Determined not to begin in an orthodox manner, I have been staring at a blank page for ten minutes or so. I have managed to complete a few jobs and still, despite REM on video followed by Rakhmaninov, I remain uninspired. Of course, this epistle is a combined effort (will this letter ever be written? Speak for yourself, Ed). So diaries out, we begin to recall the events of this year. Switch to third person ... the headlines begin ...
Government Rethinks Nursing Recruitment after Key Resignation
Katie left her post at Easter. Night work and young children don’t mix too well for several reasons, so occasional shifts during the day prove to be the best for now. Katie has also embarked on a part-time course in Complemetary therapies which is good fun and a refreshing change from domesticity, although the medical theories of the principal lecturer are most definitely alternative!
Independence Day
After 2 months of running/falling between us, Sabbi eventually stood on her own two feet at 14 months. She then fulfilled the necessary criteria to be “moved up” from the baby-unit to toddler nursery for two days a week. She loves it and its influence on her life is evident. We still haven’t worked out one of the songs she is singing nor the actions which accompany it (moves her arms in a big circle around her head - any suggestions?). She is saying much more now - or at least much more that is recognisable. She is most definitely the vocal one in this family, and is developing a language of her own which she uses to good effect:
“mummy” = “I want .... “
“baby”“let’s have a cuddle in front of the telly”
“pip pip” “excuse me I want to get past”
“philit”“daddy - get a move on, mummy has been waiting ten minutes and you’re holding us up”
Mickey Mouse is a Taxi Driver in Paris
Phil’s work has been no less demanding this year, oh the Internet! It’s had slightly more of an international flavour - at one point he was abroad 4 times in 3 weeks, flying back to blighty for a brief weekend to pick up clothes and then fly out again Sunday night. A case of feeling a foreigner in your country. The low point was reading a map upside down whilst giving directions to a Parisien taxi driver, 2 hours late for a meeting, trying to find IBM near Eurodisney and calling the office every 5 minutes handing over the mobile phone after saying “nous essayons trouver votre bureau, je donnez vous le taxi-man”. The high point was passing a tough exam first time, after disappearing into the loft for 3 days and nights flat out cramming; passing meant being able to go to a conference in Vienna without any worries about having a re-sit upon return.
Packaged Stress
We thought we’d take an easy route to holidays this year, a late availability package to Lake Como Italy. Relaxation however, finished on arrival. We were unaware of just how much we would have to travel around to do things, beaches were few and far between. We visited Milan, Bergamo and Verona, all involving very early starts, since we had to catch the early ferry across the lake to catch the train - 6 am starts on holiday are not on. In fact we did a lot of running ... for trains, buses, ferries and even meals. Verona was excellent and has whetted an appetite for a Venice trip. We especially enjoyed the authentic Italian pizza and the custom of stopping mid-afternoon for a beer and/or gelati.
Po visits Po
Sabbi learned to say ‘ciao’ and ‘bella’ by the end of the holiday. She carried her favourite companion around with her, the small, red Teletubby (‘laa-laa-po’ as she says). The staff at the hotel were helpful and took a shine to her, the friendliest being the girl who got us a room with a wonderful view of the lake, charming Sabbi the whole holiday; only to discover on the last day that she was called ‘Laa-laa’.
Lake in a Coma
Katie was despairing because Phil insisted upon exploring each leg of the lake (an upturned ‘Y’ shape) and we soon found found out why, as the tour guide said, “not a lot of people do that”. Yes, it meant more early mornings and eventually finding the most boring town in Italy - what’s more we missed a ferry home and had to spend another two hours there. This proved to be fortuitous for Sabbi who didn’t want to leave after we’d discovered a children’s playground with swings, slide, roundabout, fire engine and motorbike ... as well as more gelati!
Royal Jools
We managed to find some time for both of us, highlight being a night in York at the Royal Suite. Wow, what a view, you could see the Minster from the bath! We’d gone to see our late-night hero, Jools Holland and his R&B orchestra. In his words, we had a “frenzied” night and the joint was jivin’.
We still haven’t managed to prepare early for Christmas and it’s still a mad rush - one of our pet phrases this year when things get too much is “Modern life is rubbish” (an album title by Blur). This is tempered by a quote from one of the several parenting books dipped into ... “given the complexity ... it would be a surprise if life was anything other than a challenge”.
Christmas 1999
yearly reviews
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