September Thoughts

Our boys have very slight accents. Dominic will speak with a very convincing British accent for days, and then switch back. He had a play date the other day and spent most of it sounding like a local. Michael uses his when he is pouting. They both have the British cadence and tone at all times. It is hard to describe in writing. They stretch out words and add high notes where there shouldn't be any. Recently we spent an evening with two expat families, and it was interesting to hear all the children's morphing accents.

I like meeting people who are having similar adventures, or who have chosen careers that take them around the world. One family we met have lived in five different countries and will continue to relocate every two to three years. Tucson definitely calls to me, but when I listen to others who have chosen to go, it infects me with the urge to keep exploring.

I have always seen it as an either/or choice for us. Either we return to Tucson, or we see what comes next. I was telling Mike this the other day and he said that we can go back to Tucson, and then in a few years have another go. I love his flexible open mind.

The storm that became hurricane Irene started as a tropical wave (a type of atmospheric trough) that left the African coast August 15th. What is left of it is now here in Crowthorne. Pretty amazing. It will be windy and rainy this week, thanks to Irene.

Looking at the path of the hurricane I am struck with envy. I want to see those places, eat their food, visit their wonders. I like to think that some of this wind is African, and that it brings the hopes and dreams and joys of faraway people and rains down on those of us stuck in one place.

Virginia Water



A few weeks ago we went to Virginia Water Lake with our friends Alison and Andrea and their children.

Heather in bloom!

Dominic and Ailsa fell down about 50 times.

Taylore contemplating stick.

Strange fruit!
(If you know what it is, please let me know.)

Leaves!

Sticks were a major theme of day, even when in the form of small trees.

Alison is mighty!

Alison, with Claudia and Ailsa.

Andrea and Alison, sweet mama friends!

Swan family, cygnets getting mommy and daddy sized.

Ice cream for Taylore!

Dominic, Ailsa, Archie, and Riley. Ash class buddies!



Many lake scenes in Harry Potter were filmed at Virginia Water Lake.




Charming water fall.



Dominic got in the lake after walking for 3 miles with 2 miles left to go.
It was a long, sloshy, cold walk back!

Chestnut tree.

Virginia Water Lake is a large man made lake, constructed in the 1700's. It is on the southern edge of Great Windsor Park and is a beautiful walk. I am really grateful to Alison and Andrea (and others) for choosing to be friends with me, considering our time is short here. We had a lovely picnic, walked the children five miles around the lake, dragging them the last two. Alison's dog Taylore nearly knocked Andrea over about 10 times, and the clouds rolled around the sky.