Happy Birthday Dominic!

First things first, first day of school, por fin!

To celebrate Dominic's sixth birthday we went to Legoland Windsor. Very fun!

We renewed our annual passes, so we are committed.

The Atlantis ride just opened and is high quality, a submarine ride with sharks, rays and lots of fishies swimming by.

The goodies won!

 The evening of his birthday we had our neighbors over for dinner. He decided not to have a party with his classmates.

He chose apple tart for dessert! It was yummy and made with the apples from one of our trees, served with vanilla ice cream from the Duchy of Cornwall. Mmmmmmm!

Tony and Cheryl.

Stupefy!

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's here,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Darling,
Darling,
Darling Dominic.
(Thank you John Lennon.)

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.



Cornwall

If you are so inclined, play this song by Florence and the Machine while you read this post :) it is my anthem today.

This friendly Jack Russell liked chasing sand balls.

Dominic didn't really get the game and lobbed one straight into it's gullet.

We went to Cornwall for a bank holiday weekend. Weekend is pronounced weeKEND, by the way. Cornwall is the southwest corner of England, a former Celtic nation.

We chose Newquay (pronounced NEWkey) on the advice of our neighbors. I have been suspicious of the beach in the UK, always believing that a beach vacation means sunburn along with bathing suits full of sand.

The day we arrived was chilly, 59 degrees, cloudy, windy and chispeteando. So as we sat on the beach wearing sweaters, I had my doubts.

Wind and wand.

We lasted about an hour before moving to the heated outdoor pool for about 1/2 an hour. Then we ended up huddled in a crappy jacuzzi in the bowels of the hotel. Of course it was fun.

We got cleaned up and headed out for a walk before dinner. Take Mike, add a few excited boys and sheer cliffs and AVADA KEDAVRA! A killing curse on his sense of humor.

He yelled about 50 times, "GET AWAY FROM THE CLIFF!" which I appreciated, of course.

Angelito.

A few weeks ago I wrote in Shiplake to Shiplake that I wanted time to stop. I wanted my children to stop growing and changing.

And then I spent all weekend in Newquay (just one week after Mike's bday) wishing Dominic would grow UP!!!

I am holding their hands and bodies so they don't wham into each other.

His smallness got in my way.

Hard to appreciate in photo, but this was very steep.

He got cold a lot. His idea of fun was the indoor pool.

Father and son.

Mike Smith loved this place, RIP.

Optimistic Brits selling ice cream in all sorts of wind and rain.

Day two, weather much improved, we squeezed ourselves into wetsuits. Michael and Dominic took a body boarding lesson and Mike went surfing.

I tagged along to photograph the cuteness and get in some ocean time.

Michael is a beast of a child. He has a  huge appetite for rambuncious play in questionable weather. He can ski all day and then begs to go sledding despite frozen bodyparts.

On this trip he got a painful rash from the wetsuit, but toughed it out.

But our little Nickers is skinny and chills quickly and his ill fitting wetsuit didn't help. Gemma the surf angel let me know that Dominic was too cold to finish his hour body surfing lesson.

Gemma from Surfing is Therapy cheering up Dominic.

He shivered pathetically, looking to me with hope that I would help him. All I wanted was more time by myself to romp in the ocean.

Fistral Beach, high tide.

Mike recently had his 15 year anniversary with his company. ('GRATULATIONS!!) They sent him a gift catalogue, and he got a new bike.

Headlands Hotel, stay here, it's groovy.

Selfishly, I want my 23 year mothering prize. Where's my catalogue?

I loved the rocks!

I want to swim in the ocean, not worrying about my thin, cold child. Not being pleaded with to go swim in the indoor pool in the heated basement when there is ocean to enjoy.

I want him to grow up so I can have more fun. That is the truth.

I want him to have what he needs, to feel loved and adored and warm and safe.

Dominic's philosopher's stone, à la Harry Potter.

And I want to do my own thing.

Michael with piece of cake rock.

The other side.

Look for curious spinger spaniel faces peering over.

Loving mother of four.

Sticky Toffee Pudding for Mommy, now that's fun!



View from dining room at Headlands Hotel.



The third day, Dominic wanted to check out and get on the road. We had other plans and he kicked and screamed. And then he got into his baggy wetsuit.

And lasted 10 minutes or so, then needed to get out. Too cold.

Sad face.





Gypsy.

Mike waved his magic wand, and Gypsy the doggie appeared. She had a real ball to chase, no sand balls in the mouth for her.

Now we are dreaming of renting a place near the beach for our last hurrah in England.

We will definitely be investing in an extra small wetsuit!

PS We LOVED Fistral Beach! It was gorgeous, and we would love to go back to Newquay. I loved the geology, the rocks were so pretty and layered. England is absolutely gorgeous. I am in love with it! Another thing, something tiny stung my foot in the ocean and it really burned.

PPS Another note, my husband, in addition to being a great father and stepfather, is very generous and encouraging of me to do my own thing. He is the very best.