1. Today, along with about a third of the population of our entire planet, I watched as Prince William married Kate Middleton in a tree lined Westminster Abbey and they became The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge. The unmistakable happiness in both their faces was such a wonderful reason to be cheerful. And yes, I whelled up. I'm not ashamed to admit it.

2. They drove themselves from Buck House to Clarence House in Prince Charles' Aston Martin. Number plate? Just Wed. Streamers and balloons and an 'L' plate? Yep. Just like any other newly wedded couple. Good for them.

3. When I was a child there was a Silver Jubilee street party outside our house. We dressed up in our best togs and ate celebratory cake with our neighbours. Some 500,000 people were expected to attend street parties in honour of the happy couple today and it makes me come over all patriotic thinking about it. S'funny but being away from home has made me realise how proud I am of how we do these national occasions. And instead of Brit Bashing like so many seem to be doing I'm going to stick my neck out and say that today I'm proud to be British. Good for us for having a jolly good knees up and celebrating the joining of a young couple so clearly in love.


What did you do to celebrate the Royal Wedding? Do you have other reasons to be cheerful or grateful this week? Jot 'em down and pop over to or . and let's celebrate together.

Photo credits: all photos courtesy of bbc.co.uk. The best coverage of the wedding by miles.

My post of the week this week is CREATE from the calm and wise Leo over at Zen Habits. I LOVE this post. It reminds me that 'creating' is important and reminds me to F.O.C.U.S.

Time doesn’t fall into your lap. It isn’t handed to you by a kindly old gentleman. You must create it, taking from the world the raw materials you need and shaping it with your bare dirty blistered hands, pushing the clay into form from its shapeless muddy glob. (Leo)

See what I mean? Wise. If you've got a project or 'to do' that's been simmering on the back burner for a while and you can't seem to get your mojo going on it - read this post. It will politely kick your lovely backside into gear for you.

Have you read a post this week that made your heart sing? Write about it and link up over at Notes from home.

Ok, so I'm not good at doing one of these posts every day, I admit it. Expect round-up posts every day every so often until the challenge is over and you won't be surprised. Sorry 'bout that.

Day Thirteen: A book whose main character is most like you
Bum. I've already chosen Mallory Towers for another Day's challenge, which is a shame as the main character is a lot like me! Can I have it again? Thanks. You're very kind.

Day Fourteen: A book whose main character you want to marry

So this week the lovely Kate over at asked what we'd change about our wedding day. Not much actually. I absolutely LOVED my wedding day. It rocked. From dawn to dusk and beyond. I'd do it again in a heart beat.

But if I was going to do it all again, I'd give myself some advice...



1. Don't be so bl**dy tight and buy the negatives off the photographer straight away. Waiting for three years until he'll just give them to you is no good if he's nowhere to be found. No digital pictures whatsoever of your wedding is not a good outcome.

2. Have a spare pair of tights/stockings around so that your bridesmaid doesn't have to give hers to your Mother who forgot to bring any. (Actually, don't bother, it was very funny at the time.)

3. Don't lose so much weight stressing out before the big day that your gorgeous dress almost doesn't fit! You're only going to wear it once and no, you're not going to dye it black and cut it down to make an evening dress. It's going to sit in it's box reminding you that you were once thin enough to wear it.

4. Think twice about whether it was a good idea to let the Uncles loose on the dance floor. Especially the one who relived Grease with every female guest. Twice.

5. Don't worry about whether other people are enjoying themselves and just have a ball. It's your day.

What would you change about your wedding day? Pop a list on your blog and link up over at .

Photo credit: First dance by Gregory Szarkiewicz at freedigitalphotos.net

Ever wanted more ways to look at the blogs you follow? Errr.... nope me either, but I didn't want an Ipod until it was invented either, so bear with me. At the end of last month announced the launch of five dynamic views for its public blogs. These views are only accessible if allowed for by the blog author and only work in modern browsers such as Internet Explorer 8+, Firefox 3.5+, Chrome or Safari. The geek in me loves new webby stuff so I've allowed the views for Bod for tea, just for you. I'm nice like that (sometimes).

Day Twelve: A book that is most like your life
I don't think I've read a story that's quite like the roller-coaster ride this life has taken me on so far, but there's a poem in Silvia Plath's that speaks so powerfully and emotionally about newborn life and how it makes you feel as a new parent that I had to include it here.

Today Maternity Matters is publishing for first part of our long and winding road to parenthood. I thought for a while about whether to share this personal account of our trials and tribulations outside of this blog. Infertility still tends to be a taboo subject which is fine for everyone who isn't affected by it. But for those of us who are, just knowing that there are other people out there in the same position, going through the same indignities, the same raised hopes and crushing failures, makes it seem less like the surreal nightmare it sometimes can be and more like just what it takes to make your family complete. I hope our story helps others know they're not alone.

Today I discovered that I don't quite have total control of my patience yet. The day started normally enough, DD didn't eat her breakfast, then she didn't participate in putting her clothes on, and didn't tell me when she'd done a rather large stinky one in her nappy before settling down to watch Rocket and Playschool on the Australia Channel. Same 'ol, same ol.

Swimming class went well, considering that Spring has officially been launched here and so all the heating has been turned off around the city, including the kid's swimming pool (28 degrees anyone?) and all the toddlers had blue lips by the time they started walking across the foam mat for balance practice. In the afternoon we had Crafty Wednesday over at Tall French Mummy's place and had loads of fun making decorated eggs for Easter by ourselves while the little'uns played with the little'uns.

When we arrived home DD chanted her usual hello - 'Maisy CD!' and I promised that she could watch it after both she and Maisy had finished their dinner. She seemed content with that and busied herself about the house, untidying this and drawing on that while I prepared food.

Once I'd cleared away all the uneaten food (and counted what she had eaten on the fingers of one hand), Maisy arrived and we settled down for a quite period of Woof cuddling and finger sucking. And that was just me. But apparently Maisy was out of favour today.

DD: "No, no!"
Me: "What's that matter?"
DD: "No, no!"
Me: "Ok... no what?"
DD: "No Maiseeeey. Bod, Bod"
Me: "You want to watch Bod?"
DD: (Excited giggles)
Me: (Changes CD over, CD starts)
DD: "No, no!"

Well we're fairly zipping through the days now aren't we! I should be all caught up after this post. Phew!


Day Nine: A Book That Makes You Sick
Well now, I've never read a book that's actually made me vomit. That would be a bit weird. But James Herbert's The Rats has such vivid description of the little furry ones knawing away at people that I did feel sick to my stomach. It was the first of a trilogy, with The Lair and Domain click clicking their little claws behind it. The man's a genius. And a bit strange...

Day Ten: A Book That Changed Your Life
OH's lovely sister recommended I read Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin while we were on holiday in the Maldives and I devoured it in one sitting. It scared the bejesus out of me. Thus started my life as a vegetarian. And it was actually very easy. Until I got pregnant. Then my raging hormones had me craving a big, fat, juicy steak and I gave in. (At the time I didn't know that they'd also written Skinny Bitch Bun In The Oven.) As soon as we either get lucky and get bumpy again or call it quits and stop trying, I'm going to read it again. And I'll probably become a veggie all over again. Note: if you don't want to know exactly what you're eating, don't read this book.


Day Eleven: A Book From Your Favourite Author
I'll wax lyrical about a lot of authors including Yann Martel, Manil Suri, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffrey Deaver and James Herbert but my current favourite is Stephen Fry. Probably because I'm reading a couple of his books now. Well, I say reading, I really only manage to get a couple of lines in after tomorrow's breakfast for DD is popped in the fridge (home-made Bircher museli, sooooo easy), emails and blog are checked and Twitter's been perused, before my eyes shut up shop for the night. I used to be able to finish a book in day or two. I'll be lucky if I finish this one by 2012. Anyway, I digress. Mr Fry has a way with words that I find beguiling. Try The Stars' Tennis Balls on for size if you're tentative about starting to read him. It's brilliant.


You can read the full list of challenges .


Photo credits: Jamer Herbert image: Pan Macmillan; Skinny Bitch image: Skinnybitch.net; The Stars' Tennis Ball image: Goodreads.

I've gotten a bit behind in the book challenge, (there was a involved that took some thinking about; that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it) so I've clumped together three days worth to catch up.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Day Six: Favourite Young Adult Book
Harry Potter or Twilight? Hang on. *Scans list of other days' questions to see if one of them could be used again...ahhh* Ok, Harry Potter it is. J.K. Rowling gets a lot of flack but according to Wikipedia, As of June 2008, the book series has sold more than 400 million copies and has been translated into 67 languages, and the last four books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history. Knock her all you like, the woman can write books that sell. I bought 'em and loved 'em.

Image courtesy of Amazon.co.uk

Day Seven: A Book You Can Quote/Recite
I'd like to recite something profound here that makes me seem worldly and intelligent.

"Here's a little baby, one two three, stands in his cot and what does he see?"

Ok, perhaps not. Still, Peepo by Janet and Allan Ahlbeg is a fab book and DD loves it.

Day Eight: A Book That Scares You

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org

At first the woman thought she had snagged her leg on a rock or a piece of floating wood. There was no initial pain, only one violent tug on her right leg. She reached down to touch her foot, treading water with her left leg to keep her head up, feeling in the blackness with her left hand. She could not find her foot.

The amazingly talented photographer and rather lovely person; Mari over at has tagged me for a sort of 'getting to know you better' MEME. I know some people roll their eyes and tutt when a meme post pops up so if that's you, I'll never speak to you again I won't be offended if you skip this one and move on. Seriously, no hard feelings.

Here goes...

If you could go back in time to relive one moment, what would it be?
Sorry, gotta pick two here. Firstly my wedding day. Making it official with the love of my life, surrounded by my wonderful friends and family, and wearing a seriously gorgeous dress that I will never manage to squeeze into again. So glad I went with the veil too. Well, when else are you going to wear one? Secondly, the day I found out I was pregnant with DD after over three long years of procedures, potions and patience. Pure unadulterated joy.

If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
I wouldn't. Any changes I made might send ripples out into the ether and remove other wonderful moments that I've been blessed with. 

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

Photo credit: Old letters by Simon Howden at freedigitalphotos.net. Read more Maya Angellou quotes over at Brainy Quote

A Book You Wished You Lived In

As much as I enjoyed a good part of my school days, I wouldn't want to go back and do them again. Unless I was attending Hogwarts perhaps or Mallory Towers.

I loved the boarding school series  as a young 'gell'. I had (and still do have) a terrible temper like the main character Darrell Rivers and the jolly spiffing friendship she strikes up with Sally Hope was not unlike my own best friendships back then.

Generally Darrell is an all round 'good egg'. When she first arrives at school the headmistress tells her and the other newbies that the school wants to turn out 'good strong women the world can lean on'. Darrell resolves to be one of these women. I cheered and was hooked. All good clean fun with a sprinkle of challenges which are not too taxing, lashings of moral messages and of course all's well that end's well.

Never read it? Here's a book summary from Enid Blyton.net:

Malory Towers is a boarding school for girls in Cornwall. Enid Blyton wrote six books for this series between 1946 and 1951. The heroine is Darrell Rivers, who enters the school in the first form and becomes head girl when she is in the sixth. But of course it's not all plain sailing for Darrell and her friends! Malory Towers has six forms, from the first to the sixth, and four house towers—North, South, East and West. There are about forty girls in each form, divided among the four houses. Darrell and Co are in North Tower, where most of the action takes place, and where the girls try not to run foul of strict housemistress Miss Potts, or the equally strict Matron.

I was taking my unpatented hangover cure this morning, well I say hangover, it was more like 'you had one glass of wine last night and now you've got a headache you cheap date you', and it's less of a cure and more of a strong cup of tea and a desert spoon of lemon curd, but hey, it works for me, and I got to thinking about the elasticity of time.

Sorry to get all existential on you (is this existential? Now that I've typed it I'm not so sure, will go and Google it and get back to you later), but time's a tricky thing. You've got to keep and eye on it.  When my alarm went off this morning at 6am (I know, I'm mad getting up an hour before the rest of the house, but this is my little piece of time) I blinked and it was 6.30am. Where did that half hour go? See, time up to it's old tricks again. One moment it's dragging it's heels like a schoolchild that doesn't want to go to double Maths and the next it's slipping through your fingers like silk. Everybody claims it as their own, we can save it and spend it, but nobody seems to have enough of it. It slows down at the dentist but speeds up at the cinema. Time loves to eat and drink - lunch time, tea time, dinner time, and my favourite, Pimms o'clock - and doesn't mind getting wet at bath time, but seems to run around stark naked (there's no getting dressed time, eh?). It has no beginning and no end but each of us can claim only a relatively small amount of it. Is it recycled I wonder?

Oh and by the way, I've checked, the elasticity of time isn't existential. Just to let you know, in case you were wasting time wondering. Time for me to go.

I really shouldn't have had that glass of wine.

Photo credit: Time by healingdream at freedigitalphotos.net

A book that makes you cry
Photo credits: Pile of books by Felixco, Inc. at freedigitalphotos.net. Ina May's Guide To Childbirth image courtesy of inamay.com.

Dear DD

Don't sweat the small stuff.
Don't let a day go by without finding the silver lining.
Don't be afraid to travel, see the world, drink it in. Lift your roots and decide where to carefully replant them.
Don't think of exercise as a chore; celebrate that you can walk and run and push and pull, revel in the power and grace of your body.
Don't think that English is enough. Try new languages, roll them around your mouth, taste cultures and people through their words.
Don't forget to be polite and fair to everyone you meet. Also, cultivate a good left hook.
Don't take drugs. Please.
Don't restrict things from your life - live life to the full and enjoy every minute of it. Hearts were made to be broken, bodies made to be enjoyed, chocolate made to be eaten. (Caveat: see above)
Don't underestimate the power of a hug or a smile.
Don't forget to dance. Lots.
Don't read women's magazines. Their world is fictitious. Women have boobs and bums and not-perfect skin and cellulite and off-white teeth and that's all fine. That's all life.
Don't think you need to be anything other than you already are, perfectly you.

And whatever you do, say, think, or feel, don't forget that I love you, unconditionally.

Mummy x

Day Three: A Book That Makes You Laugh Out Loud

If I'm not grabbed by a book by the end of the first chapter I don't usually finish it. I'm not a masochistic reader and my time to read is short. It either grabs or it goes. And then it goes out of my already-too-full-of-useless-stuff brain making this post nigh on impossible. So I'm skipping Day Two: Least Favourite Book and going straight to day three.

Cop out? Bite me. (Always wanted to say that.)

Last year when I was in a bit of a bad place, a book came along at just the right time to lift my spirits and have me crying with laughter. Dawn French's autobiographical is as brilliant as you'd expect and a combination of memoir, letters and funny stories. I read it when DD was finally asleep and often had to muffle my snorts with a pillow.
From her earliest memories (including the funniest episode with her father's 'trouser snake') to boarding school, meeting Jennifer Saunders and others, her relationship with Lenny Henry and adopting her daughter, I zoomed through this book wishing it wouldn't end. I have a lot to thank Ms French for, she reminded me that laughter really is the best medicine.

Photo credits: Pile of books by Felixco, Inc. at freedigitalphotos.net. Dear Fatty image courtesy of audible.co.uk.

Following a bit of a bad week this week (you can read why in and ), a quote for this week's Sunday Saying that reminds me of something my Mother says - 'this too shall pass'.



Photo credit: Old letters by Simon Howden at freedigitalphotos.net

So I was perusing some of the lovely bloggers out there and came across this interesting idea over at Carole Finds Her Wings and she kindly let me join in. Thanks Carole! You can see the full list of challenges here.


Day One: Favourite Book
God this is a hard one! There are soooo many I could choose here. But I'm going to go for by Yann Martel. It didn't appeal at all when I first read the blurb about it but the reviews were so strong (Booker Prize anyone?) that I hung my judgement back up in the closet, shut the door and ordered the paperback from Amazon. The reviews were spot on. The writing is magical and transports you into a frankly bizarre story that I couldn't tear myself away from. A boy trapped in a lifeboat, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with a tiger? Yes I know, but read it. Seriously.

"Life on a lifeboat isn't much of a life. It is like an end game in chess, a game with few pieces. The elements couldn't be more simple, nor the stakes higher. Physically it is extraordinarily arduous, and morally it is killing. You make adjustments if you want to survive. Much becomes expendable. You get your happiness where you can. You reach a point when you're at the bottom of hell, yet you have your arms crossed and a smile on your face, and you feel you're the luckiest person on earth. Why? Because at your feet you have a tiny dead fish."

Photo credits: Pile of books by Felixco, Inc. at freedigitalphotos.net, Life of Pi image courtesy of Goodreads

Why don't people get it? Won't don't they understand the frustration and concern that comes with a child that won't eat? Why don't they feel it too?

'She'll eat when she's hungry. Stop worrying about it.'
'She's just being independent. Stop worrying about it.'
'She won't eat just because you want her to. Stop worrying about it.'
'You're making it worse by worrying. Stop worrying about it.'

Really? You think I can flick a switch and stop worrying? Stop worrying that she hasn't eaten anything this week except a spoon or two of oatmeal, some watermelon, a bite or three of toast and a few cheerios? Stop getting frustrated when I have lunch with other Mums and their toddlers and she's the only one who refuses to eat a bite and just draws on everything instead?

Why don't they see that I'm programmed to need to feed her? And why isn't she hungry anyway? How is she functioning on so little food? How can she grow and develop and learn and play without nourishment? Why does this situation make me so angry, yes angry, and gnaw away at me until I'm crying with frustration? Why can't a hug be offered instead of advice? Why do I feel that I have to be so in control and why can't I just let it go?

Photo credit: 3D character with question mark by renjith krishnan at freedigitalphotos.net

I haven't much felt like posting any reasons to be cheerful for the last couple of weeks. Not sure why. I think walking down our long road to parenthood for the second time is getting me down more than I realised. It's easy to get distracted with DD running around and being so fabulous but it's always there in the back of my mind, and of course there's the trips to the hospital every week... but that's all for another post. THIS post is a kick up the backside to remind me of all the wonderful things I have in my life that I should be cheerful about and grateful for.

1. Crafty play dates with special mates
No, I don't have to sneak out and have them when no-one's looking, although come to think of it I like the idea of a crafty Mummy playdate including the odd margharita.... but I digress. I have a fantastic group of friends that I met when we were all pregnant together here in China and now that the little ones are all toddling around we've taken our play dates on a step to include basic craft activities. This week we had Spring in our hearts to we thought we'd try our hands at egg blowing in preparation for decorating them next week and displaying them prettily for Easter weekend. Some of us were better at blowing than others *cough*. Fab, fun afternoon.

2. BBC iPlayer
I'm feeling a bit homesick at the moment and listening to Alex Lester, Sarah Cox and friends on Radio 2 gives me a shot of Britishness with the added bonus of some good toons. I love the zaniness of the Best Time of The Day Show and it reminds me of the insanely early starts when I was working. I must have been mad!

3. Yoga
Back ache, urgh! DD has been a bit clingy recently and as she gets heavier my back gets sorer. Plus I'm still carrying a good 10 pounds of excess baby weight so I've started practising yoga every day again to help strengthen my back, tone up my stomach muscles and remind my body about good posture. I grab 30 minutes while DD is napping and I always feel so much better, physically and mentally.

4. Spring!
The Sun has finally got it's hat on over here and its great to be able to get out and about without bundling up in layers of coats and scarves. Watching DD running around the park, gleeful in her own freedom just to zoom around outside, reminds me that the simple pleasures in life really are the best.

Do you have reasons to be cheerful or grateful this week? Don't forget to link them up over at  and .

Dear boobs and bum

Look, we need to have a serious talk. One of you is getting bigger and the others are getting smaller. This was not what we agreed. Can't you do a job swap or something? Seriously?

Yours
Frustrated

**********
Dear ignorant man in restaurant

If you really wanted a quiet lunch, why did you wait ten minutes for the table in front of us to be empty, knowing full well that there was going to be a toddler sitting right behind you? And why did you think it was a good idea to have this conversation with me while DD was shaking my chewing gum box as a rattle to stop her from having a meltdown?

You: Doesn't he have ANY other game he can play?
Me: First of all, he is a she. And is it a problem?
You: Well, it is a little LOUD.
Me: She's a toddler, that's what they do. You can always move.

Yours
Wishing I'd just said f**k you, but of course I'm not as rude as you

**********
Dear Janice Long

Thank you so much for playing 'It takes two' by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock today. It had me bopping around the bathroom in my towel and put a big grin on my face for the rest of the morning.  Wooooo yeah!

Yours
I wanna rock right now

**********
Dear Me

You're embarrassing yourself. Really? Twilight? At your age?  Get over it.

Yours
Me

**********
Dear DD

Sorry your gums are sore my darling. You've got four more teeth growing there waiting to poke through. You go ahead and stuff everything in your mouth if it makes you feel better. And while you're at it, why not try popping some food in there too?

Love you
Your 'still wishing you'd eat more' Mummy

**********

I'll be linking my Dear So and So letters over at tomorrow. Who will you be writing to?

Not, as I first thought, a set of awards for those of us who are fruit-loopy enough to spend our spare time blogging instead of having a well-deserved rest, the MAD Blog Awards are in fact a celebration of great British families and their blogs - from beautiful design to inspirational writing, humour and innovation.

So I was talking to OH about my for this week's Listography over at , and he went all misty eyed and started reminiscing about his own musical memories. "What were your first five albums?" I asked him. Cue muttering, giggling and general preoccupation for a while until this appeared. Yes, I know there's six instead of five, but I let him have one extra. I'm nice like that.


With not much money around my early years were spent mostly with copious TDK C90's and 49p singles from Woollies. LPs purchases were pondered for weeks. Here's my first six...

Saturday Night Fever, The Bees Gees.
NY Disco goes global. So familiar now but ground breaking at the time. I dare anyone to listen and try not to dance. And the film (well Travolta actually) legitimised male grooming for a generation. YW says –' thank you John.'
(Editor's note: YW - Yummy Wife - gotta love him for that one)

Grease, The Movie Soundtrack.
Saw the film 3 times in a month, wanted to take 'slutty Sandie' (and Greased Lightning) home every time (still do). Stage a film sing-along every year with YW, SS and BIL. Will get a hot rod one day.
(Editor's note: SS - skinny sis, BIL - brother-in-law.)

Never Mind the Bollocks, Sex Pistols.
Here's the Sex Pistols. US version (pink cover). Covered the 'B* with tape so as not to upset me Mum. Love it to this day. UK '77 frustration smashed into vinyl'