And so are pine needles; on my living room floor! This is a strange experience. I have been in the US for the "holidays" before, but just as a visitor. This is the first time I have actually experienced the entire thing, as a person who lives here (abeit non-permanently) and it is all making me miss the UK and its christmas spirit. Despite the festitivity everywhere, I am noticing subtle and not so subtle cultural differences. One main thing is that in the UK, things are predominantly still "christmas", whilst over here, in an excellently pc manner, all religious approaches to the holidays are embraced in an equal manner. Which I think is great. But it also feels strange to me, being so embroiled in "christmas" for my entire life. So, I have been feeling some pangs for Britain.
So much of christmas in the UK usually annoys me, but I have found myself buying a really awful christmas cd; and hunting high and low for mince pies (omnipresent in the UK and something of an expensioso gourmet item over here!!!). Very amusing to my family who cannot believe that mince pies could be so rare. Steve actually found some in the international supermarket in Charlottesville (where we visited last week), and I am going to (attempt to) make some prior to our festive party, which will now take place on 2nd January. It was supposed to happen on saturday (19th) but we have had a poorly Sienna so we had to move it back a couple of weeks.
Still have a few prezzies to purchase, so will need to be zooping around a little today and tomorrow. And then we are off to Winston Salem to spend christmas eve and christmas with Harald and Vickie and Lena, Steve's parents and Vickie's parents. We are having Italian Christmas; with fish on christmas eve and lasagne on christmas day. Then, Steve and I are going to cook British Christmas dinner on saturday or sunday in sunny Reidsville (so, I will get my brussells sprouts! Steve thinks noone else will eat them, but maybe sienna will be a fan?!?!?!).
Generally, Miss Sienna is getting very excited about christmas; which is so gorgeous to watch. I cannot wait to see her open her presents!!
Missing British friends and family a LOT; so sending you all a massive christmas hug and a happy new year for 2010.
Tuesday 22 December 2009
Saturday 28 November 2009
Thanksgiving in Winston Salem
We are back in Carrboro for the weekend after a couple of days in Winston Salem celebrating Thanksgiving....A family festive fest where one eats a very large Turkey meal and lurks with the family in a manner very similar to christmas. Still feeling a little like we are "just visiting", so rather liminal....just trying to live in the moment and enjoy. The weather is still glorious by day, autumn colours continuing to radiate against a blue sky....but cold by night...it does feel very festive. Ms Sienna had a wonderful time with Ms Lena, running around like total loonies and up to all sorts of games. Sienna told Lena she was her best friend yesterday; all very cute. And today, she is continuing to play the games they started yesterday, fetching pretend drinks from a mysterious magical source and giving them to me. Today we went for breakfast at Johnny's - crepes and coffee outside! looked at a few christmas trees and met with another carrboro couple who have littluns. I have bought advent calendars and lights for the house...and generally feel excited about christmas this year - as I think that Sienna is just going to love it. It is a good feeling being in our own home today....and just pottering around. Wish we could go back to UK over the christmas holidays! Missing UK people a lot, but still grateful for an opportunity to be here.
The Project is plodding along nicely - steve is writing The Program, and I am working on finding participants....all very exciting. Hoping to start testing bods in January, so sort of on schedule.
Hoping to make british crimbo cake - but need mum to send me the recipe,and find things like marzipan over here...and hoping to host a little festive gathering at our tiny place with mulled wine and mince pies (if we can find them over here!!).
Phew, I am stuffed (just eaten a large slice of pecan pie after thanksgiving, so tihnk am going on a healthy eating plan from now on).
The Project is plodding along nicely - steve is writing The Program, and I am working on finding participants....all very exciting. Hoping to start testing bods in January, so sort of on schedule.
Hoping to make british crimbo cake - but need mum to send me the recipe,and find things like marzipan over here...and hoping to host a little festive gathering at our tiny place with mulled wine and mince pies (if we can find them over here!!).
Phew, I am stuffed (just eaten a large slice of pecan pie after thanksgiving, so tihnk am going on a healthy eating plan from now on).
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Settling to life in the U S of A
We are finally feeling settled over here in North Carolina. It has taken a while, and been an epic journey of limbo-land existence and living out of a suitcase. We moved into our apartment in Carrboro a month ago, and now have furniture (but no furnishings as yet). It is becoming a home, but still feels new and empty. We need some arty things in there. A mission to World Market is in order, methinks.
Sienna started a really wonderful preschool a couple of weeks ago. We lucked out with the place as it is a really popular school with a huge waiting list....it just so happened that they had an opening for a girl at the right time. She has only been to around 4 sessions so far, but is very happy there...lots of arty things, playing outside and the women who run it are just great (Rachel and Steph). Last week was halloween, which is simply huge in the States. Felt very festive and there were pumpkins everywhere, and kids getting very excited, and all dressing up as all sorts of things! Sienna decided that she wanted to be a cat (after Dora the explorer on one of her videos), and was a very cute cat indeed...we went to a Carrboro halloween fair, and then a very small exploration of americana (trick or treating)ending up at Jenifer's house for an early evening get together.
As for me, I am submerged in experiment planning, at the Rhine research center, in UNC library and occasionally up at UVA (only made it up there twice thus far though - another trip is in order!). Also did a presentation with Sally Rhine Feather the other day, and a very scary radio "interview" yesterday, with some individuals who are of a very extreme spiritual/new agey belief system and who wanted to epouse this belief system as The Truth and tell Sally and I that the Rhine center should also be expressing this truth and giving up on experiments. Very glad its over. Certainly an experience.
Steve is seeking work...hoping for something local and part time for now...we will see what is around the corner.
This week is Birthday week, so I am celebrating left, right and centre - out with Ginette on monday for the most delicious indian food, tomorrow night is cocktailnight with females, and friday (birthday) Steve and I are going out, while Ferrell babysits sienna; how very exciting! spoilt for choice as to where to go though - lots of fabulous restaurants around here.
Back to The Experimento.
Sienna started a really wonderful preschool a couple of weeks ago. We lucked out with the place as it is a really popular school with a huge waiting list....it just so happened that they had an opening for a girl at the right time. She has only been to around 4 sessions so far, but is very happy there...lots of arty things, playing outside and the women who run it are just great (Rachel and Steph). Last week was halloween, which is simply huge in the States. Felt very festive and there were pumpkins everywhere, and kids getting very excited, and all dressing up as all sorts of things! Sienna decided that she wanted to be a cat (after Dora the explorer on one of her videos), and was a very cute cat indeed...we went to a Carrboro halloween fair, and then a very small exploration of americana (trick or treating)ending up at Jenifer's house for an early evening get together.
As for me, I am submerged in experiment planning, at the Rhine research center, in UNC library and occasionally up at UVA (only made it up there twice thus far though - another trip is in order!). Also did a presentation with Sally Rhine Feather the other day, and a very scary radio "interview" yesterday, with some individuals who are of a very extreme spiritual/new agey belief system and who wanted to epouse this belief system as The Truth and tell Sally and I that the Rhine center should also be expressing this truth and giving up on experiments. Very glad its over. Certainly an experience.
Steve is seeking work...hoping for something local and part time for now...we will see what is around the corner.
This week is Birthday week, so I am celebrating left, right and centre - out with Ginette on monday for the most delicious indian food, tomorrow night is cocktailnight with females, and friday (birthday) Steve and I are going out, while Ferrell babysits sienna; how very exciting! spoilt for choice as to where to go though - lots of fabulous restaurants around here.
Back to The Experimento.
Sunday 4 October 2009
Thirza Mary English, 5th August 1921- 26th September 2009
Last saturday, my Granny, Thirza Mary English, moved into her final sleep after three years of living in a lost, confusing half-world of dementia. She started to become lost when I came back from USA in 2005, and since then, she has moved more and more into her own dreamscape. We should then perhaps remember her as she was, when her personality, and soul were intact, and the disease did not disintegrate and unravel her. And the normal aging process made her look different and lost.
She was a wonderful granny. And remembering her makes me know how lucky I am to have had a happy childhood, when so many do not.
I remember. Her telling me not to grow up too quickly when I told her I wanted breasts (!); her teaching Nicola and I how to knit (but our scarves tripled in width and were all wonky) and make rag dollies. We spent hours pottering around her garden in the summer, we loved the flowers (the fuschias were fairies) and we made perfume out of rose petals, which turned a beautiful shade of yellow-brown each time we did it (to our surprise). We made a den out of her clothes rail and old wooden chairs, and lurked for hours underneath blankets which smelled of their house. We made coconut ice and honeycomb crisp in the kitchen, and went on day trips to dunstable downs and Cassiobury park. We used to go round for sunday tea, and had bread and butter and home made ice cream (which I never did like, but Nicola loved). We loved going to their house, and used to take it in turns to stay over night on a saturday.
She was Mary, and she has been and will be missed. I wish she could have known her great grandchildren.
She was a wonderful granny. And remembering her makes me know how lucky I am to have had a happy childhood, when so many do not.
I remember. Her telling me not to grow up too quickly when I told her I wanted breasts (!); her teaching Nicola and I how to knit (but our scarves tripled in width and were all wonky) and make rag dollies. We spent hours pottering around her garden in the summer, we loved the flowers (the fuschias were fairies) and we made perfume out of rose petals, which turned a beautiful shade of yellow-brown each time we did it (to our surprise). We made a den out of her clothes rail and old wooden chairs, and lurked for hours underneath blankets which smelled of their house. We made coconut ice and honeycomb crisp in the kitchen, and went on day trips to dunstable downs and Cassiobury park. We used to go round for sunday tea, and had bread and butter and home made ice cream (which I never did like, but Nicola loved). We loved going to their house, and used to take it in turns to stay over night on a saturday.
She was Mary, and she has been and will be missed. I wish she could have known her great grandchildren.
Tuesday 26 May 2009
Little girl
And now its almost June. How bizarre. It really seems that time is hurtling by, and 2009 is disappearing far too quickly. We are getting quite excited as it looks like we will be in North Carolina in September for at least 9 months (possibly 11)....so its going to be a summer of packing and clearing everything out of this flat before heading on over. I will be taking a research sabbatical funded by my Bial research grant - which buys me out of my teaching duties and other on site duties at Hope.....by paying for someone else to be in my shoes for a while. We are waiting to have final approval from the Hope powers that be...just keep fingers crossed. The idea has been approved by head of department and dean...so it *should* be real. I just want to know for sure before I really feel it is real. We hope to live in North Carolina and I would base myself partly at UVA in Charlottesville and partly at the RRC in Durham. [thus necessitating a desperate need to finally learn to drive!!!].
In the mean time, our little baby is a little girl. She has long curly hair, and a cheeky smile. She is a big livewire who just loves people. Very chatty and happy and full of cuddles and kisses (and eskimo kisses - taught to her by Ms Charmaine Noyes this bank holiday weekend - it is very cute!). She is now getting into nursery. She goes two mornings a week, thus allowing Mr Moore to have two mornings a week to himself and focus on his writing. Said nursery is just around the corner from our house, so very convenient indeedy.
We have just had a lovely bank holiday weekend. Well, one and a half days of sun out of 3 is not half bad for the north west of England. Charmaine came up to visit. We had lots of lovely food and a picnic and beach visitation...sienna was in her element swimming in the sand and running around by the sea. She was not too sure about putting her toes into the cold sea, but the sand definitely had her seal of approval and it was hard to remove her from the beach at the end of the afternoon (when everyone and his aunt had descended beachwards - British people are amusing sun suckers when it does appear, and there were lots of red faces around today post bank holiday). Charmaine and I managed to down a few vodkas one evening and head to Lark lane for a mini adventure, but were not quite brave enough to go to town....lovely to see her. We are planning a girlie get together for later in the summer as I want to try to see people properly before I go.
I am (as ever) supposed to be working at the moment, so had better sign off. Steve and I are going to watch Driving Miss Daisy this evening, so only 30 mins left of possible school work now for me!
In the mean time, our little baby is a little girl. She has long curly hair, and a cheeky smile. She is a big livewire who just loves people. Very chatty and happy and full of cuddles and kisses (and eskimo kisses - taught to her by Ms Charmaine Noyes this bank holiday weekend - it is very cute!). She is now getting into nursery. She goes two mornings a week, thus allowing Mr Moore to have two mornings a week to himself and focus on his writing. Said nursery is just around the corner from our house, so very convenient indeedy.
We have just had a lovely bank holiday weekend. Well, one and a half days of sun out of 3 is not half bad for the north west of England. Charmaine came up to visit. We had lots of lovely food and a picnic and beach visitation...sienna was in her element swimming in the sand and running around by the sea. She was not too sure about putting her toes into the cold sea, but the sand definitely had her seal of approval and it was hard to remove her from the beach at the end of the afternoon (when everyone and his aunt had descended beachwards - British people are amusing sun suckers when it does appear, and there were lots of red faces around today post bank holiday). Charmaine and I managed to down a few vodkas one evening and head to Lark lane for a mini adventure, but were not quite brave enough to go to town....lovely to see her. We are planning a girlie get together for later in the summer as I want to try to see people properly before I go.
I am (as ever) supposed to be working at the moment, so had better sign off. Steve and I are going to watch Driving Miss Daisy this evening, so only 30 mins left of possible school work now for me!
Tuesday 31 March 2009
Timewarp
Hmmmmm. How is it April 1st tomorrow? feels like time is hurtling by, and like gravity, speeding up as we move closer and closer to christmas (but we just had christmas). Maybe this is the nature of being a multi-role, busy careerwoman, mum, person with a social life and partner.
Exciting news this week - my article has been accepted in Imagination, Cognition and Personality! very happy. Not sure when it comes out, but certainly a good excuse for celebration...difficult though, with such a large heap of marking to wade through.
Sienna is a pure joy. She is a happy soul, who loves to sing and dance and who is fascinated with colours...the language aquisition and ability never fails to amaze me. A tiny being whose personality is unfolding before my eyes. She is enchanting and captivating...exhausting too, though as she is a total bundle of energy and aliveness....with a twinkle in her eye...Still not getting sleep. Steve and I are very run down. We both have dark circles under our eyes....but, thank God, its almost easter, so we shall be escaping to Wales to relax and breathe....then to see the Simmonds', then to Aimee's wedding and then back to Wales again with Nicola, Simon and Amelie and Idwid, Caroline, Alfie and Ryan. Going to be lurking in the middle of nowhere, having unique overlap with each others' children and unique overlap with each other (with wine and murder parties and a guitar). Just wish I didnt have quite so much work to do. Ho hum.
Exciting news this week - my article has been accepted in Imagination, Cognition and Personality! very happy. Not sure when it comes out, but certainly a good excuse for celebration...difficult though, with such a large heap of marking to wade through.
Sienna is a pure joy. She is a happy soul, who loves to sing and dance and who is fascinated with colours...the language aquisition and ability never fails to amaze me. A tiny being whose personality is unfolding before my eyes. She is enchanting and captivating...exhausting too, though as she is a total bundle of energy and aliveness....with a twinkle in her eye...Still not getting sleep. Steve and I are very run down. We both have dark circles under our eyes....but, thank God, its almost easter, so we shall be escaping to Wales to relax and breathe....then to see the Simmonds', then to Aimee's wedding and then back to Wales again with Nicola, Simon and Amelie and Idwid, Caroline, Alfie and Ryan. Going to be lurking in the middle of nowhere, having unique overlap with each others' children and unique overlap with each other (with wine and murder parties and a guitar). Just wish I didnt have quite so much work to do. Ho hum.
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