Day 59, 2006

Today is music day, when the Chi wakes up we will have a snack and rush to Holland Park to attend Whippersnappers, a funky music group for under five's that she just loves. 45 minutes of banging drums (I want to encourage a connection to my African roots) shaking rattles and bells and singing. She loves the music and even though most of the time she is the smallest in the class I think the stimulation is good for both of us.

After that we will dash home for lunch and hopefully then I will make time to complete this week's assignment. For the first time I have written most of it longhand and trying to transcribe the scrawl into a legible and coherent passage is going to be a challenge. I spent a couple of evenings jotting down all the images that came to me, in my mind I have structured them into some order but now I need to actually do it and post it off. Does the fact that most of last week I had a sick and grumpy baby tat did not sleep much count as an excuse? Not really but am going to use it anyway.

Last night Helen Theofilatos - an old old friend came for dinner, we have known each other since we were about 4 years old,  she now lives in Athens (but travels all over the world) and whenever she flies through London she stops in - so warm and comfortable to be in her presence, and I envy her adventurous life.  

It's cold again, low grey clouds threaten snow and on the news I see that the north of England is covered in white, tomorrow is officially the first day of spring, will look out for snow drops and new shoots on our walk in the park.

Day 56, 2006

After a week long hibernation while my daughter recovered from flu, I have craved grown up spaces that would remind me of why I love London, even in February.

Last night the mothers in my NCT Group and I went out for dinner, refreshing to be out past 8:oo, to have champagne and to flag a cab home after 12:oo slightly tipsy in time for the midnight feed.

Today we took the pram on public transport, eventually walking across the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern.  I had read a review about Rachel Whiteread's white boxes, and and seeing them stacked up in the turbine hall failed to illicit any reaction, and certainly failed to "...invoke the sense of mystery surrounding ideas of what a sealed box might contain".

The Chi's Oupa, Omi and aunt Monique met up with us, and later Eran the Chi and I ended up at Kulu Kulu (Covent Garden) for sushi.

Right now I have an assignment to complete so this procrastination must stop.  

Day 55, 2006

I live in a quiet mansion block in a busy neighbourhood in London. Right now I am sitting in the kitchen making the most of my daughters nap time to explore this application and have another cup of coffee.

It’s crisp outside, grey, although the sun does occasionally force itself though the clouds to create bright patches of light across the floor, my cats lounge, absorbing the heat, eyes blinking.

The weather report tells me it is cold enough for gloves and scarves and I open the door to feel the blast of cold across my bare feet and nose. I close the door. My daughter has been ill for a week – today we are staying in. 

This evening I escape with some other Mama's - a night out sans babes at the FireHouse for dinner and cocktails. Looking forward to dressing up, flagging a cab and eating something I have not had to cook.