I HAVE BEEN TO THE GYM TODAY

that's it. there's nothing more I need say...

Corsica in Autumn - wonderful!!

Texas Hot!

We had a fabulous trip to visit Gaby and Luis, and all our family in Texas!

Boy, it was hot! How do people live in that heat every day?! I almost died!
But now we're back home, I am really missing it, espeically as the UK is hot too at the moment and we have no air conditioning.

Gaby did everything she possibly could to make our trip wonderful - I just need a vacation now to get over the vacation! We went to San Antonio, Pedernales Falls and met and re-met many members of our extended family.

British Airways upgraded us for the return flight, how wonderful is that when you are tired and travelling with three young children! Despite all BA's troubles and my ever-present fear of flying, how I love them!!

The Horrors of Black Henna Tattoos

I really hope people find this page before getting a black henna tattoo, and not afterwards, as I did.

We were walking down the beach on our second-from-last day in Santorini. We spotted a young woman on the beach braiding hair, and , of course, my daughter wanted her hair braided to show her friends when she got home. Next to her stand, was another young woman doing "henna tattoos". Great! Something for my son too, so he wouldn't feel left out. I am a careful mum - OK, I am a bit over-protective. Henna is a natural substance, right?

wrong.

Black henna, as this turned out to be, is far form a natural substance.

Take a look at these pictures... these were taken several days alter, after we had returned to the UK. I took him to the doctors in the morning, about 4 days after the tattoo had been done. He was prescribed steroids and antibiotics. His arm was hurting and swelling. That night, he was very sick, and threw up several times.

from this...

to this horrible mess...




I went on line to read about henna - and realised my dreadful mistake.

Please, please, please think very hard before letting your child have a black henna tattoo - although it has now faded, there is every chance my beautiful 10 year old's arm may have permanent scarring...

You can imagine how I feel looking at these pictures. I am exposing my own ignorance in the hope it might help another child (or adult) avoid this dangerous substance.

It makes me feel sick.

Please avoid having these done...

Super Sunny Santorini!!!!!!! and Gaby's visit

12th July is "I love you" day...

I met my future husband on 12th July 2003. Having first corresponded 17 days before on the internet, he flew to England. It was the first day he ever looked me in the eyes and said "I love you" - and yes, it was at the airport, about 2 minutes after he first held me in his arms.

So it seems even more amazing that on 12th July precisely 6 years to the day, this is the very first time that my 21 month old daughter India looks me in the eye, and says, unprompted, "I love you".

I guess 12th July is most definitely my day... thanks to you both for making this day so wonderful x x

Thank you to Alex

on 12th July 2003, an American man flew to Enlgand and landed at Stansted airport. Around this time, a very nervous woman was driving to the same airport with a printed copy of a couple of emailed photos, a few printed emails, and a lot hope.

Could love really blossom between two strangers, started by an email on 25th June which led to a meeting 17 days later?

The answer, my friends, is most definately yes.



Alex scooped me up in his arms that day at the airport, kissed me and blew my mind. He has been doing that ever since, although he doesn't always know it, and I forget to tell him. Yes, the kids, the jobs, "life" gets in the way, as it does for us all. But that man turned out to be the very core of me, my love, my life, my everything.

Thank you for you, and thank you for India (and New York Houston, Las Vegas, Portland, Germany, France, Mauritius, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and all the other places we've seen together...!)



Happy 6 year anniversary on Sunday, my love. I love you x