Category: Family life
My Maison, Mia Casa..
On this special day when our friends across the pond are celebrating Thanksgiving, others are celebrating Hanukkah (and some are even celebrating the unique Thanukkah (not to be seen again for another 79,000 years)) I thought I’d welcome you all into my house for a few festive nibbles and a couple of glass of something cold and classy to raise a toast to everlasting joy, happiness and all that’s good with the world!
(Yep. The laundry room makes it. Just because I love organised laundry..)
With love,
Kate xxx
A Family Wonder Event x
On Saturday we had an early Christmas present..a family day out at the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park courtesy of ‘Fairy’, Bella and Charlie’s wonderful Godmother. Such a brilliant idea…memories are so much better than bits…honestly, she is the best!
We all went ice skating on the Wonderland ice rink and watched Charlie demonstrate his natural kamikaze skills..
And Bella showed her elegance. They both have regular lessons so they left us for dust.
We couldn’t have picked a better day.
Spot the extrovert.
We’d been before – 2 years ago..but this year was different. The traditional was everywhere, like this fire pit..specially designed for roasting marshmallows..how special?!
Charlie and Bella with Fairy doing just that!
Which meant there was always a sweet smell of smoke on the air mixed with mulled wine and chocolate….
Who needs to go to Germany when Germany’s in London?
Too much information..
There were also playthings for the adults..depending on how many bratwurst sausages you’d eaten..and how much you minded them repeating..
We also had a very funny trip into the freezing Magical Ice Kingdom to see the ice sculptures (NB There’s also an ice bar..cheaper than a trip to the infamous Ice Hotel)….but apologies..all my pics are blurred as I was laughing too much….at the end is an ice slide….suffice to say unless you had the right coat on (Fairy) it was more of a bottom shuffle (Husband)…
It was a delicious, delightful, delectable day to savour for a long, long time..
Kisses to our amazing Fairy! – memories are made of this.
Laters, Kate x
R.I.P Packhorse..
My beloved buggy is no more. Held together by cellotape for the last few months, it has finally given it’s last hurrah and collapsed in a little metallic heap.
Not surprising given the extensive tours of duty it’s performed over the years. And truth be told, for much of this year it hasn’t even been used as a buggy really except for the odd sneaky sleepy…
Instead I’ve been that mad woman walking the streets of South West London pushing my vacant buggy like an unaccepting empty-nester. We got attached Buggy and me..he became my ever-faithful ever-there friend getting me and my clobber from a to b in relative safety..picnic stuff/blankets/cricket bits/footballs/school bags/swimming/gym kits/shopping..buggy did the lot with never so much as a word of complaint, saving my sanity, shoulders and let’s be honest..multiple trips to the chiropractor.
So what am I to do now? I can’t carry this lot..I swear most people drive to the school because of the amount stuff required on a day to day basis. I don’t want to drive to the shops or order on the internet either, I get little enough time to exercise as it is..and I’m rather proud that in the urban sprawl that is London we actually do more walking than the majority of our country friends.
So is it wrong to be thinking of getting a trolley? (she whispers very quietly) Can I break the old woman stereotype? Is there a fresh, modern perspective on the art of lugging?
There is this option I’ve found that looks pretty/traditional (picture with plaid picnic rug and warm baguette peaking out..she urges in hope..) ..even if it would take up half the hall…and is’t waterproof.
Or this ..ugly..but cheap and sort-of practical?
Or these, playing the trump card of up-cycling, they’re made from old cement bags and not bad at £39.99 a pop. Bit more street cred? Or am I sadly kidding myself?
I found this one made from an old sail…at bit more expensive at £85.00..but?…. still granny?
![plegamatic-mono-black-white-213-p[ekm]199x300[ekm]](https://maisonbentleystyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/plegamatic-mono-black-white-213-pekm199x300ekm.jpg)
![rolser-folding-trolleys-9-c[ekm]133x150[ekm]](https://maisonbentleystyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/rolser-folding-trolleys-9-cekm133x150ekm.jpg)
Or this one made in Spain by Rolser where they have cobbled streets (it has to last and they swear it does)..it’s £66 and folds up as a shoulder bag till you need the wheels..then ‘ping’ …trolley!..an acceptable-face-saving-vaguely-trendy-compromise?
What do you think? Which would you choose? Would you choose? Help!
Laters, Kate x
Coffee Time..
Sometime it’s the simple things in life that make the magic and one of those things for me are Creative Coffee Mornings. They were started by the lovely Sophy three years ago when she made the genius decision that chatting over coffee with young children was so much more fun when creating was involved. Originally we’d all take over our unfinished projects and use the time to give ourselves much needed permission to finish, but now Sophy and best friend Minta have developed it further and prepare, for a small fee, everything in advance with a termly timetable of weekly delights..If you live near SW London there is a website. Next week is festive nibbles..followed wreath making..with an extra mulled wine evening version for the men to join as well! (In half term I sent the Husband and Charlie to make jam..the perfect antidote to brain boil).
Sophy and Minta at work.
This week was Christmas Spirits (whooo hoooo!) with much tasting needed..
And homemade chocolates!
(Accompanied naturally by coffee and delicious nibbles. Lush)
The stewing blackberries for the Bramble Brandy..the smell was sublime.
I chose the Sloe gin option..for me it’s such a rarity to get hold of genuine sloes..and the Brucie Bonus..these came from Minta’s parents’ farm in Dorset. They were frozen because the best Gin comes from sloes picked after the first frost.
The skins are pricked and placed in a bottle.
Sugar and a couple of almonds are added, then it’s all topped off with the gin and shaken. Onto the chocolates…with orange peel, ginger, cranberries, dried strawberries, dried raspberries and almonds..
Sprayed with edible gold for that extra Christmassy feel.
This to me is living life to the full and I love it!
Laters, Kate x
Sub-life x
I love the older generation – I’m sure it’s a genetic trait passed down from my Grandmother who collected them like a matriarchal mother hen. In her eighties she’d regularly drive (rarely getting out of second gear) other people to their adult learning classes, ‘So-and-so is in their nineties’, she’d say, incredulously, ‘And still independent!’
I don’t even avoid them in supermarket queues..like the other day when in an attempt to squeeze a few extra, precious seconds of the day I tried to do a lightening supermarket run just before school pick-up. Except the magic elongating of time never happened so by the time I reached the check-out with my full basket of stuff I hadn’t realised I’d needed it was already the witching hour of 3.15 (pick-up)…and I was third in the queue….bad, very bad. The elderly lady at the front was finishing up her purchases, bags packed, money paid which was great..except just as I thought she was all done she produced, like something from the Hobbit, this enormous, bulging plastic bag of loose change..I literally felt a hand of horror clasp my now heaving throat. She did have the grace to turn to all of us..
‘Would you mind dreadfully if I got this changed here?’
I gulped, I never, ever, EVER make a fuss…but..it wasn’t just Charlie I was due to pick up..it was his friend as well..so even with the ghost of my Grandmother wagging her finger at me…
‘I’m so sorry’ I piped up..’I’m already late for school pick-up..and I’m sure there’s a change machine round the corner at the far end?’…
‘Oh no. I tried there. It’s out of order.’
‘I’m so sorry..it’s my son and his friend..they’re only four..and in reception..and I’m already late….’
‘Oh well..you see..it’s my husband. He’s just died and this is all the change from his pockets.’
The lino floor opened up and dragged me down to hell…
Laters, Kate x
Time..
Monday night, 11.45 pm – Check timetable for the next day. Tip-toe round Bella’s room looking for reading book, find under her covers, put in school bag. Do the same for Charlie (on the floor. The book). Collect up homework, put in bags..the RIGHT school bags (been there before) Put said bags by door. Find all four shoes, leave by door, ready. Stuff for piano lesson? Sorted..Swimming for tomorrow?..Gym stuff? Done. Mobile charging, keys ready, purse in a sensible place? Tick. Lay out Bella’s uniform. Lay out Charlie’s uniform. Put a wash on in the utility room. Go to bed.
6.25 am – The Husband leaps out of bed, full of joy and runs down stairs to start breakfast.
6.30 am alarm actually goes off. Roll over like a sack of potatoes.
7.00 am Children get up and start fighting.
7.05 am ‘Charlie put your socks on’
7.10 am ‘Charlie put your socks on’
7.15 am ‘Charlie put your socks on’
7.20 am ‘Charlie put your socks on’
7.25 am ‘Charlie put your shoes on’. Husband leaves..he no longer says ‘have a good day’..just wishes me luck.
7.30 am ‘Charlie put your shoes on’
7.35 am ‘Charlie put your shoes on’
7.40 am ‘Charlie, why haven’t you eaten breakfast?’
7.45 am ‘Charlie brush your teeth’
7.50 am ‘Charlie brush your teeth’
7.55 am ‘CHARLIE PUT YOUR SHOES ON’
8.00 am Open door to go…it’s raining..you need raincoats..where ARE your raincoats?
Spend the next 10 minutes looking.
late….
AGAIN.
xxxxxxx
Happy Haunting…..
MWaaaah-ha-ha-haaaaaa…..
xxx
The Circus..
I’ve been swimming around my goldfish bowl wondering what’s a girl to do? How’s it possible to write a follow on post to THAT party? From all the bubbling laughter and excess champagne I’m propelled into my first ever bout of poster’s block. Confessions of a disco queen..I’m writing in circles…it just doesn’t feel right to comment on the latest autumn trend…
It’s also half term…so how about a nostalgic trip to the circus? Which not only the kids loved..but I did too..
Laters, Kate x
A special day x
Today is my daughter Bella’s seventh birthday. She was my IVF baby, born after six years of heartache, seven miscarriages and 2 years of no pregnancies (which I am sure was psychological..but it really didn’t help). With her birth on this day all those years ago I finally became a Mummy.
I still carry the scar tissue..infertility is a time I wouldn’t wish on anyone – you beat yourself up for the futility of hoping, nose permanently pressed against the glass, it becomes personal. A retina searing pain that makes you disappear under the burden of inner reflection..the only person to blame being you. Something so simple, so natural…so unachievable.
We literally threw everything we had at it..and we were oh so lucky. The tides finally turned and she arrived..the most beautiful baby I had ever seen..a fairy child. And she remains the most beautiful inside and out child to this day…the rarest and most delicate of gifts. I celebrate.
Laters, Kate x
Last of the Summer x
There’s been a ten degree temperature drop over night here in London and heavy rain is predicted…but there are still memories to savour as the back to school routine kicks into gear..
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 