Nightime

Both girls have been through phases where the bedtime story is the same one, night after night after night. Leila recently went though a "Is it Bedtime Wibbly Pig?" phase, but has now moved onto the Playschool Orange book. Both girls have loved this book, it's good and very interactive, but it's long and they notice if you try and turn two pages together. Geoff loves reading to Leila at night, but he's ready to move onto the next book!

What's missing?

We're adding to our family, we'll soon become a family of 5! On Wednesday our newest member, Eddie Bubbles Bailey, will join us. I promise not to bombard you totally with cute photos, but will have to at least introduce you. Who would ever have thought that feline accessories could raise the excitement levels of young girls so high?!

A Full Heart

We lived in London for 5 years, but it was now almost 6 years ago. During the time we lived there I found two of the most beautiful women I've known in all my life. You know those friends who don't judge you, who know your shortcomings and love you anyway? Friends you could spend weeks with (although they may disagree); friends you would share things with every day, if only you could; and friends who you can actually tell that you do love them.

The hardest part about leaving London, was leaving these two. I remember calling Lena (the gorgeous blonde Dane) from Heathrow in tears, feeling desperate to be leaving. Kate (with the big brown eyes and dark hair) is English and very different to Lena - but I love them both. This photo was taken in Paris, around May 2003, just before Geoff and I left to come home to await Ella's arrival.

Last week Kate told me that she and her family were coming to Melbourne in March next year, arriving on the 23rd. Today Lena has told me she and her family will be arriving just after Christmas, THIS YEAR. I am so excited about seeing them, but anxious too. Anxious because it's almost like a lover you've missed for so long, I know that once they're here I will be worrying about them leaving.

I have met Lena's daughter, she was about 10 months old when we left, but not her son. I've met Kate's elder son, but not her younger and neither of them have met either of my girls.

For those of you who are lucky enough to have your most beloved females near by - make the most of them, for some of us will be forever oceans apart from those that make us most happy.

Can't wait to see you both! xxx

Lemony Snickets

OMG I know, two posts in a row about homemade biscuits but these, OMG like like, they are totally amazing! You simply MUST try these. They are almost like a very moist lemony scone biscuits - if that takes your fancy. I won't tell you how many I've popped into my mouth (they are perfect popping size), but you should put them in a room you don't walk past often, otherwise you will simply eat them all!

Cc's

I'm not so fond of sweet biscuits, although strangely the occasional double dipped tim tam seems to fit into another category altogether. I prefer fruit cakes, coffee style cakes and biscuits that are a little sweet, but preferably with nuts over chocolate. Leila isn't fussed about sweet things and Ella can't have any nuts in her lunchbox biscuits because of all too prevalent allergy problems at school. So these are really just lunchtime biscuits and I'll make something else for my consumption, they're from one of mum's old recipes, probably from the UK Good Housekeeping, I love the crackles on top.

I love the "cookie of the week" over at A Friend to Knit With and think I'll give the lemony snickets a try.

Dam!!

Maroondah, that is. The idea was for a bbbq breakfast, but with very fine but very wet dampening our spirits we changed to take away coffees and delish pastries from Giant Steps.

We jumped in puddles, we threw stones in rivers, played inside child size houses, took self portraits, climbed steps and called "cooooo-eeee". A great place for a weekend romp. Be sure to take your gumboots!

Searching

On Mother's Day, last Sunday, I had this song running through my head, but could only remember a few of the lyrics which I sang badly for Geoff. Normally my darling husband knows exactly what I'm thinking of "you know that actor, the one I like, that was in that film, you know the one". This time, he had not a clue.

Today I remembered the song title and it's my song of the moment - Empire of the Sun, Walking on a Dream. I thought the voice was familiar (Sleepy Jackson) and it also makes me feel of the vibe on the Lost in Translation soundtrack and also a bit of Phoenix mixed in too. Fun clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmM2RwlxGt0

PS Sorry, I even read up on the notes how to insert the YouTube link but, using my limited techy talk, the embedding is disabled on this one ...!