home

Most of the time, we’re all here together doing the same old same old normal stuff. Life being life.

For the last few weeks, however, we’ve been gadding about. We visited Nana and Grandad and the caravan and The Brother, Arty Lady, Little Miss Pink for Now and Lightning McQueen. We’ve been in the big city and the empty beach.

There have been shows and nights out and hours just hanging out. Playing, chatting and exploring. It has been exciting, invigorating and heartwarming. We enjoyed spending time with those we love, doing nothing in particular.

But, on Saturday evening?

Four people fell in the door of their very ordinary house in a very ordinary street in a regular town small city.

We took comfort in the worn stair carpet and the gathering of dust. The bundles of books, clothes and mystery cables have the joy of familiarity. The bills could stay sealed another day.

We came home, and there’s nothing like it.

the phone box art box

A traditional red phone box used to be a common sight on street corners around the UK. Now they remain only in tourist areas, or on ‘traditional’ ‘British’ branding, along with Union Flags, black taxis and London buses.

When in London recently, we discovered something a little bit different. As part of the celebrations of the jubilee, London 2012 games, and 25 years of the charity ChildLine, the BT Artbox project created 80 coloured replicas of the traditional K6 box and dotted them around central London. The boxes will be auctioned, with proceeds to ChildLine.

We didn’t find all 80 boxes, and we won’t be buying one, but they were a delight to see.

 

 

Aren’t they great?

Now go back and look for Nana and Grandad.

(reflected in the gold box, on a rare potter round Covent Garden.)

We all had fun that day.

outside my comfort zone

I know, I know. I keep telling you that I’m not a great shopper, that I don’t like crowds, that style eludes me.

So how do I explain it when this happens?

I only went to Oxford Street to buy one little thing- and that was a gift.

(Somebody, somewhere, must have done research on the boost one gets from successful shopping early in the day: if you (I) get what you’re looking for early, there’s a real adrenaline rush encouraging you (me) through the remaining time and shops.)

So this time I got brave. I tried on things I would never normally consider. Colours and shapes far beyond baggy black, blue and purple.

People, I even tried these garments on. Yes, that’s a puce and orange dress. My familiar was a speck in the far distance.

It will be no surprise to discover that I kept to colours I’m comfortable with, but I took a risk on shape.

Dress from Mary at House of Fraser 

It’s not totally figure hugging, but it’s closer than anything I’ve ever had. It’s actually called a ‘siren’ dress. I bought a siren dress. Mind boggling.

I got measured for undergarments (I’ll need to be really brave to write that post) and got a charm for my bracelet. When we met up later, Spurs Fan was delighted at the bags he got to carry.

On the way back to the tube I was raving about the boots I’d spotted…

Liberty print Dr Marten’s boots- what’s not to like?

Then we passed another shoe shop. “Oh, someday I’ll be brave enough to actually wear those shoes. Some are ridiculous, but some are wonderful. Someday my courage will come…”

Spurs Fan looked at the bags bravery had already bought, and reckoned that there’d be no better day.

All of these items have yet to be worn.

Another brave day will come.

changes

Things are afoot. Last week we spent a while buying big school uniform, for a big school. Girl1 was bouncing with excitement- a tie, a blazer, PE kit (with special pants). No child has ever looked forward to September as much as this one is.

Occasionally there are chinks in her childish joy at life. Sometimes she retreats to hide in her room and listen to music. Sometimes this hogger of the limelight gets self concious and turns away from the camera. Sometimes she doesn’t want to play with her sister.

Girl2 has decided to set aside some of her familiar comforts. She has decided to be a tidy person. A big girl.

Nothing strange or unusual there. All to be expected. If we’re lucky, our children grow up.

My heart swells for my wee pets. They’re regular little girls, taking steps forward in their worlds. They’re taking novelty pics to send to a tv programme. They investigate Primark and New Look. They play house. They are the tech gurus for those items that would make The Brother laugh. They giggle and squabble and look after each other.

Too many families don’t have this. Too many little people don’t make it.

Let’s enjoy the changes and the chaos while we can.