Breaking the cycle

I've not been very talkative this last month. Mostly due to the fact that I haven't really had much time to myself, but also because I've not had a lot to say and I haven't been in the best of moods.

But tonight is definitely worth a post.
As most of you will know I'm turning 30 next week and I been really trying to push those "I'm 30, what have I achieved and what have I got to show for it" thoughts out of my mind. So not feeling altogether great about things, tonight gave me the breath of fresh air I needed!

And it was the doing of my family and friends. A surprise birthday party!!!
I must admit, I was a little freaked out by not knowing what tonight was all about. Though I had been given a few things to go on (and once you know there's a surprise you can't help but pick up on any small slip up) I was completely put off the scent by my friends who all did a brilliant job of assuring me they were not in the loop. Hats off to the one's that slipped up big time and who managed to turn it around at the last minute!

So I turn up - slightly peeved as my legendary parking had let me down and I had been circling the area for a good twenty minutes before settling my two front wheels bang in the middle of a zebra crossing - and find not only most of my family but all my closest friends were there too. PERFECT.

I had a really good night. Though it went by in such a flash that I didn't even have time to savor it as much as I would have liked. I would have liked to have spent time talking to everyone and catching up. The good thing - and I've been thinking this a lot lately - is that I have amazing people around me. People often ask me why i don't move back to the UK. This is why.

So for all you reading this that were involved. Thank You.

Emma

In the midst of this totally crazy month of August, I got to spend loads of time with Emma. Her proud dad thought she deserved a post - and her totally biased aunt thought so too - so here it is.





At the beginning of August, my brother and my sister in law introduced us to the newest member of our family. Having them here was great.
Ok, there were the traditional family spats over who gets the last of the macaroni but I got the chance to reconnect with my brother, to get to know Amanda and to play with Emma.
(the macaroni is the ridiculously crispy kind, straight out from under the grill - always brings out the glutton in us!)

Her parents gave me the most amazing photo of her in a frame. It pictures her personality perfectly. And it's right here in front of me, next to my screen.... so I see her everyday.
Cameras were out in full japanese-style force during the whole of their visit, and yet - luckily for you- I have very few digital photos of Emma as she was in Belgium.)
I did shoot off a couple of rolls of back and white film on a day trip to the animal park hoping to score a really nice portrait so I can send them one back.

I nicknamed her Grumpybum, but once she became used to seeing me (and the hundreds of other people she met on her belgian initiation) she was brilliant fun.
I have many friends (all in their early 30's!) with young children, and the kids are all really special to me. I love spending time with them (as long as I get to go home afterwards) and seeing them change week by week is amazing.

But with Emma, it's different. "run and hide" was not my first response every time she started screaming. She even did her best to put me off with her nappies and her wet biscuit covered hands. The only day of her stay when I didn't see her was when they went down to Chiny for a break, while I went up to Holland to see one of my close friends get married.

I miss them now they are gone. As annoying as it is ineveitable, months fold into years with absent family members, but when there is a child involved, you're missing huge clumps of their life. I don't like that thought!

I must sort a trip out over there, to see where she lives.
(Once the house is finished and away from mosquito, flea and spider season.:) )

P.S.
(Congrats again to Rudi & Min who welcomed me into their wedding party and made certain i had a great time - despite me knowing only them. Rudi, you'll have the photos in your mailbox before you get back from your trip around Luxembourg... err sorry, Europe! :) ).