Kate Winslet announced her third pregnancy this week, with her third husband......*everybody gasps*
*except me*
Seriously, the comments I have seen on twitter, Facebook (not that I give an arse about what people on Facebook think) and online forums, anyone would think she's announced her third child with her brother!
Disgusting, slag, 3x3, chav, gross with no morals...the list of charming names being spewed out by some seriously ignorant and sad people, is endless. Is it really so bad in this day and age to have three children by three fathers, she married them so surely that counts for something? Is it really that reckless and irresponsible to warrant the abuse and self righteous opinions that people are throwing at her?
Let me tell you a story,
Once upon a time a beautiful young woman with golden blonde hair and sparkly blue eyes met a young man at work, they fell in love and had a bouncing baby boy, it appeared over time that the young man had mental health issues, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he battled so deeply, and when he couldn't take it anymore he walked up to Archway Bridge and jumped off and killed himself.
Distressed and alone, the young woman tried to rebuild her life with her baby boy and after some time had passed met another young man, and fell in love, together they had lovely twin daughters! The woman was so blissful and happy, after everything that had happened, she had a future to look forward too.
That was until the twins father decided he could no longer cope with being a parent, he had met a new woman at work and wanted to be with her, so off he went, without a second glance, leaving the twins, leaving the mother, never to be heard of again for over twenty years.
So on the beautiful blonde woman went, three kids, 2 fathers gone and a bleak future ahead.
That is until 6 years later she met the man that was to be her husband, a kind, caring loyal man, whom she had a little girl with, her fourth and final child, 4th child, 3rd father (the twins, remember - keep up)
Until he died. Killed in a car accident. He died and she was alone with four children, and she remained alone for the rest of their childhood because she could bear no more pain and trauma. Four kids, three fathers, all gone. Through no fault of her own. Alone.
The blonde woman is my mother, and the above is all true.
I know that this differs to Kate Winslet's scenario, after all she is divorced not widowed. The point is, life is out of our hands, we rarely get to choose how life will pan out for ourselves. Sometimes things just happen and you have to deal with it the best way you know how. Things end and you find hope with new beginnings, and hell sometimes they end too. It's easy to become disheartened.
Clearly Kate doesn't, clearly she believes she will get her fairy tale ending, and why the hell shouldn't she. We all deserve to be happy don't we? After a certain amount of break ups should we just shut ourselves down, declare shop closed, and never seek for happiness with another person for as long as we shall live?
I seriously hope not.
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Friday, 7 June 2013
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Just call me Nigella!..
Despite the fact that I'm staying in a very Beautiful house and in a very Beautiful country, due to not being able to drive and Canberra being very spread out, I'm a tad bored at the moment. There's only so many times I can walk to the Dinosaur Museum and back, so.. I've been BAKING! Anyone that knows me knows that this is a long and painful process (before I met my Chef boyfriend, I couldn't even cook pasta properly, or an egg!) but I am getting there, and actually getting to be rather good(Ish)
In the last three weeks I've made cakes, cookies, brownies, and today's effort, Banana Bread!
Apart from Baking, I've also taken up Golf watching. Mike's parents basically live on a golf course, and from the bay windows of the front room where Jacob and I sit and have breakfast and lunch, you can see all the golfers in their funky outfits! (Mike's mum's been known to wave at them in her nightie! ha!) and actually I've began to find it quite soothing, its like constantly having guests, all day. I can hear the buggy's and the chatter and the whacking of the balls. After 4pm when there's no risk of being brained by a golf ball, Jacob and I go out there and look for the Kangaroo's who live in the wild on the course (or Flangeroo's as Jake calls them)
So that's us, that's what we're doing at the moment (or at least until Mike's parents get back and I get lifts again!) Although we are heading to Sydney this weekend to stay with friends, visit markets, do the sights and have a drink or fifteen, so I am ridiculously excited.
If anyone's got any good recipes especially for toddlers, do share with me!
In the last three weeks I've made cakes, cookies, brownies, and today's effort, Banana Bread!
 |
| Banana and Sultana Bread |
 |
| Marshmallow, Chocolate and Jam Cake. |
 |
| Mike's Birthday Malteaser Cake! |
Apart from Baking, I've also taken up Golf watching. Mike's parents basically live on a golf course, and from the bay windows of the front room where Jacob and I sit and have breakfast and lunch, you can see all the golfers in their funky outfits! (Mike's mum's been known to wave at them in her nightie! ha!) and actually I've began to find it quite soothing, its like constantly having guests, all day. I can hear the buggy's and the chatter and the whacking of the balls. After 4pm when there's no risk of being brained by a golf ball, Jacob and I go out there and look for the Kangaroo's who live in the wild on the course (or Flangeroo's as Jake calls them)
 |
| The view onto the golf course, very early in the morning |
 |
| Jacob looking for Flangaroos |
So that's us, that's what we're doing at the moment (or at least until Mike's parents get back and I get lifts again!) Although we are heading to Sydney this weekend to stay with friends, visit markets, do the sights and have a drink or fifteen, so I am ridiculously excited.
If anyone's got any good recipes especially for toddlers, do share with me!
Monday, 20 May 2013
Babies; what comes next??
....and then there were three..
Mike's parents (and lovely hosts) have gone away for three whole weeks, leaving us the house to ourselves! considering we've barely had any time together during the last month and a half, this is most welcome!
As much as I enjoy having them around, and I actually really do (we bake, talk, go shopping, go for coffee etc - there's a lot to be said for hanging around retired folk! they're never to busy for you) I'd almost forgotten what its like to live as the three of us. So far its been bliss, I'm going through recipes, planning our return to London (my Dad and sister are viewing a house for us on Wednesday....eeeek!excited!) and I can watch all the episodes of Made In Chelsea I want! *que evil laughter*
However, as much as this lazing around is lovely, I've also been getting my walk on too, which has resulted in losing a few lbs, I've also been arranging to get back into part time work for our return to the great city. I definitely think its time and I really, really do miss working now. With no plans to have another brat (Oops I meant baby...naughty typos, aherm) within the next few years, I would really like to get on some sort of career track, the problem is I don't know what!
Over the years, I've done all sorts. I left home at sixteen and pretty much went straight into hospitality, my first bar job being in Liverpool (first love/boyfriend was at Uni there) and then being transferred within the same brewery/company back to a London (when we broke up) The City Of London to be exact, I ended up working just off Fleet Street and then near St Pauls for around 5 years. Working in hospitality in the city for a long time is certainly an eye opener, I could tell you stories that would put hairs on your chest. Those naughty business folk.
By the time I was 22 I was running my own little Gastro pub in Clapham Common, then in Wiltshire, I loved it and was pretty good at it, I was good at managing people, good at events and marketing, I kept on top of the cash management and good stock control, and I had a bloody good time, meeting some of my dearest best friends along the way.
I then gave it all up for love (hospitality's not great for the relationship, long hours)and to travel to Australia with Mike to meet his family. On my return to London I dabbled with being a PA to the Director of a TV & film production company, I did really enjoy that until the low wages and the fact that the Director was deranged, with a penchant for throwing things at people, put me off.
I then sloped back to hospitality with my tail in between my legs and started working at a place in Fulham that taught ex servicemen how to become chefs and work within the hospitality industry (Mike and I worked on this together) A lot of these men were suffering from PTSD and other issues, so it was certainly a challenge but well worth it when you saw them progress and finish the course (which sadly not a lot did)
After a year, I got made redundant...on the same day I found out I was pregnant. I was swiftly hired by the lovely Sammy at Sammy Duders pottery shop in Clapham and spent probably one of the best summers of my life helping create baby hands and feet imprints in clay and ceramics whilst my belly grew bigger and bigger and I neared towards my due date.
That was almost two years ago, and bar the occasional shift at Mike's old café on New Kings Rd, I've not worked since..... So what should I do?
Hospitality hours don't work with children, try my hand at being a PA again? It's really scary being almost thirty with no solid career to fall back on. Has anyone changed career after having children and how?
I'm excited though, I feel like coming to Australia and having time out from the craziness of London has given me the reality check I needed and got me my mojo back! I know it sounds proper cheesy *passes vom bucket to you* but I really want to make Jacob as proud of me as I am of him.
Mike's parents (and lovely hosts) have gone away for three whole weeks, leaving us the house to ourselves! considering we've barely had any time together during the last month and a half, this is most welcome!
As much as I enjoy having them around, and I actually really do (we bake, talk, go shopping, go for coffee etc - there's a lot to be said for hanging around retired folk! they're never to busy for you) I'd almost forgotten what its like to live as the three of us. So far its been bliss, I'm going through recipes, planning our return to London (my Dad and sister are viewing a house for us on Wednesday....eeeek!excited!) and I can watch all the episodes of Made In Chelsea I want! *que evil laughter*
However, as much as this lazing around is lovely, I've also been getting my walk on too, which has resulted in losing a few lbs, I've also been arranging to get back into part time work for our return to the great city. I definitely think its time and I really, really do miss working now. With no plans to have another brat (Oops I meant baby...naughty typos, aherm) within the next few years, I would really like to get on some sort of career track, the problem is I don't know what!
Over the years, I've done all sorts. I left home at sixteen and pretty much went straight into hospitality, my first bar job being in Liverpool (first love/boyfriend was at Uni there) and then being transferred within the same brewery/company back to a London (when we broke up) The City Of London to be exact, I ended up working just off Fleet Street and then near St Pauls for around 5 years. Working in hospitality in the city for a long time is certainly an eye opener, I could tell you stories that would put hairs on your chest. Those naughty business folk.
By the time I was 22 I was running my own little Gastro pub in Clapham Common, then in Wiltshire, I loved it and was pretty good at it, I was good at managing people, good at events and marketing, I kept on top of the cash management and good stock control, and I had a bloody good time, meeting some of my dearest best friends along the way.
I then gave it all up for love (hospitality's not great for the relationship, long hours)and to travel to Australia with Mike to meet his family. On my return to London I dabbled with being a PA to the Director of a TV & film production company, I did really enjoy that until the low wages and the fact that the Director was deranged, with a penchant for throwing things at people, put me off.
I then sloped back to hospitality with my tail in between my legs and started working at a place in Fulham that taught ex servicemen how to become chefs and work within the hospitality industry (Mike and I worked on this together) A lot of these men were suffering from PTSD and other issues, so it was certainly a challenge but well worth it when you saw them progress and finish the course (which sadly not a lot did)
After a year, I got made redundant...on the same day I found out I was pregnant. I was swiftly hired by the lovely Sammy at Sammy Duders pottery shop in Clapham and spent probably one of the best summers of my life helping create baby hands and feet imprints in clay and ceramics whilst my belly grew bigger and bigger and I neared towards my due date.
That was almost two years ago, and bar the occasional shift at Mike's old café on New Kings Rd, I've not worked since..... So what should I do?
Hospitality hours don't work with children, try my hand at being a PA again? It's really scary being almost thirty with no solid career to fall back on. Has anyone changed career after having children and how?
I'm excited though, I feel like coming to Australia and having time out from the craziness of London has given me the reality check I needed and got me my mojo back! I know it sounds proper cheesy *passes vom bucket to you* but I really want to make Jacob as proud of me as I am of him.
Me and my munchkin.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
My holiday romance.
I am having a holiday romance. We see each other every afternoon, It's my little escape from everybody else, it's a relaxing, so very calming and beautiful romance! My lover? A teeny tiny little village that goes by the name of Ginninnderra!
My god, if I could pocket this tiny little corner of the world and bring it home I would. It's a very old little hamlet that many, many years ago would have been the hub of the community - general store, a tiny old school house and other gorgeous little wooden shack houses with white porches and picket fences. At present it's a little tourist attraction, the school house is a quaint little cafe that sells afternoon tea and yummy fudge, the shack houses are boutique style shops selling gorgeous trinkets, bags, baby bits n bobs. There's an amazing little cupcake workshop that has this shabby chic coolness combined with old style granny home cooking charm, wooden tables stripped bare to their original woods and rickety little chairs painted pastel. There's an ice cream parlour with outside seating on its white panelled porch; the salted caramel ice cream is orgasmic! There's coffee shops, restaurants, surrounded by green trees and pebbled pathways. Much to Jacobs delight, in Ginninnderra, their is even a dinosaur museum! A wonderful independent family run place with the most incredible dinosaur display at the outside entrance.... Jacob is now OBSESSED with Dinosaurs, and runs around shouting 'irosooors' all day every day.
Luckily for us, the museum and the rest of the village is literally a five minute walk away, which is handy as I can't drive and everywhere else in Canberra is definitely not within walking distance. It's my one place where I can go and fully relax, when everyone else is at work and busy, Jacob and I will be up their having a babychinno and a banana muffin.
This place transports me back in time to a historic place where I can use my imagination. I love everything old, old churches, old towns, old houses.
Lush.
My god, if I could pocket this tiny little corner of the world and bring it home I would. It's a very old little hamlet that many, many years ago would have been the hub of the community - general store, a tiny old school house and other gorgeous little wooden shack houses with white porches and picket fences. At present it's a little tourist attraction, the school house is a quaint little cafe that sells afternoon tea and yummy fudge, the shack houses are boutique style shops selling gorgeous trinkets, bags, baby bits n bobs. There's an amazing little cupcake workshop that has this shabby chic coolness combined with old style granny home cooking charm, wooden tables stripped bare to their original woods and rickety little chairs painted pastel. There's an ice cream parlour with outside seating on its white panelled porch; the salted caramel ice cream is orgasmic! There's coffee shops, restaurants, surrounded by green trees and pebbled pathways. Much to Jacobs delight, in Ginninnderra, their is even a dinosaur museum! A wonderful independent family run place with the most incredible dinosaur display at the outside entrance.... Jacob is now OBSESSED with Dinosaurs, and runs around shouting 'irosooors' all day every day.
Luckily for us, the museum and the rest of the village is literally a five minute walk away, which is handy as I can't drive and everywhere else in Canberra is definitely not within walking distance. It's my one place where I can go and fully relax, when everyone else is at work and busy, Jacob and I will be up their having a babychinno and a banana muffin.
This place transports me back in time to a historic place where I can use my imagination. I love everything old, old churches, old towns, old houses.
Lush.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Decisions, decisions....
As you all probably know, mike, Jacob and I are all over in Australia at the moment. We are in Mike's hometown of Canberra and are quite frankly having a blast. It's a gorgeous, family - friendly, city, with lovely affordable, family homes, plenty of places for young kiddies, great malls, stylish shops/restaurants/cafes. We came over as we'd had a tough time of late in London. We came over to visit Mike's family, get our heads sorted and to see if we could ever call Canberra home.
I've been with Mike 5 years now and we have always discussed moving here when the time is right. I always said maybe when we have kids, which of course we now have, yet I have still decided that I'm not ready to move over. When I read over the first sentence of this post it's hard to get my head around why I'm not ready? It's perfect , what is there not to like?
The truth is, you cannot be where you do not see yourself being, you cannot force a move when your heart is not in it. How do you compromise when one of you wants to live somewhere and the other doesn't? The pressure on me has mounted so high that I am now backing away from it all, the disappointment in mike's family's faces.. the disdain, the look in their eyes saying "fine, go home, you'll be in a mess again within a few months and don't expect us to bail you out next time"
It's like this MASSIVE fat elephant in the room whenever we are all together and I just don't know how to explain why?
Because I love London, and it's people and its parks, and places and atmosphere and buzz. It's my home.
Because I love my sisters so much, and when its their turn to have babies, I want to be there standing next to them holding their hands and watching their children grow. Not having to communicate with family and friends via a whispered telephone call in the dead of the night due to time differences.
Because, even though Mike and I have been through a difficult patch financially, I want us to prove that we can get back on our feet. We've been blissfully happy in London before and I want to, need to prove to myself that I can do that again, that I don't need to rely on others to bail me out. I'm fiercely independent and do not need people looking over my shoulder and commenting on everything I do.
I don't know if I'll ever be ready. Am I stringing mike and his family along? I sure as hell hope not? Is it normal to be pressurised this much?
Who knows. All I do know is, London, I'll be seeing you on July 15th.
I've been with Mike 5 years now and we have always discussed moving here when the time is right. I always said maybe when we have kids, which of course we now have, yet I have still decided that I'm not ready to move over. When I read over the first sentence of this post it's hard to get my head around why I'm not ready? It's perfect , what is there not to like?
The truth is, you cannot be where you do not see yourself being, you cannot force a move when your heart is not in it. How do you compromise when one of you wants to live somewhere and the other doesn't? The pressure on me has mounted so high that I am now backing away from it all, the disappointment in mike's family's faces.. the disdain, the look in their eyes saying "fine, go home, you'll be in a mess again within a few months and don't expect us to bail you out next time"
It's like this MASSIVE fat elephant in the room whenever we are all together and I just don't know how to explain why?
Because I love London, and it's people and its parks, and places and atmosphere and buzz. It's my home.
Because I love my sisters so much, and when its their turn to have babies, I want to be there standing next to them holding their hands and watching their children grow. Not having to communicate with family and friends via a whispered telephone call in the dead of the night due to time differences.
Because, even though Mike and I have been through a difficult patch financially, I want us to prove that we can get back on our feet. We've been blissfully happy in London before and I want to, need to prove to myself that I can do that again, that I don't need to rely on others to bail me out. I'm fiercely independent and do not need people looking over my shoulder and commenting on everything I do.
I don't know if I'll ever be ready. Am I stringing mike and his family along? I sure as hell hope not? Is it normal to be pressurised this much?
Who knows. All I do know is, London, I'll be seeing you on July 15th.
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Battle of the High-streets
Being in Australia and all, it would be rude not to do a bit of shopping and check out what's hot & what's not down under.
With this being my 4th trip here I've already got my faves and a pretty good idea of what shops suit me best (style and fit!) 'Cotton On' is great for your basics - tee's, shorts, scarves, summer dresses, it's cheap n cheerful and has a great children's department too. 'Sportsgirl' is a bit like Topshop in that it caters for the young and is current and up to date with its catwalk copies & ok-ish prices (latest celebrity collaboration/collection by Whitney Port) 'Bardot' is sparkly party Saturday night outfits and 'Forever New' is a floaty, feminine, very pretty collection of dresses, skirts and pastel colours, with gorgeous accessories but on the pricier side.
Having said all that, I have often struggled to find clothes here and my unadventurous British side has often hankered for a straight forward H&M, Topshop or Gap!
Luckily for the Aussies, this is beginning to happen, with recent openings of Zara and Topshop Flagships in Melbourne (not Sydney surprisingly, 1-0 to Melbs) H&M and River Island making appearances and the nationwide openings of Gap. I do wonder with the arrival of these global retail giants, what will become of the Australian high street stores?
Other Australian brands include Supre, which I find too young for me (think Tammygirl) and Myer, which is one of their main department stores, and has a brilliant children's brand called Sprout.
They have Espirit, which we have too., and ASOS have developed an Aussie web too, which certainly opens up many shopping opportunities!
As much as I'm a creature of habit, I desperately need a dress for a party on Saturday night, so it's time to get shopping, Australian style!
Some of high-street brands/webs repping the UK (and other countries)
Some of the high-street brands repping Australia
My beloved Cotton On!
With this being my 4th trip here I've already got my faves and a pretty good idea of what shops suit me best (style and fit!) 'Cotton On' is great for your basics - tee's, shorts, scarves, summer dresses, it's cheap n cheerful and has a great children's department too. 'Sportsgirl' is a bit like Topshop in that it caters for the young and is current and up to date with its catwalk copies & ok-ish prices (latest celebrity collaboration/collection by Whitney Port) 'Bardot' is sparkly party Saturday night outfits and 'Forever New' is a floaty, feminine, very pretty collection of dresses, skirts and pastel colours, with gorgeous accessories but on the pricier side.
Having said all that, I have often struggled to find clothes here and my unadventurous British side has often hankered for a straight forward H&M, Topshop or Gap!
Luckily for the Aussies, this is beginning to happen, with recent openings of Zara and Topshop Flagships in Melbourne (not Sydney surprisingly, 1-0 to Melbs) H&M and River Island making appearances and the nationwide openings of Gap. I do wonder with the arrival of these global retail giants, what will become of the Australian high street stores?
Other Australian brands include Supre, which I find too young for me (think Tammygirl) and Myer, which is one of their main department stores, and has a brilliant children's brand called Sprout.
They have Espirit, which we have too., and ASOS have developed an Aussie web too, which certainly opens up many shopping opportunities!
As much as I'm a creature of habit, I desperately need a dress for a party on Saturday night, so it's time to get shopping, Australian style!
Some of high-street brands/webs repping the UK (and other countries)
Some of the high-street brands repping Australia
My beloved Cotton On!
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
I miss you, silly.
Tonight Jacob is sleeping in his very own bedroom. He hasn't done this since August when we moved to the countryside and then back to London and our lives became chaotic and ridiculous and we lived in 2 places in 4 months whilst we house hunted. As a result of the upheaval and the fact that I was drowning in guilt at him not having his own space, he slept with me and his Daddy, in order to make him feel secure and comfortable. And now we are in Australia and he has a lovely little room, with a proper little bed and a cute dinosaur duvet cover and just a WHOLE BEDROOM OF HIS OWN.
And I miss him, I can't sleep. I miss his breath on my face, and the smell of his hair, and his finger up my nostril and even the early morning boot in the ribs.
Waaaahhhh.
*2 hours after this post was written, Jacob was snoozing in our bed. Will try again soon!
And I miss him, I can't sleep. I miss his breath on my face, and the smell of his hair, and his finger up my nostril and even the early morning boot in the ribs.
Waaaahhhh.
*2 hours after this post was written, Jacob was snoozing in our bed. Will try again soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)