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July 31, 2004
Krentenbol
Most of our plans for the weekend were scuttled by Jacob's chicken pox. While not desperately ill he is just tired, cranky and itchy enough to be better off staying at home than gallivanting around Amsterdam looking for wedding clothes and rings.
So, those trivial errands will just have to wait. We have oodles of time, two whole weekends!
Instead we've been entertaining ourselves by calling Jacob "Spot" and playing join-the-dots in between tepid baths and applications of Calendula Lotion.
Posted by Faith at 09:33 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 29, 2004
The BIG DAY OUT
Faced with a reasonably quiet August without too much to do except prepare for our holiday to Spain on the 23rd we decided to pep it up a bit by getting married on the 21st!
Dus, dress, rings, catering, etc.........in just over three weeks.? Think I'll go and lie down for a while.
Posted by Faith at 11:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 28, 2004
Queen Audrey
The FilmMuseum here in Amsterdam is having an Audrey Hepburn festival this summer. Last week I got to see Funny Face again and was once again amazed by the strange mixture of mainstream-mush, out-and-out kitsch and the odd subversive strain.
I'm hoping to also get around to seeing Roman Holiday. Whereas Breakfast at Tiffany's I think I'll have to miss this time. I always associate it now with outdoor screenings in the summer at the Botanic Gardens in Melbourne so I don't know if I can bear to see it in a cinema again. Its irrevocably linked to champagne and picnics and summer evenings!
Meanwhile, tonight, its Paris when it Sizzles which I think i'll miss. But thats the thing with babies. You can't go everynight!
Posted by Faith at 03:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2004
dj in de huis!
Posted by Faith at 07:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2004
bewitching
Its always fun to find out what old friends and schoolmates are doing. I'd seen references before to one old schoolmate's career as a witch but now she's made it into "The Age". Caroline was my best friend for a while in primary school although we drifted apart later. Since we left school Mum would occasionally relay bits-and-pieces of news about what she was doing after running into Caroline's mum. Nice to see her looking so well!
I'm not sure if "She had always enjoyed study" is quite how I remember it though!
Posted by Faith at 07:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2004
if it ain't got that swing.....
Jacob is discovering that the world is full of wonderful ways to move. Now that he has the land-speed record for crawling under his belt new and more exciting manouvers are called for.
The baby-seat on the bicycle is still a big hit, with Jacob trilling and laughing arms akimbo, furiously ringing the bell as we pedal through the streets of Amsterdam. I'm sure babies on bikes have a secret language. And I'm almost sure it involves the bell!
Yesterday, Jacob discovered, with Oma and Opa in Ijsselstein, the swing and see-saw. He came home just about delirious with happiness and determined NEVER TO SLEEP AGAIN. Just in case a swinging opportunity presented itself between the hours of 2.00 and 3.00am for example.
Dus, we're all up a bit late this morning.
Posted by Faith at 08:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2004
Read the manual first
My ongoing transformation into a Domestic Goddess hasn't, unfortunately, made any appreciable difference to my knitting skills. I haven't done any knitting for ages and ages and Jacob's blue jacket is not progressing at all as I seem to have totally lost interest in it.
In order to re-ignite the flame I decided to try a few smaller more 'fun' projects. Frankly, I don't seem cut out for the serious stuff! I finally this week got around to buying some double-pointed needles and a circular needle so I could try my hand at the Umbilical Chord Hat from Stitch 'n Bitch Handbook. (Inspired by the thought of Analu...) Its the first time I've used the four needles to decrease and it turned out just a little bit 'rough'. Plus I forgot to read the instructions for the I-chord. So its not a huge success but now I can undo it and try again having re-found my enthusiasm.
And after that its the Kittyville L'il Devil Baby Hat for Jacob, I've already bought the red wool!
Posted by Faith at 12:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 10, 2004
Domestic Godess
My transformation into a Domestic Godess is well underway. Released, rather suddenly, from the necessity to turn up at work everyday and bitterly dissapointed about our so-called summer there has been nothing for it but to start cooking! Jacob's freezer is now well stocked as Annabel Karmel's New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner. gets a good work out. Recent experiments have included, Chicken with Cornflakes, Tasty Rice with Meat and Vegetables, Creamy Chicken Pasta Sauce, Mushroom, Courgette and Tomato Pasta Sauce and Summer Fruit Muesli.
From this we can conclude two things. One, suprisingly, I am it seems, a dab hand with a cheese sauce. Two, Jacob will eat just about anything!
Now I'm on the lookout for a birthday cake for a one year old. Any ideas? And since its usual in Holland to take along cake to your work or school when its your bithday, I'm also looking for ideas on some individual cakes Jacob can take to creche which everyone can eat, carers, babies under one and babies over.
Posted by Faith at 01:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 05, 2004
love is blind
Neuroscience seems about to confirm that love is blind, especially when it comes to mothers and their kids.
I was just realising this myself. While aware that every mother thinks her baby is gorgeous I was also quite sure when Jacob was born, that he really was gorgeous, that it wasn't just my motherly-eyes. However, while flicking through the photo album back to just after he was born, I was confronted by the fact that in retrospect, one had to admit, he was a bit funny looking. In a cute and gorgeous way of course....... but still, definetly worth a bit of a giiggle with his funny little round head and enormous cheeks!
Of course now, he just is gorgeous. Anyone can see that!
Posted by Faith at 09:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 01, 2004
YAAAAAAAYYYY!!!!!!
Portugal won!!!!
Posted by Faith at 10:15 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack