mess to pick up. We are back to us, we had dinner out last night and were in no hurry to get back, we walked hand in hand. We laughed and talked and it was lovely. I don't wish I didn't have kids but my God we all need a break sometimes, time to be with spouse and just be ourselves. Quiet time, time where we can watch what we want on TV without worrying about language and content, time to enjoy Indian food without having the make another meal for the non Indian eating little people. And time for him to work on his computer and me on mine, we don't always have to talk, we're happy being quiet together too and that means a lot to be able to be in the same room without talking.

And so my point is this... life doesn't always take us where we think we're going. We don't always have to stay there either... if you have a life that mapped out, take a break, it doesn't have to be a long one... get back to YOU, breathe and live... then when you're all revived and rejuvenated get back on the roller coaster and see what's around the next turn....nothing ever stays the same.

Fourth of July!!!!

So, yes we had a great time yesterday celebrating with family. We ate breakfast, hung out, went to eat in the evening with friends while the girls played, then shortly before dark we headed to the big celebration in one of the parks in Thomasville. There was a band, the kids took a soccer ball and ran around like crazy, we took chairs and kicked back waiting for the grand finale. The flood lights went off and was it just me or is it really freakin' dark in a park with no lights after nine o'clock???? OK panic attack over, the fireworks started to light up the sky. I was determined to get some nice pics of them, after a lot of fiddling with the camera and wishing I had a tripod these are the best I came up with. Not brilliant by any means but they're mine and are a testament to my determination!
It could also have been something to do with the consumption of Margarita's that had gone on yesterday afternoon but I want to say it's the lack of tripod....even the camera tells you to steady it up when using night and firework settings. So dear readers, stay tuned and check back with me next July 4th and we'll see what some practice, a Nikon and a tripod can do!!!

The girls are now on their way to South Florida with their Nanny and Papa....kinda weird here without them. Peaceful in sort of a melancholy way. I'm enjoying it but it's weird is all I can say for now. They left about four hours ago, I'm itching to call but won't, they should get home in about two hours so if they haven't called me by then I will pick up the phone. I know they will be just fine but this is the first time of them being gone for so long, I have a feeling they'll have a lot to talk about on the way home next weekend after we go down and pick them up. In the meantime I can blog and twitter and sleep and clean and do what the hell I want for five days!

Happy July 3/4 People.....

source

OK as a Brit in the USA it's kinda funny for me to be "celebrating" their Independence from the mother/father country right? (someone still needs to help me with the mother/father thing). Anyhooo, I do, every July we "get together" and cook out, watch fireworks, drink beer (wine for me) and generally languish in all that's American. All this is done with great cheer and happiness wishing everyone "Happy 4th", "Have a good 4th", "Be safe on the 4th now" and not a mention of the Declaration of Independence, how the country is free from those evil Brits or anything of the history that this day commemorates.

Until I make an appearance, that is. Not so much now because I have been here a long time and have managed to chameleon myself into the landscape, so to speak. I have perfected (kinda) the Southern drawl of native Georgians, I can cook grits and make something that passes pretty well for sweet tea. But in the early days of this ex-pat's new life in the colonies I was constantly being reminded that "we won the war" and "we didn't want your shit" and "now we're on our own...." OK ... don't really give a crap buddy so pass the wine and shut it. I never did study American History in school... why would I? And it was all over 200 years ago so guess what, I didn't have anything to do with "The British are coming".... and every time this subject comes up I really have nothing, nada, zippidy to say. I feel nothing, have no interest and don't give a shittidy doo dah.

A selection things that I have been asked by Americans:

"Do you celebrate July 4th (they rarely call it Independence Day) in England..... no we don't.... why would we, it's not our holiday to celebrate. Budweiser has managed to get it into the pubs and clubs... as a money maker off the backs of Brits who like tasteless beer, but other than that it's not a deal in the UK.

"Did you ever meet Princess Diana, such a shame"... no I didn't, her and I just didn't run in the same circles though we probably should have, both being British and blond and all.

"How old were you when you learned to speak English"... um I was really, really young which is what makes me so fluent in that language now.

"How long does it take for you to drive to the States from England"....well it's a very, very long way and there's that small matter of the Atlantic Ocean to navigate so I found it easier to hop on a plane and fly for eight or nine hours, besides, at that time there was no GPS in cars.

Please don't misunderstand me, I love it here and wouldn't change it for the world, unless of course I win the Lotto and could then afford a home on both sides of the pond, and one in Australia..... I like to be questioned about my homeland and culture, keeps me on my toes. The only thing is, when you try to explain what a country is "like" it's hard because most of all it's the feeling you get when you're there that matters. It's hard to put those feelings into words sometimes, especially when put on the spot. The whole atmosphere is different in place to place, the smells, the sounds, the sights... it all goes into what makes one location different from another. I can't get into the difference in the people it's just too vast as one would expect and it's not fair to generalize, there are people in all walks of life, in many different places who you'll love, or not.

So dear heart, enjoy the celebrations for Independence Day, America is happy to be independent, the Brits are happy you're independent, I am happy to live here and still be able to go home sometimes.....life is good.... now where did I put my Green Card???

Could she be the spawn of Spudballoo???

Hhhmmmm, i have started to notice something weird lately about my little angel, she's rapidly showing signs of her true parentage. These are recent, yes recent, shots of the Peanut just going about her business on any given day. I thought I would share these and see if you agree that she's definitely showing signs of being related to the hilarious Miss Spudballoo.... how in the heck did those whacky genes get into my five year old?????

The picture of her in the Christmas dress was just three days ago, she has a Build-A-Bear turban on her head and apparently she's the pizza delivery guy.......note to self, must by frozen pizza's from now on... if this is what the Papa John's guy looks like I need to rethink dinner.

Sooooo Spud, what do you have to say for yourself ?????

Look at this little guy…..and comment…..

I just had to share this picture of Mr McDragony, he's perched on the antenna on our Jeep. Cute huh??? This is the reason to carry your camera with you at ALL TIMES!!!! I actually took the shot from inside the car and I was just delirious when I got home and saw how great it turned out. What's with the DF's this year they seem to be everywhere and they're not in the slightest bit timid. Mr McD hung on there through the girls squealing with delight, the doors opening and closing and the engine starting. He didn't move 'til I hit about 75 mph in the Y parking lot….. I love his face!!!!

And now for something completely different…. I visited Jane's Corner View today at Spain Daily and she had 50 COMMENTS…. I don't think I have ever seen that many on a single post before…. Way to go Jane… she's so awesome and so understated with it…. I bet she's really classy and elegant in real life. I think I have a blog crush! Go on over there and see what I mean, you'll love it!!!!!

Corner View...Staple Foods.... Thomasville, GA

OK....now from Thomasville GA, the first thing I present in today's CV is Branston, if you're a regular you know I love it... it's shown here with a Ritz cracker, a little cheddar cheese and the Branston tops it off!! yum... yes it's a staple for me!!!

Next up... the delicious tomato... another staple in most diets, even people who hate them will eat them in spaghetti sauce, chili, pizza blah blah blah... in T-ville you can get them at the Farmer's Market....

Mmmm Branston and Tomatoes......

In GA there is nothing like fresh fruit, watermelon, cantaloupes, grapes, pineapple... well the pineapple isn't native but it's totally fantastic with the others... yum!!!!!

And yes they all go well with Branston.....


Here's a lovely selection of GA goodness right from the Farmers Market again... all good stuff and all goes well with yes...... somehow you can pair everything with Branston... as you can red wine.

A small selection of British staples I found in my pantry......... can you guess which of these may be more of a fave of mine than the rest??????????? now check out some other Corner View staples from the other Corner Viewers........ thanks for visiting!!!!

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad, caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, schanett, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, dianna, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria, crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, virgina, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, dorit, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, desiree, di, travelingmama, aimee, sunnymama, amanda, ali, jenell, guusje, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, gillian, jeanette, athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, satsuki

Bloggidy Blog…

Blah Blah maybe I was wrong about Microsoft??

OK I have constantly been dissing Microsoft and Vista and coveting the Mac (which I know to work infinitely better than anything in this lifetime). However, today I discovered this… yes this… you obviously can't see what I can see. However, if you're a user of Window's 2007, you may not know about THIS……

You can go to Word and in the top left is the little icony thing to click to open a new document, it gives you a choice of what you want and one of the choices is a BLOG people a BLOG… now I am probably the only one out here in bloggysphere that didn't know this and you're all tuning out because of my lack of tech savvyness…. Sorry but I love learning new things… and love it even more when I discover it by MYSELF and no one tells me!!!!!

Now I can do clever things like this….. and this…. I feel like I have opened up a whole new creative oasis.

No more stuck in the tiny confines of "Blogger New Post" said in whiney high pitched sarcastic voice with a shake of the hips and waving of the fingers, you get the pic????