A Matter of Choice

As the line from the best Christmas song ever goes.... the bells here were certainly ringing out for Christmas day, at about 6am at the big church just down the road. We had a lovely Christmas day at home (well here and my Mum & Dads but it's the same difference - it's only downstairs!) Louka was first awake but we still got a lie in as Leo didn't wake up till gone 7am, despite the church bells. Leo called me into his bedroom and I went and sat on his bed, he asked if it was time to get up but made no mention of presents.   I asked him if he remembered what we had hung up the night before, he looked around, didn't 'see' the stocking hanging right where he had put it and said 'ah, no presents came Mama'  Slightly bemused I pointed to the stocking and he gasped and jumped out of bed to get it - 'Aaaaah look Mamma, there's presents for me, woo hoo'  He was so excited he didn't even realise there were some more under the tree!...

For this week's Flashback Friday I'm sharing a poem I wrote many years ago (not sure when, maybe around 2001 when I lived on my own for the first time) for my Mum and Dad. Since joining us here in Cyprus they have both helped Aaron and I out a huge amount in many ways, more than we could ever thank them for and especially recently when I was struggling with the pregnancy and now with both the boys. I don't know what I would have done without them over the last couple of months, especially with Aaron working 7 days a week.   How can I thank you and show that I care,  for all that you've done and the times you've been there. I could never repay you, the debt is too deep,  You gave me everything, precious memories to keep.  Dad taught me honesty, how to learn from mistakes,  Mum, you try to protect me from those I might make. I never realised how lucky I am to have such support,  You spoilt me rotten, gave me all that I sought. ...

I was going to use a photo of Leo's homecoming for this week's Flashback Friday but as I have used them before when I wrote my birth story  I decided to use photos of MY homecoming instead! Last year my Mum guest posted on here to share the story of my birth.you can read it by clicking here My Nana and Granddad (Dad's side) were at our house to welcome the three of us home. Linking up to Flashback Friday, hosted by Lauren &  Jenny

After my miserable post last week  I thought I'd better join in with Reasons to stop being a moany old bag be Cheerful again! Actually writing that post and reading all the supportive comments made me feel a huge amount better so I'm very glad I wrote it.  It's actually given me my first reason to be cheerful in a roundabout way.... 1. Blogging - I just love it! I love the friends I've made through it and will continue to argue that they ARE friends even though we've not met in real life.  I am in more contact with them than most of my my real life friends in Cyprus, and certainly those in the UK! I love the fact that by writing my blog I'm creating a record of our life along the way too, and it's nice to look back over the last couple of years at things I would have forgotten otherwise. 2. Water - yes, quite a random reason you might think but not only am I constantly drinking it by the bucket, I'm loving the swimming pool right now!  Either havin...

I was very lucky as a child I got to go on several foreign family holidays over the years. I went to Malta twice as a toddler but the first holiday I have memories from was in the early eighties to Estepona in Spain, although I do wonder how many I'd have if it wasn't for the large amount of photos we have! I learnt my first foreign word on this holiday which was 'Helados' a very important word for a young child to know as it means 'ice cream'. I remember coming back to the villa one day to find the doorstep so covered in ants it looked completely black!  I remember that my parents forgot to give the villa key back and we realised once back in the UK, I kept that key (Casa 228, yep I can still remember what was written on it!) for years and years as my 'best ever' souvenir. Most importantly I remember walking through a tunnel (I assume under a road or something) with my Dad after he had had a drink or 3 when he announced he was "a little 'tidd...

Today is my birthday so I thought it would be a good idea to ask my Mum to share her memories of my arrival while I turn the computer off and go and eat a lot of cake :) Our daughter, Emma Joanne was born on Tuesday 11 th October 1977, at 11.10 am. (which was a coincidence) weighing 8 lbs .9 ¾ oz. (3.9 kilos). Being born on a Tuesday was apt, as Tuesday's Child if full of Grace - my Mum's name. Emma was delivered by Dr. Barnard, nephew of the heart surgeon, Christian Barnard, by Caesarean Section. I had undertaken fertility treatment, so we were extra lucky to have Emma. As proud parents Nick and I left the hospital on Thursday 20 th October, it was like stepping out into a different world, autumn had definitely arrived, golden leaves were everywhere, there had been none when I first arrived. Emma was wrapped in a shawl and I cradled her in my arms. Nick took us home to where her Grandparents (Nick's side)  were waiting for us, it was so good to get home....

Do you remember the days when you used to count down the days to your birthday? When you could hardly wait to be a year older? When birthdays were the best thing ever? I can very well, not unfortunately because it was only yesterday, but because I have a whole pile of photos from over the years to look back on. Next Tuesday is my birthday so in my weekly trip down memory lane for  Flashback Friday  I thought I'd relieve birthdays gone by... The years blend into one looking back but I loved everything about my birthday, from choosing the invites and writing them out at the dining table, and going with Mum to buy the matching party stuff weeks in advance as I'd be so excited. Coming downstairs in the morning to see presents and cards on the table waiting for me and usually presented in a really cool way, One year I had a 'Care Bear' theme (in fact maybe more than one year!) My Mum had brought an extra table cloth and had cut out pictures and decorated t...

It's Friday, and that means it's time for Flashbacks! We're going back to the 80's again, to a summer holiday in Minorca which I seem to recall was mainly spent in the pool or at the beach,  1985 was the year my Dad brought the best inflatable I have ever seen, (which is quite impressive as every shop I go in at the moment has a huge array of different things!)  How's this for a cool beach toy....  THE HAND! I don't know where he brought it from and have never seen one since, it certainly made an impression on the beach!  It was the best thing ever and I remember spending hours on it during that holiday. Unlike all other inflatable things we ever had we used to carefully deflate and take it home to use again next year.  It easily fit both Dad and myself and had a clear 'viewing window' on one of the fingers! This was taken in Cala Galdana, a short drive from the resort we stayed. We liked it so much that we actually went back ...

Just over three years ago I stood in a field with the most important people in my life...... AJ, Me and my parents at the site of our future home. We had just signed the papers to buy our new apartments, We had one of the penthouses and my parents brought an apartment on the ground floor. They were due to be completed in May 2009. We had no real idea of what we were doing, especially AJ and myself as we hadn't spent much time in Cyprus at all but it seemed like a good idea! We had no real plan of when we would be moving, the original plan was to be about now when AJ's work contract ran out and my parents retired. However plans changed several times for various reasons, (the main one being a certain little Leo arriving in the same month that they were due for completion!) AJ's contract ended early and we decided to make the move rather than look for more work in the UK.  Ground breaking on the site. It was a very strange process, knowing (or hoping!) t...

This week I haven't had to think too much about my reasons to be cheerful..... 1. My parents are in Cyprus! Just for a week at the moment but this time next month they will be here for good.  2. AJ is off work until Monday, taken holiday to coincide with my parents stay and have a couple of days out. 3. Leo is loving having so many people around, and seeing his Grandparents again. They have only been here a day and all you hear from him is "dandad, nana, more" as they tickle him or chase him round the balcony.

I love New Year's Eve, It seems that lots of people hate it but it's always been an important night for me. I've always loved it, ever since the parties that weren't really parties that my parents used to hold every year.  My Mum called it a gathering, and that's maybe what it would have been without my Dad and the important elements of plenty of whisky and Chas & Dave . We usually had a handful of people round, a few friends and a couple of neighbours maybe. I was always the only child and I generally allowed to stay up as long as I got into my pyjamas. (It's a good idea, partying in pyjama is the way forward I think, can literally fall into bed!) I think these nights are where I got my love of parties   gatherings from, I loved the preparation, the fact that we used to turn the dining table round across the patio doors was a big excitement for me ( I was young, it didn't take much!) I used to help Mum put out nibbles, sausage rolls, cheesey bis...

This week's Gallery prompt is a cracker...... LOVE.   Every week when I first read the prompt several photos pop straight into my mind, this week the first was a black and white one of Leo and me, followed by one of our wedding photos. Then it occurred to me, who first showed me what love is.... This is my parents on their wedding day back in 1974.  They taught me by example what Love is. They have had few days apart since meeting and would always rather spend time with each other above anybody else (well maybe expect me!)  I've never known them to have an argument, although I know that doesn't mean they haven't  - I'm sure they must have had words at least at some point in 36 years! Like me though they are not the arguing type, something else they taught me. It is rumoured that Mum once poured a glass of vodka over Dad,  - a story I have grown up hearing and although I don't think I'm ever going to know what actually happened it ...