We're back in Surrey, England and looking forward to my daughter and son in law coming down from London to celebrate English Mother's Day; or Mothering Sunday, as they call it in the UK. The stores are packed with cards and flowers and gifts to give "mum." Even the post office had a lovely gift card, where you could load up a bit of money for your mum to spend at a variety of local shops.
I continue to give thanks for being able to be a mum/mom. Father God was and is so good to me!
So we go from celebrating Italian Father's Day Saturday before last, to English Mother's Day which may be a whole-weekend event. My daughter and I plan to take Saturday morning and enjoy a "facial" at Neal's Yard (a branch of the famous London natural skin-care shop) and then shop for some up-coming weddings of family and friends.
Then, in the late afternoon there are several music concerts; and though I am not sure they are in honour of Mother's Day, this mom is looking forward to going! One concert features rock- gospel. There is a whisper that this group which will be singing at Holy Trinity Church in Guildford on Saturday, may be tipped to be part of the Olympics Opening Ceremony. As my husband's oldest son is singing, we just might be able to say we will have someone in the family who is in the UK Olympics!
That evening a step-daughter in law will be singing English Cathedral Music at a church in Fleet, so we will head on to concert number two of the day after a quick Chinese dinner take away. Cathedral music doesn't seem to be much in demand for the Olympic concerts, but I am looking forward to quiet moments soaking in this historic musical tradition. I love Saturday nights when music prepares hearts and minds for Sunday worship.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Monday, 21 March 2011
Day Out in Italy
Jo Parfitt's father wrote a book called "Global Grandparents" and it suggests than when you are visiting your children overseas it is a good idea to take a day or two and go out somewhere on your own. Leave the kids in peace! Give them a break!
So, today my husband and I decided we would brave the Italian traffic and head a hundred miles down the road to the seaside town of Pescara. The head office of my publisher, Destiny Image Europe has their office there and we were able to meet up with the lovely and welcoming Destiny Image Europe Team. For two hours we talked over my next book, as well as promotion work for my first book, "Parents on the Move!" Then we went to lunch together, and that is where I saw the greatest little idea for helping young families as they gather their lunch at a cafeteria. I will post a photo of this "Family Tray Carrier" as I call it when we get back to the UK and I can load up the photo.It may not be earth shaking, but I love simple technology that makes life for young moms and dads as simple as possible. Apparently those of you who have visited IKEA stores will have seen this little device but it is available generally throughout Italy.
Back "home", my step-daughter and I made a last minute run to the store to get my English son in law's birthday present;which of course will remain secret, but I have to say I am pleased that the home designer G..... has their home in this Marche' region of Italy. There are twenty one regions of Italy and this one is the home of G....and shoes- lots of Outlets!
We are now packing and preparing to get all we can into the one carry on bag allowed on Ryan Air and head back to the UK in the morning. Granddad is reading bedtime stories now and we prepare to say goodbye to Baby D. While global grandparenting has it's blessings, it is always hard to say goodbye.
So, today my husband and I decided we would brave the Italian traffic and head a hundred miles down the road to the seaside town of Pescara. The head office of my publisher, Destiny Image Europe has their office there and we were able to meet up with the lovely and welcoming Destiny Image Europe Team. For two hours we talked over my next book, as well as promotion work for my first book, "Parents on the Move!" Then we went to lunch together, and that is where I saw the greatest little idea for helping young families as they gather their lunch at a cafeteria. I will post a photo of this "Family Tray Carrier" as I call it when we get back to the UK and I can load up the photo.It may not be earth shaking, but I love simple technology that makes life for young moms and dads as simple as possible. Apparently those of you who have visited IKEA stores will have seen this little device but it is available generally throughout Italy.
Back "home", my step-daughter and I made a last minute run to the store to get my English son in law's birthday present;which of course will remain secret, but I have to say I am pleased that the home designer G..... has their home in this Marche' region of Italy. There are twenty one regions of Italy and this one is the home of G....and shoes- lots of Outlets!
We are now packing and preparing to get all we can into the one carry on bag allowed on Ryan Air and head back to the UK in the morning. Granddad is reading bedtime stories now and we prepare to say goodbye to Baby D. While global grandparenting has it's blessings, it is always hard to say goodbye.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Italian Father's Day
Father's Day is today, a Saturday in Italy, so we are heading out tonight to a local pizza place to enjoy two generaions of fathers and give thanks for all they do for our family.
For me, Saturday mornings are always special. It's my time to recharge batteries, a type of Sabbath rest that doesn't happen when rushing to church on a Sunday. This Saturday we are with my husband's daughter and her young family in the Le Marche area on the Adriatic. Papa G (ie the son in law)woke up (from a sleepless night with baby D)to a sign on Baby D's chalkboard saying "Happy Father's Day, " and a note on his screen saver. Later in the morning my husband had some father-daughter time as they took Baby D to his weekly swimming lessons in the only learner pool for miles around.
I just basqued in the sun on the terrace. Some Saturdays I love time to myself, sometimes a special lesurily moment with my husband or a very long telephone chat with my sister. As part of this Italian version of my Saturday morning ritual I was enjoying a good book, but I was missing my very large black coffee. Then the idea came to me. I made the usual Italian expresso on the stovetop in one of those iconic Italian designed coffee makers, and poured it into an American sized mug, added hot water and presto...I had the Saturday morning coffee all set. Back on the balcony reading and giving thanks for the fathers in our family...
For me, Saturday mornings are always special. It's my time to recharge batteries, a type of Sabbath rest that doesn't happen when rushing to church on a Sunday. This Saturday we are with my husband's daughter and her young family in the Le Marche area on the Adriatic. Papa G (ie the son in law)woke up (from a sleepless night with baby D)to a sign on Baby D's chalkboard saying "Happy Father's Day, " and a note on his screen saver. Later in the morning my husband had some father-daughter time as they took Baby D to his weekly swimming lessons in the only learner pool for miles around.
I just basqued in the sun on the terrace. Some Saturdays I love time to myself, sometimes a special lesurily moment with my husband or a very long telephone chat with my sister. As part of this Italian version of my Saturday morning ritual I was enjoying a good book, but I was missing my very large black coffee. Then the idea came to me. I made the usual Italian expresso on the stovetop in one of those iconic Italian designed coffee makers, and poured it into an American sized mug, added hot water and presto...I had the Saturday morning coffee all set. Back on the balcony reading and giving thanks for the fathers in our family...
Friday, 18 March 2011
Friday in St'Elpidio
Sunny day, but cool and the granparents (that's us) decded to go on one our walks with Baby D. Grandad did the technology (ie unflurrled this generation's complicated stoller/pushchair/passeggino) and I secured the hat. Off we went to see the small Friday market (Saturday is the bigger market in a nearby town)...and who did we run into but Italian grandma- or "Nona" as they say in these parts!
It makes you feel very much at home to run into someone you know in the market. After hugs and kisses (both sides of the cheeks) we then went on our way past kitchen items, fruit and veg and beautful blouses and teenage t-shirts and jeans. I can say "hello" with a good enough accent to get myself in trouble...vendors then come out with a whole string of incomprehensible words! I must say Italian men know how to make an older woman feel apreciated! Nothing lewd or menacing, just friendly and welcoming. What a treat!
We are back home and have had a big family lunch wth birthday cake for Chris's daughter...they made it together last night and I took photos. We may just have to YouTube some of my husband's good cooking methods. Yesterday was quite a baking day...birthday cake, then hot cross buns, then bread which was consumed in minutes. Food is such a part of family life here, and it is lovely to have some time to make, bake and enjoy!
There is quite a challenge when writing about this though....the computer keyboard is in yet another layout (ie not American and not English layout)and though the layout of the google checkin page is thankfully the same I am still guessings at the translation! Google Italia was all decorated for the 150th Republic anniversary yesterday!
It makes you feel very much at home to run into someone you know in the market. After hugs and kisses (both sides of the cheeks) we then went on our way past kitchen items, fruit and veg and beautful blouses and teenage t-shirts and jeans. I can say "hello" with a good enough accent to get myself in trouble...vendors then come out with a whole string of incomprehensible words! I must say Italian men know how to make an older woman feel apreciated! Nothing lewd or menacing, just friendly and welcoming. What a treat!
We are back home and have had a big family lunch wth birthday cake for Chris's daughter...they made it together last night and I took photos. We may just have to YouTube some of my husband's good cooking methods. Yesterday was quite a baking day...birthday cake, then hot cross buns, then bread which was consumed in minutes. Food is such a part of family life here, and it is lovely to have some time to make, bake and enjoy!
There is quite a challenge when writing about this though....the computer keyboard is in yet another layout (ie not American and not English layout)and though the layout of the google checkin page is thankfully the same I am still guessings at the translation! Google Italia was all decorated for the 150th Republic anniversary yesterday!
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Italian Flag Day
It's a little sunnier today in Italy, though a cool wind blows on the beach. The waves were a bit rough, but we were there to do a family walk and to assist Baby D with sandcastles. On the drive down the hill from Sant'Elpidio to the "Mare" we saw flags hanging from balconies and quite a number of shops shut.
Today marks the 150th year of Italy being a republic and it is a national holiday. Road repairmen were working and the grocery store was open, but many people seem to be taking this one-off holiday as a day-off. Italians usually celebrate a national day in the summer, but this is a special day given as a no-work day in honour of the one hundred and fifty years of a unified country.
We are back up the hill now, and our exhausted sandcastle builder is sleeping while his parents and grandparents start the first BBQ of the year on the terrace- summer is coming!
When we stood on the beach earlier today, we eyed the waves and talked about the Tsunami in Japan. One of the expats here has a son who is married to a Japanese lady. Like many in the world, families have been grateful this week for skype and facebook and mobile/cell phones. When my sister and I spoke earlier this week, we remembered that it took two weeks for our mother to hear that her sister, brother in law and our cousin were alive after the huge earthquake in Chili in 1960. Today, I think of and pray for families who would love a day off to connect and build sandcastles.
Today marks the 150th year of Italy being a republic and it is a national holiday. Road repairmen were working and the grocery store was open, but many people seem to be taking this one-off holiday as a day-off. Italians usually celebrate a national day in the summer, but this is a special day given as a no-work day in honour of the one hundred and fifty years of a unified country.
We are back up the hill now, and our exhausted sandcastle builder is sleeping while his parents and grandparents start the first BBQ of the year on the terrace- summer is coming!
When we stood on the beach earlier today, we eyed the waves and talked about the Tsunami in Japan. One of the expats here has a son who is married to a Japanese lady. Like many in the world, families have been grateful this week for skype and facebook and mobile/cell phones. When my sister and I spoke earlier this week, we remembered that it took two weeks for our mother to hear that her sister, brother in law and our cousin were alive after the huge earthquake in Chili in 1960. Today, I think of and pray for families who would love a day off to connect and build sandcastles.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Grandparents on the Move!
We are back in Italy and enjoying being grandparents "up close" for a week. We try to visit twice a year and in between times, enjoy seeng the newest addition to our family on skype. This year, Baby D (now one and a half) met us at the airport with his parents; but after the long ride home he went straight to the compter and kept pointing- we were supposed to be on skype! And here we were- alive in person!
I just love the fact that he made the connection!
We flew Ryan Air down from Standsted airport yesterday and noted they are no longer just "handing out" little plastic bags for liquids. Now there is a vending machne where, for a pound ($1.62)- and you do need the proper coin- you can purchase a small platic baggie for your toothpaste etc. I've started stuffing our roll on- carry on bag (one per person), with zip lock bags from the supermarket.
We're looking forward to this week of pushcahir/stroller/passeggino walks into the ancient part of this hillside village and collectng Baby D from his nursery group one or two afternoons.....and I've got the baggies at the ready - just incase. You never know, somewhere in my parenting days I know I used them for more than just airline security!
I just love the fact that he made the connection!
We flew Ryan Air down from Standsted airport yesterday and noted they are no longer just "handing out" little plastic bags for liquids. Now there is a vending machne where, for a pound ($1.62)- and you do need the proper coin- you can purchase a small platic baggie for your toothpaste etc. I've started stuffing our roll on- carry on bag (one per person), with zip lock bags from the supermarket.
We're looking forward to this week of pushcahir/stroller/passeggino walks into the ancient part of this hillside village and collectng Baby D from his nursery group one or two afternoons.....and I've got the baggies at the ready - just incase. You never know, somewhere in my parenting days I know I used them for more than just airline security!
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