A Modern Mother

Seize the day! (and the Mayflies)

There's something about a nice day that makes you want to take it by the hand and roll around in the grass. We spent Sunday evening picnicking in our secret spot on the Thames: a farmer's field perfect for frolicking. It was an impromptu meal made of what I could find  --  sticky sausages with honey and whole-grain mustard, a crusty loaf, Stilton and salad. I filled a pitcher with Pimms and lemonade, and panicked slightly when I couldn't find any cucumber (we made due with some cut apples and oranges.) Added a sprig of mint from the pot in the garden. Perfect.

I Heart Hannah Montana GIVEAWAY

I think y'all know that my girls are HUGE Hannah Montana fans. So am I. So shoot me.

The Disney Channel are dedicating a day of programming to the teen star on 31 May: I ♥  Hannah Montana. The day includes a bit of something for all her little loyal fans, including special programming and the announcement of the  Hannah Montana – Lights, Camera, Action! competition winner. Woo - hoo!

We're going to be in France and will unfortunately miss this extravaganza. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't mention this tragedy to my daughters. THEY will shoot me.

Can you see the two sides?

Early on in my career in the UK I worked with an icon in the IT industry. EVERYONE knew my boss. He was tall with salt and pepper hair and always wore a pinstriped suit with a red hankerchief in the pocket. It was fun to take him on press lunches; we'd go to Langans and he'd point out semi-famous people that I of course, fresh off the Silicon Valley boat, could not identify. He was full of industry stories, and I'd hear of staying at Larry's house and what a jerk Tom was.

One of the things I learnt from my boss is there is two sides to every story.

On one of our trips into London in a cab that smelt of stale cigarettes, I told him about an issue I was having with one of my peers. For months I had been at logger heads with this idiot. He sent me rude emails. He didn't like any of my ideas, and had actually red-lined a brochure I had spent months producing. Most of us would take a few minutes in the coffee area to chat and catch up -- but this colleague would rarely make an appearance. When he did, he'd make his coffee and leave, only muttering a quick hello.

Thumbs up -- Annabel's escalopes with tomato and basil sauce

Those that read my blog regularly know that my children aren't the best eaters and that I was slowly turning into England's version of Eyjafallajokull: catering to children and adults and picky eaters was going to make ME explode.

Thankfully that all stopped last year. I now make one evening meal that we all enjoy together. I can't tell you how much this has transformed my life. It's worth it just to walk by the fish finger aisle and not mentally calculate how many boxes I need for the week.

So when Annabel Karmel asked me to try out some of the recipes from her latest cooking bible -- Top 100 Pasta Dishes -- I agreed. This book clearly was written for me. Pasta is an all time favourite, and the tagline is: 100 easy, everyday recipes for the whole family. This woman is after my heart (or my paycheck). 

But I don't want the man with the blue tie mummy

But I don’t want David Cameron to be prime minister, my eight-year-daughter told me this morning, as we listened to Radio 4 discuss the hung parliament.

Why?

He wants to take away tax credits from children (I'm sure she has no idea what a tax credit is, but damn the man who wants to taken them from her).

AND, he wants to bring back fox hunting (she must have seen the “ashes to ashes” billboard on the way into London last weekend.)

Interrupted travel plans

When my grandmother was eight, she went on a trip to visit her grandparents in Switzerland. It must have been quite an adventure for the little girl who lived in the tiny California city of Santa Maria; a train ride across the United States to New York and then a week long sea voyage to France. The journey ended with an overnight train to Locarno, in the Ticino region of Switzerland.

Like so many other Europeans in the late 1800s, my great grandfather Frederico left his homeland to make a new life in America. Most immigrants couldn’t afford to go back to see family, but Frederico had made the journey once before; returning to marry his childhood love, Pia, “the most beautiful girl in the village.” Fourteen years later he returned again, this time with Pia and their four children. He wanted to show off his new family.

What to wear to CyberMummy -- Take 2

This is a sponsored post

The search for something to wear to CyberMymmy continues. Many of you were kind and encouraging last week with your comments (what else do you say to someone with a bum the size of Alaska?) A few of you though were straight with me and suggested I look for something else.

So I had a little browse on eBay's Fashion Outlet this (rainy) morning and this Occasions Bubble Satin Dress caught my eye. £29.99 (original price £85). Postage £2.95. It's available in size 14. The gathered waist suits me, and it's not too short. It may be a bit too dressy though as I'll probably be shifting boxes of pasta to bloggers (thanks Garofalo) and putting together stages last minute. But maybe I could change into it for the CyberMummy party?!