We sat with friends and hundreds of other people by the side of the road and waited
flags ready
and then it arrived
the Olympic flame...
I felt quite emotional and very excited to see it meters from our home.
65 days to go to the start of the London Olympic Games.
I can't wait.
Happy Mother's Day
wishing you a good one, you deserve it.
My little cousin came to stay with us for the weekend. (She's actually not so little anymore, but comparatively speaking - her age compared to mine - she will always be 'the little cousin'). She's studying for a degree in 'pure Math and applied Math' at Newcastle University.
Yeah, I know. WHAT? Is there more than one Math?
Whatever.
Let's talk food instead.
If you've ever visited Italy around this time of year you'll know it's "Carnevale". (Venice is a popular destination this time of the year and totally amazing). Lots of dressing up, parties, tricks.
And food.
One my favourite is "Chiacchiere" - 'chats' - a fried pastry covered in icing sugar. Each county or even town has its own name and shape for them and let me tell you... they are delicious.
Little cousin and I decided to make some in order to recall some taste of home.
We got the machine out of the cupboard (and dustied it off...)
Made the dough.
Cut it into pieces and fried it.
And then we ate them all up.
Down to the last crumb. (Not just us... Mr M and the boys' contribution was noticeable).
You can find the recipe here. (we skipped the liqueur). It'll take you longer to make them than to eat them!!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BEGINNING!
a late night with friends
a lazy day with the boys
{yes I lost. Miserably. Utterly. Completely. It can only go up from here!}
"boys turn that thing off and go upstairs to get changed"
One hour to go.
"Mum where did YOU put MY smart shirt?"
"Do I have to? it'll be dark in the theatre"
"Is it ok if I don't do the buttons and just put a jumper on top of it?"
Respectively No 2, No 1 and No 3.
"Change your trousers please, brush your teeth, no trainers I said! Go the the toilette, leave the dog in the kitchen and yes you can take your teddy but you'll have to leave it in the car"
Sigh.
I wonder if it would be different with girls.
I sigh again and prepare a bag with snacks for the car journey. We're only an hour away but sometimes food it's the only way to keep them quiet: the old adagio "don't speak with your mouth full" works on many levels.
Ten minutes to go.
Mr M walks in and hurries upstairs to get changed too.
Somehow, and I should add uncharacteristically, we made it to the theatre in plenty of time. We collect our tickets, we potter in the shop and find a still missing Christmas present, we order drinks and ice-creams for the interval.
We people watch. We admire the building (it was shortlisted for the 2011 Sterling Prize).
We find our seats.
For two hours the boys are enthralled by the story and the magical setting. They sit quietly (a part from No 3 who asks an average of fifty three questions every two minutes, but that's ok too, he's only little).
We drive home.
Just perfect.
Cricket (the boys and Mr M) and knitting (me, Parade - slightly modified).
I think knitting socks is easier than understanding cricket. Not to mention quicker!!
Last holiday post, I promise!
We're in Las Vegas, we dropped off the RV and are staying in a hotel - with a pool! - for the last 48 hours. We deserve it after the 1000 miles we clocked. Would I hire a motorhome again? Yes! It's a brilliant way to travel.
Anyway, we're in Vegas and it's over 90C (better than the 113 we register on the road) and all the boys want to do is swim. BUT we have one more thing to do before completely relaxing...
The Neon Museum.
Run by volunteers and open by appt only it's a 'yard' where Vegas' old hotels and casinos signs are preserved.
It will be opened this Autumn as a regular museum and are gearing up for that
and if you're thinking of hitting the city
do go. The guides are knowledgeable, the stories interesting.
It's modern history. At its best.
Sun and rain and rainbows
An excellent meteor crater
And route 66
(oh my oh my.... I've been wanting to 'ride' the Mother Road since I was 16 and read Kerouac)
Ok, an RV it's not a motorcycle... but it was still good
"I got my 'knit-picks' on Route 66"...
I'm back home. Tired and totally jet-lagged.
Happy to be able to post from my computer instead of than from (annoying) app... Bliss.
I'm going to try whizzing through the last week of the holiday whilst fighting with the laundry piles, No 3's birthday and school stuff to sort out. (Incidentally... is it really almost time for school already?)
So, where was I?
Ah yes, Williams, AZ... and...
The Grand Canyon.
By train.
Hard to describe views...
and real cowboys...
What's not to like?
Drive drive drive.
