In less than 24 hours I will be home and sleeping in my own bed. But it will be much more lonely than before I think. I might have to bring in Evelyn and let her sleep with me tomorrow night just so I will have someone to cuddle and starve off the loneliness.
Leaving in the morning will be hard. Last time when Ben and I parted we thought it would only be a week so it wasn't difficult at all to say goodbye. This time I know it will be September before we see him again. I already had a few tears tonight about it.
I think Ben will have a hard time this week without us here at the flat to come home too, even though many nights he was exhausted and only spent a few minutes with us, there was always a little kiss and cuddle with baby, and a hug and smile hello from me.
I hope Evelyn is good on the plane again tomorrow like she was on the flight over.... I do not think I will be as lucky though, as last time it was the redeye and she slept through most of the flight because it was her actual sleeping time.... Now our sleep schedules are completely off and I do not exactly know how we will both do tomorrow. It's 4am and she woke me at 2:30am to play and just now is bugging me for a bottle and looking a little sleepy again....
Okay Evelyn now has a bottle. I am so proud she is laying here next to me on the couch holding the bottle like a big girl! She has a little help (bottle propping with a blanket) but she has 2 hands on it and is holding it about 50% I would say is her!
So today I made 3 Strawberry Rhubarb Pies and put them in the freezer. I told Ben one is his birthday pie and he can cook it up whenever his wants and eat the whole thing or share it with whomever. But I asked him to save the other 2 until I get back and we have company. He was good with that.
Ben and I went out to dinner tonight at a nice seafood restaurant near the flat and we had oysters! so yummy it was a really good dinner I keep forgetting we on an island and the ocean is close by and so they do fish/seafood well here!
Then home to the flat and I packed up pretty much everything we are taking home with us to Toronto. I am leaving a bunch of things here though. I am looking forward to returning in the fall and using the fireplace! Already the late evenings are cool down to 12 degrees tonight. So weird that's hot and humid in the day like mid 20's and then so cool at night now.
Ben says this last week has been more typical weather for England and the uk crew members have been saying the heat wave and summer are over now and here comes the fall weather.... summer is really short here. But the fall/spring weather last a long time. I guess we will find out for ourselves!
I will continue to blog at home in Toronto over the next weeks as we prepare for our long stay in England and to give updates on how and what Ben is doing. So please continue to check in and read the blog!
Ben will be spending his birthday filming in Paris! I am sad to miss out on going with him but likely it would have been difficult to go with him and Evelyn and it sounds like he is looking forward to spending some down time partying with his camera crew. Already his friends on the crew are planning his birthday eve festivities.
Okay Evie has finished her bottle and is smiling in her sleep.... she looks like Ben right now I think.... Mostly I see my sister and myself when I look at her and then times like now I see Ben all over..... Time to put her back to bed and try to catch some more sleep myself!
Oh and I have a ride from the airport home tomorrow! Thank you Hannah! Next time I blog will be home in Toronto....
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Quickie b/c I'm tired. and want to get up a decent time tomorrow....
Thanks Pauline for the ingredient listing & amounts for the pies. Yes I am still going to make and freeze pies when you come visit you can have some with double cream too!
Okay so today I walked to and in Hyde Park and Kennigston Gardens and saw the palace. Didn't go into the palace just walked the grounds.
It was a really nice park and a really nice walk and we stopped by the pond and watched the ducks and swans and I fed Evelyn.
okay seriously the guy who lives in the flat above us is playing Rockband with at least one other friend on drums. They started with Eye of the Tiger which was downright hilarious, then a modest mouse song and now weezer. But really it's getting old and not as humorous anymore it's 1:30 and it's a little loud... I know it's Friday night but I need to go to bed so I can get up tomorrow and spend my last day here (for a while) with Ben and I won't be able to sleep listening to them sing and butcher every song....
Today was cool & grey but it didn't rain. I guess today was typical British weather I was told.
Okay if they play another song I am going to go up and ask them to turn it down......
To be honest I wouldnt't buy an old flat in London because of this very issue I mean if I am going to spend 1.39 million pounds I shouldn't have to ask the guy upstairs to turn down the volume of his tv and video game right?
Man I'd kill to play some rockband right now actually...... I'd buy it for the wii if anyone I knew would ever come over to play with me.... hey Ange & Phil want to Rockband sometime in August? lol....
Okay going upstairs to knock on the door....... brb
Okay so the guy said he was really sorry had no idea that it was coming through that clearly. I said I wouldn't care if it wasn't so late and I was afraid it would wake the baby etc.... He seemed a little embarrassed when I said Eye of the Tiger was great lol.... so quiet again.
Okay seriously I need to cut this short and go to bed so tomorrow won't be wasted with sleeping in too late!
Okay so today I walked to and in Hyde Park and Kennigston Gardens and saw the palace. Didn't go into the palace just walked the grounds.
It was a really nice park and a really nice walk and we stopped by the pond and watched the ducks and swans and I fed Evelyn.
okay seriously the guy who lives in the flat above us is playing Rockband with at least one other friend on drums. They started with Eye of the Tiger which was downright hilarious, then a modest mouse song and now weezer. But really it's getting old and not as humorous anymore it's 1:30 and it's a little loud... I know it's Friday night but I need to go to bed so I can get up tomorrow and spend my last day here (for a while) with Ben and I won't be able to sleep listening to them sing and butcher every song....
Today was cool & grey but it didn't rain. I guess today was typical British weather I was told.
Okay if they play another song I am going to go up and ask them to turn it down......
To be honest I wouldnt't buy an old flat in London because of this very issue I mean if I am going to spend 1.39 million pounds I shouldn't have to ask the guy upstairs to turn down the volume of his tv and video game right?
Man I'd kill to play some rockband right now actually...... I'd buy it for the wii if anyone I knew would ever come over to play with me.... hey Ange & Phil want to Rockband sometime in August? lol....
Okay going upstairs to knock on the door....... brb
Okay so the guy said he was really sorry had no idea that it was coming through that clearly. I said I wouldn't care if it wasn't so late and I was afraid it would wake the baby etc.... He seemed a little embarrassed when I said Eye of the Tiger was great lol.... so quiet again.
Okay seriously I need to cut this short and go to bed so tomorrow won't be wasted with sleeping in too late!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
random thoughts on my day.....
Okay first things first. Ben just came home and told me that Johnny Depp is coming to the set in the fall to visit because he is an executive producer for the movie and is going to do some small part in the film as well. SQUEAL!
I honestly got so excited I couldn't eat when he told me and now thinking about it I can't breath properly at the thought of being on set with him! He's the only actor I have ever REALLY wanted to meet/see and I just can't stop thinking about it. Ben has said when I come back in the fall he will let me visit set. He was going to let me come this week, but then everything went badly this week so it had to be postponed. omg omg omg omfg JOHNNY DEPP... I know I'm seriously a giddy teenaged girl about this. But it's Johnny Depp gimme a break :)
Ben had a better day today than the rest of the week. Bob (the DP) tried to start the morning off being an ass but I guess Ben and Demetri (they are team working for Pace on the 3D unit) were really sick of taking shit from him over things that are non issues.
A little background on Bob. He's quite the hard guy to work with Bob is, he's a nit picker and a hard ass and somewhat of a self admitted alcoholic (but seems to like it?) is what Ben has been told...so he has very bad mood swings, but he's also brilliant and has won 2 oscars for cinematography and been nominated countless times and Ben really does admire his work.
Bob's resume includes but not limited too the following all as the director of photography (which is why Ben feels so privileged to be working with him and all in all is happy with his career right now)
- Shutter Island (2010)
- Inglourious Basterds (2009) nominated for Oscar
- The Good Shepherd (2006)
- The Aviator (2004) Won Oscar
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
- Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) nominated for Oscar
- The Horse Whisperer (1998)
- Wag the Dog (1997)
- Nixon (1995)
- Casino (1995)
- Natural Born Killers (1994)
- A Few Good Men (1992)
- JFK (1991) Won Oscar
- Platoon (1986) nominated for Oscar
I guess today Bob thanked him and said he was doing a good job over the "Bob Com"
What is "Bob Com" you ask?
Bob has his very own communication walkies just for the camera, grip & lighting depts. It's a one way channel though just they can hear him crew can't talk back on it. Ben actually wears three communication devices. ear bud with the "Bob Com" A telex unit ear piece for the 3D unit and the regular set walkies headset for the whole crew. So it was a big deal to be thanked over the "Bob Com" with 50 + other crew listening in especially after being abused over it the last few days.
Okay back to my day now that I have explained Bens!
I went into Marks & Spencer today and the meat and produce look much better than the reg grocery stores here and I treated myself to a couple of things from the bakery to indulge myself with some British blueberries and double thick cream!
It was cool outside today so decided to opp for lightweight pants which happened to be ones I got in the early stages of pregnancy last fall. And would you believe that they were too loose in the bum/thighs and were falling down a bit!? This is WONDERFUL news to actually some progress in the weight loss of those areas where I put on most of the weight. So I decided that I could defiantly treat myself to cream & berries with my tea this afternoon after my walk.
Lots of fruit is local and in season here right now, (which surprised me) blueberries, raspberries and strawberries in particular I've been getting every few days. And today it hit me that I should make and freeze some here pies!
So I went looking for Rhubarb so I could make Ben his favourite pie Strawberry Rhubarb.
which reminds me ....
PAULINE could you please send a quick reminder on the recipe for pie crust and SR pie? I think I know/remember most of it off by heart but don't want to mess it up with a mistake.
Turns out I can order in Rhubarb from Planet Organic. So I did! I'm going to do pies hopefully tomorrow evening & Sat morning.
hmmm I need to buy a rolling pin and shortening.... I forgot those items today when I was buying the pastry cutter and other items i was missing.
Oh ya and I need comment on these horrible sticky trees they have here all over the place. They line the street we live on. They ooze and drop this goo, that is REALLY sticky much worse than pine sap and it makes the sidewalks feel like you have stepped in huge wads of gum! There is quite a lot of it and it really sticks to your shoes for a while :(
Anyways they resurfaced the road we live on today. So the buses outside our house were rerouted a block away cause he street was closed. They had pylons blocking off the street and HUGE yellow signage all over the bus stop area saying there was no bus stop today and yet SO many people stood outside our flat at the bus stop waiting for the bus to come. It was quite laughable really.
Oh I have a clever baby! She is playing with a new toy I got her this week. It's the caterpillar from the Eric Carle book. With things hanging off it and beads and such for her to grab and she's getting REALLY good at it! She is really liking it! oh my cute baby :) I just broke away from this post to take photos of her playing with it.
Actually this post has taken me over 2 hours to write because Evelyn is wide awake and needed changed and fed and played with etc... so I've had to keep stopping.
Wow this post is long! Hope it was interesting :)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
A Question to my lovely Toronto friends....
To my Toronto area friends is anyone willing and able to pick up Evelyn and I from the airport on Sunday around 3pm??? Just wondering......
If you are able and would like to help but carless lemme know I can arrange for you to pick up my car keys at the house and use it to come get me :)Just a baby day.....
Evelyn is definatly teething, the drooling has increased and she's been much more cranky than normal, she's been a bit hard to handle at times. I would like a little break. But I don't think I am going to get one until Saturday IF Ben doesn't have to go into work.... Otherwise it will be Monday when I am home in Toronto and my wonderful doula Jennifer comes at 8am-noon before I get some real me time... I admit I AM SO looking forward to those 4 hours of bliss....
Ben worked until very late AGAIN tonight, some major issues apparently. He's stressed to the max and it's sad that he hasn't seen the baby or awake since Sunday for more than 5 mins. I hate to see him so used up at the end of the day, and dreading the morning.
I did take a a wee bit of time for myself tonight and had a bath in our giant bath tub I have no idea why I haven't taken a bath before today, it was lovely. But it was also only 10 mins long since Evelyn was fussing. The teething is also causing her not to sleep well like usual as well. Which means I am not sleeping well, and am tired so I have not been up for sightseeing at all... sigh....
I had hoped to do/see something interesting and different this week. Instead today I spent the day cat napping with the baby until 1pm then got up and went to the "pound store" (like the dollarama) and got a few kitchen & bathroom type things we needed.
I bought Evelyn a Paddington bear and the original story book. Which she promptly threw up on uggg :( Lucky he is a nice washable kind, the lady recommended this one because of Evelyn's age and she's a grandma and said this is what she give to her grandkids at this age. She was right, this Paddington is quite resilient and washable :)
It was mostly a lovely sunny day, but with a nice cool breeze so it wasn't too hot or humid today. I enjoyed the walk to the pound store and to the shop that sells the Paddington bears, I had been eyeing the shop since the first night we went down Portobello road, and had gone in a few times, but hadn't yet decided what to buy until today.
I also went to Green Baby to buy Evelyn some more cloth bibs this whole teething and drooling thing kinda grosses me out so I feel the need to wipe up after her and change her clothes or bib often, to see it sopping wet with goo just won't do. I got some nice cotton organic ones that are particularly for catching the drool of teething babies.
I looked in the mirror today and think that all my walking around the neighborhood has been paying off. I think I have lost some more baby weight. So that was pleasing.
I really can't get over how often people comment on Evelyn and her blue eyes and how lovely she is. I mean I think she's lovely but I'm her mummy. Everyone thinks her blue eyes are stunning. I should try and take some more photos of them along with her big smiles!
So I guess nothing new or that exciting to report today. I guess it was a pretty average living in London kind of day.
Ben worked until very late AGAIN tonight, some major issues apparently. He's stressed to the max and it's sad that he hasn't seen the baby or awake since Sunday for more than 5 mins. I hate to see him so used up at the end of the day, and dreading the morning.
I did take a a wee bit of time for myself tonight and had a bath in our giant bath tub I have no idea why I haven't taken a bath before today, it was lovely. But it was also only 10 mins long since Evelyn was fussing. The teething is also causing her not to sleep well like usual as well. Which means I am not sleeping well, and am tired so I have not been up for sightseeing at all... sigh....
I had hoped to do/see something interesting and different this week. Instead today I spent the day cat napping with the baby until 1pm then got up and went to the "pound store" (like the dollarama) and got a few kitchen & bathroom type things we needed.
I bought Evelyn a Paddington bear and the original story book. Which she promptly threw up on uggg :( Lucky he is a nice washable kind, the lady recommended this one because of Evelyn's age and she's a grandma and said this is what she give to her grandkids at this age. She was right, this Paddington is quite resilient and washable :)
It was mostly a lovely sunny day, but with a nice cool breeze so it wasn't too hot or humid today. I enjoyed the walk to the pound store and to the shop that sells the Paddington bears, I had been eyeing the shop since the first night we went down Portobello road, and had gone in a few times, but hadn't yet decided what to buy until today.
I also went to Green Baby to buy Evelyn some more cloth bibs this whole teething and drooling thing kinda grosses me out so I feel the need to wipe up after her and change her clothes or bib often, to see it sopping wet with goo just won't do. I got some nice cotton organic ones that are particularly for catching the drool of teething babies.
I looked in the mirror today and think that all my walking around the neighborhood has been paying off. I think I have lost some more baby weight. So that was pleasing.
I really can't get over how often people comment on Evelyn and her blue eyes and how lovely she is. I mean I think she's lovely but I'm her mummy. Everyone thinks her blue eyes are stunning. I should try and take some more photos of them along with her big smiles!
So I guess nothing new or that exciting to report today. I guess it was a pretty average living in London kind of day.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
where we live.....
So the owner was trying to sell the flat she has bought a property in the countryside somewhere..... This is the description as found on the listing real esate website about our flat.
1,395.00 pounds is the asking selling price of the flat.
The furniture is a little differnent now, but there is a lot the same too.
This stunning apartment occupies the entire first floor of a substantial double fronted house, built by renowned 19th century architect, William Radford. It offers ideal indoor/outdoor entertaining space with a generous reception room leading to a conservatory dining room which then opens on to a large south facing terrace, as does the charming kitchen/breakfast room. Additionally there is a large master bedroom suite with small balcony, a second double bedroom and additional shower room.
Okay so this is the front of the house. We live on the 2nd Floor. The balcony you see is off of our bedroom. The window (partly behind the tree) to the right of the balcony is the ensuite bathroom. The window to the left of the balcony is still the masterbedroom, the next window (little bay window) to the left is the guest bedroom.
This is our bedroom. The chair and desk aren't there, so we have room to put Evelyn's playpen in here instead.
This is the back terrance. There are 2 ways to access the terrance, one through the kitchen and one through the conservatory dining room.
This is the living room (aka) reception room and also showing the conservatory.
inside the conservatory....
I will also post photos that I have taken once I get home too.... I will take better/newer photos :) but in the meantime here is an idea of where we are living!!!
1,395.00 pounds is the asking selling price of the flat.
The furniture is a little differnent now, but there is a lot the same too.
This stunning apartment occupies the entire first floor of a substantial double fronted house, built by renowned 19th century architect, William Radford. It offers ideal indoor/outdoor entertaining space with a generous reception room leading to a conservatory dining room which then opens on to a large south facing terrace, as does the charming kitchen/breakfast room. Additionally there is a large master bedroom suite with small balcony, a second double bedroom and additional shower room.
Okay so this is the front of the house. We live on the 2nd Floor. The balcony you see is off of our bedroom. The window (partly behind the tree) to the right of the balcony is the ensuite bathroom. The window to the left of the balcony is still the masterbedroom, the next window (little bay window) to the left is the guest bedroom.
This is our bedroom. The chair and desk aren't there, so we have room to put Evelyn's playpen in here instead.
This is the back terrance. There are 2 ways to access the terrance, one through the kitchen and one through the conservatory dining room.
This is the living room (aka) reception room and also showing the conservatory.
inside the conservatory....
I will also post photos that I have taken once I get home too.... I will take better/newer photos :) but in the meantime here is an idea of where we are living!!!
A ha!
Success in the raincoat dept! I finally have a nice emerald green North Face fully waterproof/windproof coat that fits! It was not a cheap item and I did not enjoy spending the money on such a practical item, but the coat will also be useful back home, as I lacked a lightweight waterproof coat that fits my new hip and bust size. And today was another day of on and off rain.... so I guess it's good that I broke down and got a decent coat.
I woke up with a headache this morning and it made my stomach not feel well either, I just felt achey and like I had a touch of flu or something, so I spent all morning in bed, only getting up to feed/change Evie lucky she was quite content to play on her mat with her toys beside the bed, and also nap along with me. By 2pm I felt a little better which is when I decided to go out and buy a coat (I got it at the WONDERFUL mall) I decided that getting out and getting some air would be a good thing.
I learned today that most buses will only allow 2 baby buggies, a bus would not let me on today because he already had 2 on board.... I was a little peeved because the bus wasn't that full and it wasn't rush hour so I thought there was room, and of course the next bus that come along was quite a long wait. Anyways so I guess that is something to be aware of when taking the bus from now on.....
I got home and my headache came back, the light really bothered my eyes so I laid down and had a nap. Ben had called to say he wouldn't be home until much later and I was on my own for the evening. So as I write this I have a pizza in the oven cooking for myself....
Ben got home about 30 mins ago but is already sound to sleep in bed. I got a whole 5 mins of his time tonight just enough to find out that he met Terry Gilliam (one his favourite filmmakers of all time) he directed Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Twelve Monkeys (which I love both) Ben's loves Brazil, Fisher King and of course Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
he was taking a tour of the set and the 3D rig. and that the DP was in a very bad mood and made everyone's already difficult day a horrible one. He said tomorrow can't be any worse..... I hope it improves though for him.
I woke up with a headache this morning and it made my stomach not feel well either, I just felt achey and like I had a touch of flu or something, so I spent all morning in bed, only getting up to feed/change Evie lucky she was quite content to play on her mat with her toys beside the bed, and also nap along with me. By 2pm I felt a little better which is when I decided to go out and buy a coat (I got it at the WONDERFUL mall) I decided that getting out and getting some air would be a good thing.
I learned today that most buses will only allow 2 baby buggies, a bus would not let me on today because he already had 2 on board.... I was a little peeved because the bus wasn't that full and it wasn't rush hour so I thought there was room, and of course the next bus that come along was quite a long wait. Anyways so I guess that is something to be aware of when taking the bus from now on.....
I got home and my headache came back, the light really bothered my eyes so I laid down and had a nap. Ben had called to say he wouldn't be home until much later and I was on my own for the evening. So as I write this I have a pizza in the oven cooking for myself....
Ben got home about 30 mins ago but is already sound to sleep in bed. I got a whole 5 mins of his time tonight just enough to find out that he met Terry Gilliam (one his favourite filmmakers of all time) he directed Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Twelve Monkeys (which I love both) Ben's loves Brazil, Fisher King and of course Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
he was taking a tour of the set and the 3D rig. and that the DP was in a very bad mood and made everyone's already difficult day a horrible one. He said tomorrow can't be any worse..... I hope it improves though for him.
Monday, July 26, 2010
A few things learned....
First of all I learned that paracetamol is actually acetaminophen I looked it up on google because I was frustrated at the drug store when I asked for acetaminophen and they had no idea what I wanted...... my choices were ibuprofen or paracetamol and I kept saying no I want acetaminophen. GAH..... Anyways I came home looked it up and went back tonight to get some. can you believe I bought 16 500 mg caplet for 60 p??? yes p is pence! It's SO cheap.....
What is not cheap or easy to get is gravol and it's equivalent. It's called Motillium here drug is domperidone but you can only get it in 10 pill packages of 10 mg each! oh yes and they keep it behind the counter so you have to ask for it. When I come back in the fall I will be bringing gravol tablets from home!
I also found that I LOVE LOVE LOVE lemon meringue krispy kreme donuts. They are just heaven in my mouth.... a nice sour lemon curd and yuumy meringue on top... I will have to look for these at home.
I also discovered that Chantilly double creme means there is Vanilla in the cream! Which is even yummier that the tub of double cream I bought last week!
And I do not like Pimms (alcohol) at least I don't like with lemonade which is what seems to be the most common mixer for it. I had a hard time drinking it....
I do however LOVE being able to buy booze EVERYWHERE.... and it's a better selection than what I found stores keep in the US grocery & corner stores, so I was pleasently surprised. And there are lots of speciality wine shops and the like still too with LOTS of selection.
Today was my 2nd rainy day in London. I REALLY have to get a raincoat... this umbrella and the stroller thing caused me to become wet and spill my morning starbucks latte trying to manage everything during a sudden downpour :( But I got all my grocery shopping done, dishes, laundry etc....
Oh and I went out topnight to the grocery store for about 30 mins I was gone. Evie had been changed and fed so all Ben had to do was play with her (he's pretty good at that) But when I came back apparently all hell had broken loose while I was gone, she threw up on herself, he had to change her clothes (which is finds VERY frustrating to do, he can't get her arms and legs in the holes and he feels bad putting it over her head making her cry he dreads dressing her) she gave herself the hiccups from crying and through it all he got like 12 work phone calls.
There was a wee accident on set today. The stedicam operator with the 3D camera rig on a segway Seen here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIs9hm3AsnU&feature=youtube_gdata
While shooting today crashed into the stunt performer and broke some really vital and important glass mirror thingy that is $7000.00 and apparently the back up one is shitty because there are issues at the mirror plant place and they are having a hard time getting one.... so Ben and 2 other guys have to go in extra early to see if they can get the rig up and running. Ben is dreading tomorrow he knows it's going to be a stressful day because whatever they do will not be a good fix.....
Ben might be getting paid well and be well taken care of with the flat/car etc... but he's on a flat 12 hour day (so not paid overtime) and he stays late/goes in early quite a lot and his job is pretty stressful compared to the type of jobs he used to do. Now don't get me wrong he's happy, it's just a new challenge. But he was ready for a change so it's all good. Just sometimes I feel bad for him when I know how much he is dreading something....
Okay that's it for me I have a nasty headache, and my eyes hurt I might actually go to bed BEFORE midnihgt! That would be new.....
What is not cheap or easy to get is gravol and it's equivalent. It's called Motillium here drug is domperidone but you can only get it in 10 pill packages of 10 mg each! oh yes and they keep it behind the counter so you have to ask for it. When I come back in the fall I will be bringing gravol tablets from home!
I also found that I LOVE LOVE LOVE lemon meringue krispy kreme donuts. They are just heaven in my mouth.... a nice sour lemon curd and yuumy meringue on top... I will have to look for these at home.
I also discovered that Chantilly double creme means there is Vanilla in the cream! Which is even yummier that the tub of double cream I bought last week!
And I do not like Pimms (alcohol) at least I don't like with lemonade which is what seems to be the most common mixer for it. I had a hard time drinking it....
I do however LOVE being able to buy booze EVERYWHERE.... and it's a better selection than what I found stores keep in the US grocery & corner stores, so I was pleasently surprised. And there are lots of speciality wine shops and the like still too with LOTS of selection.
Today was my 2nd rainy day in London. I REALLY have to get a raincoat... this umbrella and the stroller thing caused me to become wet and spill my morning starbucks latte trying to manage everything during a sudden downpour :( But I got all my grocery shopping done, dishes, laundry etc....
Oh and I went out topnight to the grocery store for about 30 mins I was gone. Evie had been changed and fed so all Ben had to do was play with her (he's pretty good at that) But when I came back apparently all hell had broken loose while I was gone, she threw up on herself, he had to change her clothes (which is finds VERY frustrating to do, he can't get her arms and legs in the holes and he feels bad putting it over her head making her cry he dreads dressing her) she gave herself the hiccups from crying and through it all he got like 12 work phone calls.
There was a wee accident on set today. The stedicam operator with the 3D camera rig on a segway Seen here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIs9hm3AsnU&feature=youtube_gdata
While shooting today crashed into the stunt performer and broke some really vital and important glass mirror thingy that is $7000.00 and apparently the back up one is shitty because there are issues at the mirror plant place and they are having a hard time getting one.... so Ben and 2 other guys have to go in extra early to see if they can get the rig up and running. Ben is dreading tomorrow he knows it's going to be a stressful day because whatever they do will not be a good fix.....
Ben might be getting paid well and be well taken care of with the flat/car etc... but he's on a flat 12 hour day (so not paid overtime) and he stays late/goes in early quite a lot and his job is pretty stressful compared to the type of jobs he used to do. Now don't get me wrong he's happy, it's just a new challenge. But he was ready for a change so it's all good. Just sometimes I feel bad for him when I know how much he is dreading something....
Okay that's it for me I have a nasty headache, and my eyes hurt I might actually go to bed BEFORE midnihgt! That would be new.....
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Update to the Blah Post....
So I called 'home' and talked to Pauline (Ben's mom) and heard cutie pie Jude in the background (grandpa and grandma are looking after him for the week) Enjoy the break Nathan & Katey although is sounds like you have a lot of house projects to catch up on! I said hi Jude on the phone to him but no response back he just wanted to play with the phone itself.
Also Nathan was online tonight and we had an online chat over facebook and I got caught up on all the news and goings on there.
Anyways I really am excited for Christmas and that Evie should be big enough to play with her cousin Jude by then.
I also can't wait for Evie to spend Christmas in Kingston and see her play with Molly. Molly is so good around little kids, and she loves Evelyn, she knows Evelyn is an important baby and walks around protecting her.
I feel a little less homesick after my phone chat with Pauline. I was just getting so overwhelmed so all the thoughts of this uncertain future and it was weighing me down. And I just needed to hear a familiar voice.
I also realized this week while talking things out that I really lost my sense of self this week. I was Evelyn's mummy, but not Andrea. I wasn't even Ben's wife just really the mother of his daughter. Where is us? Where is Andrea? With Ben's time so limited and precious I now know I need to figure out a way to preserve us and find time for us. Between his work and sleeping he never did have a lot of time to spare but now sharing it with the baby is tough. I spend all day with Evie and I crave to have Ben alone without her for just a few hours.
I would be fine to get a sitter for a night, but Ben isn't so sure he's comfortable with that. But I am quite sure I could find a suitable person for a night out.
So tomorrow I need to buy groceries! I could have used some comfort food tonight like some Double Thick Cream :) !!!! So groceries is the big errand of the day. I need the reg grocery store and the organic planet grocery store. (they are on opposite directions of my house both in Notting Hill, just one is 2 blocks one way and the other is 2 blocks from the house the opposite way.
I also need to figure out how to top up my cell phone. The cost of calling Canada is VERY reasonable but I am sure I used up quite of bit of my mins... so I should try and figure that out tomorrow... but I don't need TOO many more mins since I go home in 6 days.... So if people want to call me, that's fine once I figure out how to top up my phone I have no problem calling you back on my dime.
thanks for the chat Nathan and the talk Pauline it helped to talk to both of you.
Jet are you reading this? I miss you too. Maybe we can have a phone date this week sometime or you can email me or something? lemme know....
Also Nathan was online tonight and we had an online chat over facebook and I got caught up on all the news and goings on there.
Anyways I really am excited for Christmas and that Evie should be big enough to play with her cousin Jude by then.
I also can't wait for Evie to spend Christmas in Kingston and see her play with Molly. Molly is so good around little kids, and she loves Evelyn, she knows Evelyn is an important baby and walks around protecting her.
I feel a little less homesick after my phone chat with Pauline. I was just getting so overwhelmed so all the thoughts of this uncertain future and it was weighing me down. And I just needed to hear a familiar voice.
I also realized this week while talking things out that I really lost my sense of self this week. I was Evelyn's mummy, but not Andrea. I wasn't even Ben's wife just really the mother of his daughter. Where is us? Where is Andrea? With Ben's time so limited and precious I now know I need to figure out a way to preserve us and find time for us. Between his work and sleeping he never did have a lot of time to spare but now sharing it with the baby is tough. I spend all day with Evie and I crave to have Ben alone without her for just a few hours.
I would be fine to get a sitter for a night, but Ben isn't so sure he's comfortable with that. But I am quite sure I could find a suitable person for a night out.
So tomorrow I need to buy groceries! I could have used some comfort food tonight like some Double Thick Cream :) !!!! So groceries is the big errand of the day. I need the reg grocery store and the organic planet grocery store. (they are on opposite directions of my house both in Notting Hill, just one is 2 blocks one way and the other is 2 blocks from the house the opposite way.
I also need to figure out how to top up my cell phone. The cost of calling Canada is VERY reasonable but I am sure I used up quite of bit of my mins... so I should try and figure that out tomorrow... but I don't need TOO many more mins since I go home in 6 days.... So if people want to call me, that's fine once I figure out how to top up my phone I have no problem calling you back on my dime.
thanks for the chat Nathan and the talk Pauline it helped to talk to both of you.
Jet are you reading this? I miss you too. Maybe we can have a phone date this week sometime or you can email me or something? lemme know....
Blah
Today I had a very out of sorts kind of day. For some reason I felt kinda down, and unsure of how Evelyn and I fit into this life of Bens. It made me sad and I had a little cry.
I feel a little displaced. Evelyn and I have not been able to change around our body clocks we are mostly on Toronto time....
Ben has been telling me about what his career future holds and where he thinks it will go from here and it's kinda scary. He of course wants to talk about it now so I have time to take it all in and nothing is a sudden shock.
But I guess after a week of being here and struggling to fit in to Ben's life and schedule and not having things like tv, my own computer and Evelyn really needs some more toys here.... I just feel blah. I want to travel, I want Ben to do this, we just have to figure out a way to make it work. Getting me a laptop would help.... then at least I can download my tv shows from home and watch and have my own computer to do my own things and not be waiting for Ben to be done using his every night.
The bonus side is that I won't have to go back to work which is certainly nice. But the negative side is that Ben might only be home a few weeks a year and on the road the rest of the time. He talked about how if this is going to be happen how he would like to move our family home from Toronto to Ottawa since it's closer to his family and a tad closer to Kingston I guess than Toronto. He thinks I would have a better support system there than being in Toronto. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I do have friends here, and I like Toronto, I have my endo group and doctors I like AND trust! starting over in a new city seems hard. But I also see how it could benefit us too. Ben says we'll how the next year and a bit goes.
At least Ben agreed with me that I wouldn't have to live in the burbs and he said he would like to live in the 'Glebe' whatever that is! But he promised me that I wouldn't have to get into a car to go get milk and to cute shops. And of course we wouldn't want a house that is too big for me to take care of, and we wouldn't want a big yard either. Pretty much transport our current home and yard to this Glebe place. Actually I wouldn't mind another bathroom and a rec room/play room but that's it I could be happy otherwise I think....
At the same time I JUST finished some rooms in my house!!!! I just frigging got a bunch of it done enough to enjoy after living there for over 5.5 years!
Also moving to Ottawa is far away from Sherkston/Port Colborne and I love going there and I love how it's less than 2 hours away from our home, I love my family there and I want Evie to grow up there too. Crap now I am all crying again.
There are 2 films Ben is likely getting offered. One is in NYC the DP is Bill Pope (Ben worked with him on Scott Pilgrim) and the other one is with Ang Lee in India. Ben thinks the one he will be asked to do is the one in India and apparently it will start in Jan or Feb.... and of course there's prep in LA at Pace before it starts.... so maybe he might be home for Christmas for alike a week. THAT news was tough to take in....
Have I only been here a little over a week? It actually seems a lot longer. I think part of me is kinda homesick for my things I am glad I am going back home for the month of August to get better equipped for a longer stay in the Fall. Knowing what to bring and being more prepared should help me adjust.
Okay these photos are from Ben's iphone. He took them and emailed them to me so I could upload them.
This is me and Evie at Dinner earlier this week (it was a cool night)
This is from yesterday during our walk around the theater district area in London.
I feel a little displaced. Evelyn and I have not been able to change around our body clocks we are mostly on Toronto time....
Ben has been telling me about what his career future holds and where he thinks it will go from here and it's kinda scary. He of course wants to talk about it now so I have time to take it all in and nothing is a sudden shock.
But I guess after a week of being here and struggling to fit in to Ben's life and schedule and not having things like tv, my own computer and Evelyn really needs some more toys here.... I just feel blah. I want to travel, I want Ben to do this, we just have to figure out a way to make it work. Getting me a laptop would help.... then at least I can download my tv shows from home and watch and have my own computer to do my own things and not be waiting for Ben to be done using his every night.
The bonus side is that I won't have to go back to work which is certainly nice. But the negative side is that Ben might only be home a few weeks a year and on the road the rest of the time. He talked about how if this is going to be happen how he would like to move our family home from Toronto to Ottawa since it's closer to his family and a tad closer to Kingston I guess than Toronto. He thinks I would have a better support system there than being in Toronto. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I do have friends here, and I like Toronto, I have my endo group and doctors I like AND trust! starting over in a new city seems hard. But I also see how it could benefit us too. Ben says we'll how the next year and a bit goes.
At least Ben agreed with me that I wouldn't have to live in the burbs and he said he would like to live in the 'Glebe' whatever that is! But he promised me that I wouldn't have to get into a car to go get milk and to cute shops. And of course we wouldn't want a house that is too big for me to take care of, and we wouldn't want a big yard either. Pretty much transport our current home and yard to this Glebe place. Actually I wouldn't mind another bathroom and a rec room/play room but that's it I could be happy otherwise I think....
At the same time I JUST finished some rooms in my house!!!! I just frigging got a bunch of it done enough to enjoy after living there for over 5.5 years!
Also moving to Ottawa is far away from Sherkston/Port Colborne and I love going there and I love how it's less than 2 hours away from our home, I love my family there and I want Evie to grow up there too. Crap now I am all crying again.
There are 2 films Ben is likely getting offered. One is in NYC the DP is Bill Pope (Ben worked with him on Scott Pilgrim) and the other one is with Ang Lee in India. Ben thinks the one he will be asked to do is the one in India and apparently it will start in Jan or Feb.... and of course there's prep in LA at Pace before it starts.... so maybe he might be home for Christmas for alike a week. THAT news was tough to take in....
Have I only been here a little over a week? It actually seems a lot longer. I think part of me is kinda homesick for my things I am glad I am going back home for the month of August to get better equipped for a longer stay in the Fall. Knowing what to bring and being more prepared should help me adjust.
Okay these photos are from Ben's iphone. He took them and emailed them to me so I could upload them.
This is me and Evie at Dinner earlier this week (it was a cool night)
This is from yesterday during our walk around the theater district area in London.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Family Time
So I was up way too late last night 2:30 am, I couldn't sleep. Baby woke me up to eat at 6am this morning to eat and then promptly fell back to sleep 45 mins later and then of course I couldn't fall back to sleep! I did eventually go back to sleep around 9am for a bit but I really dragged my ass today. Ben took care of Evelyn from 9am onwards so I could go back to bed.
We had a slow moving day because of the late night/early morning, oh well. So today we ventured on the tube. We went to the theatre district walked around and then found a place to eat and had a very nice leisurely dinner. Evelyn was perfect until the last 5 mins when Ben was holding her and we were paying all of sudden she was screaming bloody murder. She was tired and a bit cranky. A snuggle with mommy outside in the cool breeze with our soother calmed us down though.
So the tube is VERY hot the farther down you go the hotter and more gross it gets and there is no a/c in the train cars. It reminds me of New York city and the subway there was very hot in the stations. We took Evelyn in her carrier but even so it was even more hot having her on me and after a bit she got heavy and I wasn't enjoying the walk as much as I would have had I been just carrying my bag walking around without her. Ben carried the baby bag of things, which wasn't much lighter, but likely cooler than carrying baby.
The tube and baby prams do NOT mix at all, the stations that claim to be baby buggy & disabled person friendly just mean less stairs than other stations, and still the same amount of escalators. I had read a step by step guide to the London tube about which stations are accessible etc... what a joke though. They are renovating a lot of lines and apparently trying to make it better. So many of the lines are closed for repairs on the weekend. I guess the trade off for having a newer not as efficient subway lines like Toronto is there is a/c and most of them are pretty accessible.
So ya defiantly not going to be using the tube very much at all it's just too hot, too stressful with Evelyn. but I really quite like the buses so they get a thumbs up and are much nicer and run better than Toronto buses.
Tomorrow we are going to an English Pub for dinner being Sunday dinner and all so I can have a roast with yorkshire pudding yum!
We have decided to take a weekend in Sept and drive to Dover. I want to see the Dover Castle/ White Cliffs on the sea and Ben said he would be interested in seeing that too and we think it would be nice to see something outside of the city. We are going to go in Sept before the season gets too cold/rainy to enjoy the outdoors. So one side trip is lined up! I think we are going to stay at a B&B guesthouse (our playpen we bought folds and fits into the prius no problem) the map says it's about a 2 hour drive tothere from our place in London. So I will plan that out, how exciting!
We had a slow moving day because of the late night/early morning, oh well. So today we ventured on the tube. We went to the theatre district walked around and then found a place to eat and had a very nice leisurely dinner. Evelyn was perfect until the last 5 mins when Ben was holding her and we were paying all of sudden she was screaming bloody murder. She was tired and a bit cranky. A snuggle with mommy outside in the cool breeze with our soother calmed us down though.
So the tube is VERY hot the farther down you go the hotter and more gross it gets and there is no a/c in the train cars. It reminds me of New York city and the subway there was very hot in the stations. We took Evelyn in her carrier but even so it was even more hot having her on me and after a bit she got heavy and I wasn't enjoying the walk as much as I would have had I been just carrying my bag walking around without her. Ben carried the baby bag of things, which wasn't much lighter, but likely cooler than carrying baby.
The tube and baby prams do NOT mix at all, the stations that claim to be baby buggy & disabled person friendly just mean less stairs than other stations, and still the same amount of escalators. I had read a step by step guide to the London tube about which stations are accessible etc... what a joke though. They are renovating a lot of lines and apparently trying to make it better. So many of the lines are closed for repairs on the weekend. I guess the trade off for having a newer not as efficient subway lines like Toronto is there is a/c and most of them are pretty accessible.
So ya defiantly not going to be using the tube very much at all it's just too hot, too stressful with Evelyn. but I really quite like the buses so they get a thumbs up and are much nicer and run better than Toronto buses.
Tomorrow we are going to an English Pub for dinner being Sunday dinner and all so I can have a roast with yorkshire pudding yum!
We have decided to take a weekend in Sept and drive to Dover. I want to see the Dover Castle/ White Cliffs on the sea and Ben said he would be interested in seeing that too and we think it would be nice to see something outside of the city. We are going to go in Sept before the season gets too cold/rainy to enjoy the outdoors. So one side trip is lined up! I think we are going to stay at a B&B guesthouse (our playpen we bought folds and fits into the prius no problem) the map says it's about a 2 hour drive tothere from our place in London. So I will plan that out, how exciting!
Friday, July 23, 2010
White City!
So today I woke up did some house cleaning up got Evelyn ready and off we went to White City (aka Westfield Mall) Which is the most amazing mall I have EVER been too! I spent a lot of time in "the village" which is where the A list stores are located, like Gucci, Prada, Dior, Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton etc...
Ben left me some money on the table when he went off to work today to buy a new dress and shoes so I did! I got a Missoni dress and shoes from LK Bennett.
ps I did not buy a raincoat I should have but clearly I didn't...... it will only take another downpour or two before I learn my lesson I'm sure.....lol
Then I went to the Champagne Bar which is right on the heart of the shops within the village! I had a wonderful rose champagne and a little rest and fed Evelyn.
The mall was also well equipped with family washrooms & baby change area. So far evcrywher I go in this city is usually not at all baby equipped which I find frustrating. I didn't realize how good we have it in Canada! I usually have to change the baby on the floor of the restrooms yuck :( I put down a pad and everything but still and then I'm basically on the floor too, not nice.
I wandered around the mall for hours, it was huge I didn't even cover half of it! Ben met me at 8:45pm and we went to dinner at one of the MANY restaurants attached to the mall. In the cool outdoor part, with fountains, but it's protected with a roof, but still 'outside' So hard to explain but trust me it was amazing.
Ashleigh like me you would have been happy living and staying there forever. I didn't want to leave.
Okay that's all for now... Ben has a day off tomorrow he's going to sleep in of course by then we have 2 days to spend together as a family YAY!
Ben left me some money on the table when he went off to work today to buy a new dress and shoes so I did! I got a Missoni dress and shoes from LK Bennett.
ps I did not buy a raincoat I should have but clearly I didn't...... it will only take another downpour or two before I learn my lesson I'm sure.....lol
Then I went to the Champagne Bar which is right on the heart of the shops within the village! I had a wonderful rose champagne and a little rest and fed Evelyn.
The mall was also well equipped with family washrooms & baby change area. So far evcrywher I go in this city is usually not at all baby equipped which I find frustrating. I didn't realize how good we have it in Canada! I usually have to change the baby on the floor of the restrooms yuck :( I put down a pad and everything but still and then I'm basically on the floor too, not nice.
I wandered around the mall for hours, it was huge I didn't even cover half of it! Ben met me at 8:45pm and we went to dinner at one of the MANY restaurants attached to the mall. In the cool outdoor part, with fountains, but it's protected with a roof, but still 'outside' So hard to explain but trust me it was amazing.
Ashleigh like me you would have been happy living and staying there forever. I didn't want to leave.
Okay that's all for now... Ben has a day off tomorrow he's going to sleep in of course by then we have 2 days to spend together as a family YAY!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Rain Day
So today I experienced my first London rain. It was cloudy and grey when I woke up and then it rained late morning quite hard, by 1pm it was all cleared up and sunny so I headed out with baby on some errands, we needed diaper wipes etc...
Then against my better judgment I started down Portobello Road AGAIN haha..... I had seen some shops the previous day I didn't get a chance to go in. So I went to a shop called Green Baby GREAT store all organic stuff and really cute, then went to a tpy store that is all old fashioned sturdy toys lots of wooden toys and toys I had growing up.
Mom & Jet you know that family animal doll set I have rabbits and Jet you had racoons (i think) and I have the red roofed doll house etc.. Well they still make those! only now they have SO many more families... I love the meercats in particular and I love the campervan and car.....
Anyways I bought a few items for Evelyn a couple little toys and a cute book.
It rained a bit when I was in a shop but it wasn't a long rain, more like a sun shower and so I started out again looking for shoes for me.... (no such luck) as I was making my way towards home, at a slow pace as I was veyr much still shopping, it started to get really grey and cloudy and cooler. So I decided to go home and not go in any more shops.... well I got a little mixed up with street names... I wanted walgrove park rd and I took welborne park (or something) and wound walking WAY too far... got a little lost (but I had a map so I found my way again) but during my marathon walk the rain decided to come down in all it's fury so there I am walking BACK the way I had come in a thunderstorm, I had the rain cover for the buggy so Evelyn and all my packages were nice and dry I can not say the same for myself :(
First thing I want to buy tomorrow is a rain cost! pushing the buggy laden with bags holding an umbrella does NOT work. I really know my neighborhood now that's for sure!
Ben didn't get home until almost 9pm so we ordered in Indian Food. He was beyond exhausted looking.
Tomorrow is calling for rain again so I'm going to White City (it's a huge mall with the designer shops and where Ben went to Dior on his shopping spree and tons of good restaurants apparently, Ben actually told me to go there tomorrow!!!) The good news is the bus to take me there stops RIGHT outside my front door so no tube stations required!
Kerry/Cathy or those of you familiar with London which musems did you like best? I know there are 2 Tate museums and the portrait gallery and the national gallery and a natural history museum any recommendations?
I guess it seems all I have done is a lot of walking around and shopping paddiongton/notting hill area, but I am mostly getting to know where things are and 'setting up house' Ben only moved into the flat 3 days before I got here and with the long days he's been working it's been up to me to get the things we need to be happy and comfortable.
Next week I hope to do some actual London sightseeing thus the museum question! That should be the next easiest to tackle with Evelyn and the buggy.
Then against my better judgment I started down Portobello Road AGAIN haha..... I had seen some shops the previous day I didn't get a chance to go in. So I went to a shop called Green Baby GREAT store all organic stuff and really cute, then went to a tpy store that is all old fashioned sturdy toys lots of wooden toys and toys I had growing up.
Mom & Jet you know that family animal doll set I have rabbits and Jet you had racoons (i think) and I have the red roofed doll house etc.. Well they still make those! only now they have SO many more families... I love the meercats in particular and I love the campervan and car.....
Anyways I bought a few items for Evelyn a couple little toys and a cute book.
It rained a bit when I was in a shop but it wasn't a long rain, more like a sun shower and so I started out again looking for shoes for me.... (no such luck) as I was making my way towards home, at a slow pace as I was veyr much still shopping, it started to get really grey and cloudy and cooler. So I decided to go home and not go in any more shops.... well I got a little mixed up with street names... I wanted walgrove park rd and I took welborne park (or something) and wound walking WAY too far... got a little lost (but I had a map so I found my way again) but during my marathon walk the rain decided to come down in all it's fury so there I am walking BACK the way I had come in a thunderstorm, I had the rain cover for the buggy so Evelyn and all my packages were nice and dry I can not say the same for myself :(
First thing I want to buy tomorrow is a rain cost! pushing the buggy laden with bags holding an umbrella does NOT work. I really know my neighborhood now that's for sure!
Ben didn't get home until almost 9pm so we ordered in Indian Food. He was beyond exhausted looking.
Tomorrow is calling for rain again so I'm going to White City (it's a huge mall with the designer shops and where Ben went to Dior on his shopping spree and tons of good restaurants apparently, Ben actually told me to go there tomorrow!!!) The good news is the bus to take me there stops RIGHT outside my front door so no tube stations required!
Kerry/Cathy or those of you familiar with London which musems did you like best? I know there are 2 Tate museums and the portrait gallery and the national gallery and a natural history museum any recommendations?
I guess it seems all I have done is a lot of walking around and shopping paddiongton/notting hill area, but I am mostly getting to know where things are and 'setting up house' Ben only moved into the flat 3 days before I got here and with the long days he's been working it's been up to me to get the things we need to be happy and comfortable.
Next week I hope to do some actual London sightseeing thus the museum question! That should be the next easiest to tackle with Evelyn and the buggy.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Not so bad....
So Evelyn and I successfully went back to bed around 5:30am slept until 8am! we had a lazy morning and then the playpen arrived just before noon YAY!
So that meant I could get out of the house, I decided to go shopping on Portobello Road where Ben and I had walked the other night. My goal was to find something nice to wear when we go out to dinner and I meet the other crew members and their families on Sunday..... I think I got something... but I'm not sure I am happy with it sigh.... and I couldn't find shoes.... So I didn't do very well for myself. I did however treat myself to a bag (my purse/bag obsession had to be fed) it was onsale though half price so I felt good about that it was 20 pounds.
I found the Burberry Baby Clothing Store. It was love at first site! Is it wrong to want to spend 125 pounds on a cute outfit for Evelyn? It's really to die for it was all I could do to walk out of store, it's seriously a block and bit from out flat :( which means I will HAVE to pass by it often....
I see a Burberry Baby model in the near future :)
So that meant I could get out of the house, I decided to go shopping on Portobello Road where Ben and I had walked the other night. My goal was to find something nice to wear when we go out to dinner and I meet the other crew members and their families on Sunday..... I think I got something... but I'm not sure I am happy with it sigh.... and I couldn't find shoes.... So I didn't do very well for myself. I did however treat myself to a bag (my purse/bag obsession had to be fed) it was onsale though half price so I felt good about that it was 20 pounds.
I found the Burberry Baby Clothing Store. It was love at first site! Is it wrong to want to spend 125 pounds on a cute outfit for Evelyn? It's really to die for it was all I could do to walk out of store, it's seriously a block and bit from out flat :( which means I will HAVE to pass by it often....
I see a Burberry Baby model in the near future :)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
not sure about today....
Evelyn is up and eating 4:15am this time..... ugg we're both finding the time transition difficult I think. Ben is still sleeping.I didn't really realize how far north we are until now its almost daylight out and it stays light until 9:'ish I think.....gawd my baby is cute I just wish we could get over the jet lag it's killing my daytime energy.
hehehe
Okay I just went to bed to find myself laughing out loud so I had to get up and leave before I woke up either Ben or the baby. Evelyn has managed to take up the entire bed and kick daddy out. He is practically sleeping hanging on to the bed and Evelyn is spread out like this is the life! She looks like an angel when she sleeps. I wish I could take a picture of how funny the bed situation is for you all to see, but I don't want either of them to wake up... Anyways she has certainly pushed daddy out I will have to squeeze in somehow too... That playpen we purchased is not getting here a moment too soon it seems!
Write Off Day
So today the bed for the guest bedroom and our LCD tv screen were to be delivered but they never showed up and I wasted MY whole day waiting for them!
We ordered a playpen for Evelyn to sleep in to buy one new was the same price as buying a used one Gumtree (like our Kijiji) and we could get the one we wanted exactly I was surprised at how inexpensive it was to buy one. We almost rented on but that didn't make sense for the amount of time we are here we could have purchased 10 playpens for the cost of renting.
So that is being delivered tomorrow. I hope that it comes in the morning so I can get out in the afternoon.
Today was also a write off because Evelyn was up at 3am she was done sleeping and wanted to eat and play... I was afraid she would wake up Ben so I kept her quiet until 5:30am when she went back to sleep, I was exhausted all day so I napped and read a book most of the day waiting...... it was also very hot which didn't help me or the baby stay awake.
So we live WAY too close to the most amazing shops.... Portobello Road is like a Queen West/Yorkville Rd but much bigger and and EVERY shop is lovely and I want to buy everything. Ben and I went for a walk along there tonight it's jump a block away from our flat. It's a good thing all the stores were closed......
Everyone dresses really nicely here, I see the most amazing on people who are just sitting having a coffee.... maybe I used to dress like that too before I got old and had a baby..... I realized today how much I hate my current wardrobe and wishing I had something nice to wear.... I think weight or not I have to break down and buy something nice and trendy and cool (can't get over how warm it is here) to go out in the evening or to dinner. I hate looking like a slob next to all those other girls.
Also Ben has REALLY nice clothes. He had a party for the film to attend a couple weeks ago and realized it was a fancy kickoff party and he had nothing to wear so he went to designer part of town and walked into DIOR yes Pauline you read that correctly and told the salesclerk to dress him.... he got some black/Blue Jeans and a nice jacket and shirt... I nearly fainted when I saw it in the closet... can't wait to see him in it! Thus why I need some clothes to match him.... He said it was the most amount of money he had ever spent on clothes in his life including the one or two times he took me special shopping even!
Okay I am super wiped so I should go to bed. Ben had work to do on the computer when he got home from work so I didn't get to log on until 11:30pm. My body clock is so messed up :(
Oh ya and I can't wait for visitors to come here so I can DO stuff... I can't use the tube and the baby buggy.... there are seriously NO elevators and TONS of stairs etc.... So I haven't figured out how to see the sites with the baby alone... taking her for a full day in the baby carrier with all her stuff for a day is just too much at this point... so sadly I am limited to where I can go due to the method of transportation.
Ben talked to the local people at work and they said yes the tubes are bad for accessibility and that the buses might be easier.
So whose coming to visit me in England???? Seriously there is a guest bedroom (shortly to have a double bed delivered for it) and we have 2 full bathrooms and just tons of space and I have TONS of time so much I want to go out and do which would be way more fun to do with someone else....
We ordered a playpen for Evelyn to sleep in to buy one new was the same price as buying a used one Gumtree (like our Kijiji) and we could get the one we wanted exactly I was surprised at how inexpensive it was to buy one. We almost rented on but that didn't make sense for the amount of time we are here we could have purchased 10 playpens for the cost of renting.
So that is being delivered tomorrow. I hope that it comes in the morning so I can get out in the afternoon.
Today was also a write off because Evelyn was up at 3am she was done sleeping and wanted to eat and play... I was afraid she would wake up Ben so I kept her quiet until 5:30am when she went back to sleep, I was exhausted all day so I napped and read a book most of the day waiting...... it was also very hot which didn't help me or the baby stay awake.
So we live WAY too close to the most amazing shops.... Portobello Road is like a Queen West/Yorkville Rd but much bigger and and EVERY shop is lovely and I want to buy everything. Ben and I went for a walk along there tonight it's jump a block away from our flat. It's a good thing all the stores were closed......
Everyone dresses really nicely here, I see the most amazing on people who are just sitting having a coffee.... maybe I used to dress like that too before I got old and had a baby..... I realized today how much I hate my current wardrobe and wishing I had something nice to wear.... I think weight or not I have to break down and buy something nice and trendy and cool (can't get over how warm it is here) to go out in the evening or to dinner. I hate looking like a slob next to all those other girls.
Also Ben has REALLY nice clothes. He had a party for the film to attend a couple weeks ago and realized it was a fancy kickoff party and he had nothing to wear so he went to designer part of town and walked into DIOR yes Pauline you read that correctly and told the salesclerk to dress him.... he got some black/Blue Jeans and a nice jacket and shirt... I nearly fainted when I saw it in the closet... can't wait to see him in it! Thus why I need some clothes to match him.... He said it was the most amount of money he had ever spent on clothes in his life including the one or two times he took me special shopping even!
Okay I am super wiped so I should go to bed. Ben had work to do on the computer when he got home from work so I didn't get to log on until 11:30pm. My body clock is so messed up :(
Oh ya and I can't wait for visitors to come here so I can DO stuff... I can't use the tube and the baby buggy.... there are seriously NO elevators and TONS of stairs etc.... So I haven't figured out how to see the sites with the baby alone... taking her for a full day in the baby carrier with all her stuff for a day is just too much at this point... so sadly I am limited to where I can go due to the method of transportation.
Ben talked to the local people at work and they said yes the tubes are bad for accessibility and that the buses might be easier.
So whose coming to visit me in England???? Seriously there is a guest bedroom (shortly to have a double bed delivered for it) and we have 2 full bathrooms and just tons of space and I have TONS of time so much I want to go out and do which would be way more fun to do with someone else....
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sunday Update
So it's 10:15pm (5 hours of Toronto time) Ben has gone to bed (he leaves the house at 6am on weekdays) works a 12 hour flat day and is home around 7:30pm or 8pm in the evening. LONG DAY!
So tonight we went to a nice causal pub for dinner, I had some lamb leg roast, with veg and mini potato, Ben had steak and mushroom pie with a pint of Guinness and I had a pint of Fruiji (sp?) which is strawberry beer very yummy!
So I have been doing alot of walking and see that there will be lots more walking ahead which should be great to loose the baby weight BUT for anyone who knows me also knows how much I love my double devon clotted cream! and here you get a 300 ml container for 1 pound!!! So I got some fresh berries and poured on the cream and I am eating now and boy is it the best thing I have ever tasted!so much for walkng off the baby weight I will be walking off the english double cream weight lol
So tonight we went to a nice causal pub for dinner, I had some lamb leg roast, with veg and mini potato, Ben had steak and mushroom pie with a pint of Guinness and I had a pint of Fruiji (sp?) which is strawberry beer very yummy!
So I have been doing alot of walking and see that there will be lots more walking ahead which should be great to loose the baby weight BUT for anyone who knows me also knows how much I love my double devon clotted cream! and here you get a 300 ml container for 1 pound!!! So I got some fresh berries and poured on the cream and I am eating now and boy is it the best thing I have ever tasted!so much for walkng off the baby weight I will be walking off the english double cream weight lol
Friday, July 16, 2010
I am here!
So after a fairly uneventful plane ride (Evelyn was FANTASTIC very well behaved not a peep during the whole flight) people were commenting they didn't even know there was a baby onboard! I used the skycot for her and was sitting behind th4 bulkhead in the first row of the ecomomy class which means I also had more leg room than reg rows in the plane.
So our flat is GOREGOUS and quite large. Would you believe it's costing 1250 British pounds a week to rent? Yes I said PER WEEK! It's furnished, and just amazing! I don't think I am ever coming home I want to live here forever :)
Today I went for a walk to the pharmacy the large chain one here is called "Boots" and grocery shopping at the "Tesco" and saw a bit of the neighborhood which is full of trendy boutique shops.
It's 7pm here so I had better get going out for dinner as the restaurants tend to close up a lot earlier than home.
Oh I have a telephone number now on a pay as you go phone it has voicemail and you can tet msg me. Please email me if you would like the number and I would happy to give it to you!
So our flat is GOREGOUS and quite large. Would you believe it's costing 1250 British pounds a week to rent? Yes I said PER WEEK! It's furnished, and just amazing! I don't think I am ever coming home I want to live here forever :)
Today I went for a walk to the pharmacy the large chain one here is called "Boots" and grocery shopping at the "Tesco" and saw a bit of the neighborhood which is full of trendy boutique shops.
It's 7pm here so I had better get going out for dinner as the restaurants tend to close up a lot earlier than home.
Oh I have a telephone number now on a pay as you go phone it has voicemail and you can tet msg me. Please email me if you would like the number and I would happy to give it to you!
Busy Day!!!
Today was crazy busy with last minute running around and started to pack things and make lists of everything I need take with me. I wouldn't be so stressed if I didn't have to remember so many things for the baby. More than half my suitcase are Evelyn's things I have really had to lessen the amount of clothes I would normally take with me!
Evie was a very sucky baby today. Meaning she wanted lots of cuddles I think her gums/teeth are really bothering her and she just wants to chomp on my fingers and snuggle with me. Which is REALLY cute and nice but not helpful to actually get all the things done I need to do!
I am a little worried about travelling alone with her. It's just alot to handle travelling internationally these days and add taking baby with me alone and hello STRESS! I am a little nervous about it actually. I know it will be fine in the end but I also expect some challenges, I'd be surprised if it went all smoothly with no hiccups actually.
Omg I am SO excited I don't know how I will ever sleep tonight! Also I feel the need to continue packing and working away on cleaning up the house so when I get back it's all clean etc.... I hate coming home to a dirty chaotic house.
eek but I should sleep, since being sleep deprived will make tomorrow all that much more difficult to deal with.
Evelyn is sound to sleep and I think I will take a little helpful sleep aid pill and join her before my 2nd wind kicks in.....
Evie was a very sucky baby today. Meaning she wanted lots of cuddles I think her gums/teeth are really bothering her and she just wants to chomp on my fingers and snuggle with me. Which is REALLY cute and nice but not helpful to actually get all the things done I need to do!
I am a little worried about travelling alone with her. It's just alot to handle travelling internationally these days and add taking baby with me alone and hello STRESS! I am a little nervous about it actually. I know it will be fine in the end but I also expect some challenges, I'd be surprised if it went all smoothly with no hiccups actually.
Omg I am SO excited I don't know how I will ever sleep tonight! Also I feel the need to continue packing and working away on cleaning up the house so when I get back it's all clean etc.... I hate coming home to a dirty chaotic house.
eek but I should sleep, since being sleep deprived will make tomorrow all that much more difficult to deal with.
Evelyn is sound to sleep and I think I will take a little helpful sleep aid pill and join her before my 2nd wind kicks in.....
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
3 more sleeps and a redeye...
Just a quick post tonight to say that Ben called me once he was all moved into the apartment, YAY! It was 9:30 pm his time when we talked.
I am SO excited about seeing him and him seeing Evelyn and how much she has changed since he saw her last. I am really looking forward to watching him getting to know her again. Only 3 more sleeps and one redeye flight away from our new home in England!
Ben still has to figure out ordering internet service at the apartment and he told me that we won't have tv... well maybe a channel or two from bunny ears :(
ummmmm that could kill me since tv is my saviour when I am up late/ up early with Evelyn it keeps me company and I like to have it on in the background even if I am not really watching it. I said it was okay I can rent movies, but he told me I might not be able to get a membership to rent movies BOO to that! I hope he is wrong and just hasn't looked into it properly.
He's also unsure if I can buy Evelyn's baby formula over there.... I am going to call Enfamil and find out tomorrow.
Today we went to the pediatrician, Evelyn was weighed and measured and just given a thorough looking at. She is now 10 lbs 12 oz at 12 weeks, 2 days old and 23.5" long. She's SO big now compared to when she was born but she's still my little snuggly baby and still in newborn clothes and not into any of her 3 month size stuff yet :( which I have a lot of and hope she will be able to wear before the temperature cools off too much. Which brings to my issue of what to pack???
EVERYONE keeps telling me how rainy and damp it is over there but Ben says it's only rained 5x since he has been there and it's quite warm and sunny. gah... I guess they are having a good summer and during the fall will be when it gets rainy and damp?
I am so excited my whole life I have always been in love with British History and wanted to visit there now I get to LIVE there for a short time. I just know it will be awesome and we're going to have a wonderful experience.
Good night!
I am SO excited about seeing him and him seeing Evelyn and how much she has changed since he saw her last. I am really looking forward to watching him getting to know her again. Only 3 more sleeps and one redeye flight away from our new home in England!
Ben still has to figure out ordering internet service at the apartment and he told me that we won't have tv... well maybe a channel or two from bunny ears :(
ummmmm that could kill me since tv is my saviour when I am up late/ up early with Evelyn it keeps me company and I like to have it on in the background even if I am not really watching it. I said it was okay I can rent movies, but he told me I might not be able to get a membership to rent movies BOO to that! I hope he is wrong and just hasn't looked into it properly.
He's also unsure if I can buy Evelyn's baby formula over there.... I am going to call Enfamil and find out tomorrow.
Today we went to the pediatrician, Evelyn was weighed and measured and just given a thorough looking at. She is now 10 lbs 12 oz at 12 weeks, 2 days old and 23.5" long. She's SO big now compared to when she was born but she's still my little snuggly baby and still in newborn clothes and not into any of her 3 month size stuff yet :( which I have a lot of and hope she will be able to wear before the temperature cools off too much. Which brings to my issue of what to pack???
EVERYONE keeps telling me how rainy and damp it is over there but Ben says it's only rained 5x since he has been there and it's quite warm and sunny. gah... I guess they are having a good summer and during the fall will be when it gets rainy and damp?
I am so excited my whole life I have always been in love with British History and wanted to visit there now I get to LIVE there for a short time. I just know it will be awesome and we're going to have a wonderful experience.
Good night!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Welcome to our travels in England blog!
Ben has been in England since June 2nd 'ish it's been so long I can't quite remember and before that he was in LA prepping the movie for a couple weeks. He left when Evelyn was 5 weeks old and she will be 13 weeks less a day when we arrive in England on the 17th of July.
We have Evelyn's passport and the permission travel document from Ben consenting to her travelling alone with me (just in case we run into issues) all that is left to do now is pack for our 16 day visit to England!
The company has rented Ben a 2 bedroom apartment in Notting Hill, London, he moves in tomorrow and we fly out on the redeye on Friday July 16th arriving on Saturday the 17th at Gatwick. Ben has also been given a Toyota Prius to drive while living there as well. I will take photos of the apartment and post them hopefully within 48 hours of our arrivial. It sounds AMAZING though!
We are just going for a short visit right now, Ben is going to Paris for a couple weeks in August to shoot and then back to England for the remainder of the filming. And as it turns out I have committments here at home in August so it just seems easier to go now for an intital visit and learn the ropes and then return in early September and stay throughout October and November.
I hope Evelyn recognizes her daddy when he sees her. Some people have said she should remember his voice.... I hope so. She has changed so much since he has been gone, she's a totally different baby with a little personality now.
We have Evelyn's passport and the permission travel document from Ben consenting to her travelling alone with me (just in case we run into issues) all that is left to do now is pack for our 16 day visit to England!
The company has rented Ben a 2 bedroom apartment in Notting Hill, London, he moves in tomorrow and we fly out on the redeye on Friday July 16th arriving on Saturday the 17th at Gatwick. Ben has also been given a Toyota Prius to drive while living there as well. I will take photos of the apartment and post them hopefully within 48 hours of our arrivial. It sounds AMAZING though!
We are just going for a short visit right now, Ben is going to Paris for a couple weeks in August to shoot and then back to England for the remainder of the filming. And as it turns out I have committments here at home in August so it just seems easier to go now for an intital visit and learn the ropes and then return in early September and stay throughout October and November.
I hope Evelyn recognizes her daddy when he sees her. Some people have said she should remember his voice.... I hope so. She has changed so much since he has been gone, she's a totally different baby with a little personality now.
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