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It's official - I'm British!
So today, at 3pm GMT, I will become a British citizen. I'll be able to vote and go through the fast line in any European Union airport. According to my daughter, I'll be posh. My credit rating will be higher, thanks to my listing on the electoral roll. I'll be able to refer to myself as 'one' and I'll have the joy of carrying two passports whenever I travel, bringing our three person family's passport total to five.
According to the home office website, here's what will happen this afternoon.
When you arrive for the ceremony, you will be asked to show your letter of invitation.
You will then receive your pledge card with the words to the oath or affirmation and pledge that you have to say during the ceremony.
When you attend the ceremony, it will be usual to do so together with a group of other new citizens. The Superintendent Registrar or Deputy will host the ceremony. Local dignitaries will attend.
After a speech of welcome, the Superintendent Registrar will invite you to swear the Oath of allegiance or, if you prefer, to speak the affirmation of allegiance.
Ooh, local dignitaries.. very exciting! There's a video here, if you want to see what it's all about.
Something is wrong with me .... I had every plan to go to the gym at 5:30pm today... Work didn't allow it as I was too busy. Here's the weird part - I am actually seriously bummed. Bizarre!
we're having an 'at home' day today... we don't do it very often. this morning, mary catherine and i got up and made muffins while andrew had a lie in. we made shrek 'swamp muffins' which were really not very nice to look at, but incredibly tasty. mary catherine did most of the work on them - she's come a long way in the last year. she even managed to get most of the batter into the cupcake bun cases!
we then piled into bed and had a lovely family breakfast in bed.. now we're just hanging out and watching some telly and are about to have lunch. if we feel like it later, we may bundle up and head for the pond down the road to feed the birds. it's not looking too nice outside, though, so it's very possible we may just stay in.
Thoughts on journey to poppins....
I've booked Mary Catherine in for her first eye test next Saturday.. I had no idea that they need to have one at the tender age of three. Hopefully, she will 'get' Andrew's eyes, with perfect vision and not mine, which are still heading downhill. I think I got glasses at age five, and I don't remember having any issues with them, really. I recall being very happy to get contacts at 12, though. I hope MC doesn't need glases - and from what I can tell of her site, she doesn't. Will be interesting to see how she copes with the exam. Now I just have to book the three of us in for the dentist. MC's already announced that she doesn't like the dentist - has no idea what goes on there, and already declares her dislike. Amazing. On DLR to the Tube to meet A and MC for Mary Poppins... I love leaving the office early.. Feels very decadent, even though I did a full day's work in the six hours I was there... We had snow flurries this morning, but they're gone now. Just wet and really cold now.
Today Andrew and I are taking Mary Catherine for a huge surprise. We're going to see Mary Poppins in the West End! We haven't told her anything other than we're taking her on an adventure and that we're going to the 'theatre show', which is what we call it whenever we go to the theatre, which we do quite often.
She knows that she will not be taking a nap with the other children at school and that Daddy will be picking her up around that time.
I'm so exicted! I'm leaving the office about 12:45 to head to the theatre to meet them for a quick lunch before the show.
There's a perfect little patisserie just across the road from the theatre in Soho and every time I've been past there, I've envisioned taking MC there post theatre to grab a hot chocolate and delicious pastry of our choice. Well, today is that day!
Fantastic news!
Mary Catherine has gotten a place at our first choice school for September! They called this morning and a place is now available. I almost shouted down the phone, 'Yes! We'll take it!' I'm sure I sounded like a bargain shopper at a seasonal sale.
Now the fun bit begins.. you know the part where we have to decide how we're going to creatively arrange our finances to pay for a private education. The part where we decide if a part-time nanny is on the cards or not. The fun bit where I get to start day dreaming about Mary Catherine in her school uniform....
Sorry, I drifted off there for a moment.
Thursday, we're taking Mary Catherine to meet her idol - Mary Poppins. Well, not really meet her, but see her on stage in the West End. I'm really looking forward to it, as it's supposed to be a great show. We got a decent discount on tickets as the Society of London Theatre are running a promotion called 'Get Into London Theatre' with great discounts on shows through the end of March. I'm still having to sell internal organs to pay for the tickets, but only one kidney instead of two. (We saved £50 for the three of us, but it's still a Benjie, if you know what I mean)
So that will be very fun - I hope Mary Catherine enjoys it. We saw a 'taster' performance at the Family Prom last year and she loved it then - so fingers crossed.
Hormones are a funny thing, aren't they? There are times I cruise through my married life - I mean, I know I am married to a wonderful person who is kind, sensitive and lord knows, patient. But there are days like today, when I see a picture of him like the one to the right and I think - whoa! How fabulous is he?! Seriously, dear readers I am having a hubba hubba moment at my desk!
Of course, after he reads that he and his large head may not be able to fit through the door at home! Look how cute they are though - am I not totally lucky?
This year (yes, I know it's only February) I've really been trying to make more of an effort to be thankful for what I have - and there holding on to his beloved BBC umbrella and miss pointy finger are the two that keep me grounded and sane.
Man, I'm just full of the love today! Let's all hug.
I hate Sunday evenings. Starting around 4pm, I begin to think about starting the weeka head. It's sad, really, because I end up consistently wasting precious free time. I'm starting to feel like I need a major holiday, which is why I'm totally stoked that we just booked two weeks in America for late March.
Today I went to The Sanctuary spa in Covent Garden. My lovely boss gave me a fabulous day there for Christmas. It was a very good day, although it would've been better, I think, if I'd gone with someone and not had to do everything on my own. Although, i did get to tuck into a book and managed to get through two magazines, which was nice.
I had a swedish massage which was lovely, although not the best I've ever had. My favourite part of the day was a nice snooze in the 'Koy Carp Lounge' on a recliner on the floor. I just put my magazine aside and let myself drift off. It was a nice feeling.
Andrew and Mary Catherine spent the day wandering around central London - they must've had a great time, they're both exhausted!
This is the life...
Am enjoying a day the Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden. The day package was a christmas gift from my wonderful boss. It's just me and 100 others, walking around in bathrobes, getting treatments. Really lovely thus far...
Do you ever read 'Go Fug Yourself'? Lordy it's funny.
"And you know that somewhere, Gwen Stefani is like, "DAMN! The weird entourage of objectified women is MY IDEA. God, and his are SPRAY-PAINTED. That's SO MUCH COOLER! How am I going to top that? I know! After the baby comes, maybe I can travel with an entourage of crawling INFANTS. Yes! Brilliant! GAME ON, WEST. GAME ON."
Have you ever visited one of my shops? For those of you that didn't know, I do tees and other various items in my spare (ha, now that's funny) time.
Cafe Press, the retailer I go through is doing a survey. They are considering adding larger sized items to their inventory. If this is something you'd like to give your two cents on, click here.
My back finally feels better today and I think overall I'm much less achy than I was before letting Dr Ching Chang (sorry, no offense meant to anyone of Asian descent) attack me with needles and cups.
Mary Catherine is battling a cold, and while it hasn't seemed too severe, it's been enough to give her whopping great fevers Saturday and Sunday overnight. Today she got to nursery at 8:45 and was sent home with a fever at 9:30. Given her history with febrile convulsions, we have to treat fevers very seriously. So Andrew went to work and then 10 minutes later, left work.
They're at home now - and my mind is certainly there with them. I'm going to leave work a bit early today, just to relieve Andrew. Once her fever is under control, she's usually pretty normal - but see, we working parents flip out in situations like these.
oh. my. gosh.
today, we were at bluewater - just hanging out and doing what we normally do when we go there. there's a shop there called dr & herbs - it's one of two chinese medicine shops in the mall. i notice that they have a sign advertising 5 minute massage for £5, so i comment to andrew that it would be a nice treat to have a quick back and neck massage.
the woman there (let's just call her 'pushy') comes over and says that five minutes isn't very long and wouldn't i like more time and more relaxation? maybe my sucker light was blinking, maybe i kind of believe in alternative therapies, whatever. so i let her convince me that i need (not want, but need) an hour of relaxation (after all, i do have child as she tells me). she leads me to a room in the back of the shop, takes me inside and asks me to lie down on the massage bed with my shirt off.
fine with me, all seems pretty normal to me.
then she leaves and a man in a white coat comes in (i later find out that he's a doctor - well, in china, not the uk) and whips out some acupuncture needles and proceeds to insert them into my back. apparently, i'm tense in my neck and shoulders (actually, i knew that - i carry my stress there) so he does his thing. i've never had my chi balanced - so at that point, i'm finding it interesting. not too keen on the idea of needles in my head, neck and back, but i'm forward thinking.
then he leaves the room. yes - LEAVES the room. FOR TEN MINUTES. not only am i afraid to move and risk damaging my meridians, nerve endings, muscles, etc - but i find that i actually can't move because, gee, it hurts when you have a lot of needles sticking out of you. so i'm lying there trying to decide whether or not to panic.
eventually he comes back and takes out the needles and proceeds to do 'cupping' on my back. once he and i agreed on the right amount of suction in the cup - it was pretty pleasant. then he goes on to give me an amazing back massage with lots of thumping, pulling, stretching and deep muscle work. the final bit with that doctor was a 10 minute head and neck massage while sitting in the room. he kept pulling my head up from my neck - i can't confirm it, but i think i'm at least two inches taller now.
i then go out to the waiting room and pushy comes over and tells me that my 'manipulation' doctor will be ready for me soon. mr manipulation proceeds to massage my head, neck and back stopping every now and again to adjust me. i say adjust, i mean pop the heck out of my neck and shoulders!
did i mention that neither doctor spoke english? after the third time my neck made an alarming popping sound, i decided that this was a most bizarre experience!
pushy came back and told me that the first doc prescribed a five session course of treatment - for only £140. uh, i said i'd think about it, had andrew pay my 'special just for you, because you look like nice lady' hour treatment and we went on our way.
isn't that bizarre? i will say that the cupping and massage bits were very relaxing and enjoyable. but the acupuncture and being left in a room half nude stuck full of needles was a little more than tense. what an experience. i told andrew that i'd probably go back there, as i think you get a lot of 'rubbing' for your money. it was quite clinical and not relaxing in the 'oh i'm paying over £2/minute to have someone rub my back, play whale song and let me sniff eucalyptus oil' i'm used to.
my back/neck is kinda sore from the acupunture, but i'm trying to tell myself that it's the needles/meridians/chi aligning doing it's thing. i'm not sure i'm believing it!
we saw brokeback mountain tonight - if they'd let heath ledger speak faster, we could've been home an hour earlier. i found the movie entertaining enough to watch, but overall heavy handed, a tad sterotypical and slower than the second act of a high school musical. the best part - when a couple got up and left in disgust after the first homosexual love scene. now, that's what i call entertainment!
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Mom/Nana/Nancy/NanaBananaDoodiePants, Happy Birthday to YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU! Don't you just love birthdays? To me, they're more fun than Christmas and Valentine's Day all rolled up into one. I mean, it's the only day where people celebrate you and I'm all about that.
Speaking of Valentine's Day - it's coming up next week. Mary Catherine made Andrew and I a card at school yesterday - it's all glittery and beautiful in the way that cards made by proud three year-olds are.
And on a final note, it's Friday. I'm not a fan of the whole TGIF thing, but man, seriously - I'm so glad it's the end of the work week. So glad. I'm really feeling quite worn down. My friend Whitney from DC is in town this weekend for a quick visit. It will be nice to see her and bore everyone around us with the 'remember that time we...' game.
I think we're going to meet up with she and her husband for brunch on Sunday at the same market we went to last week. Mary Catherine is already looking forward to the dried fruit booth and weird green juice.
Where I use my adjectives..
Years and years and years and YEARS ago tomorrow, a tiny baby was born. Her name was Nancy. Nancy was a good child who grew up to be one of the most kind, caring and responsible people I know. Not without imperfection, she can be brash, quick to judge and impatient at times. However, it is those miniscule flaws that often endears her to others. Sometimes we all need someone in our lives who tells it like they see it and doesn't hold back with emotions, good or bad. Need a party catered for on a small budget and at the last minute? Nancy will do it. Need someone to make curtains for your new home? Nancy will help you with that. What's that? Your charity clothes closet needs clothes ironed? Pass her an iron and board. My child won't wear trousers? Nancy makes her dresses - big ones, with lots of 'twirl-factor'... So, please join me in wishing my Mom, Nancy, a very happy birthday. Best wishes for an incredible day tomorrow, Mom!
Need more to read?
The Bloggies nominees are out.. the voting phase is actually over, but the entries are always entertaining.
On a very packed train home... I heard a story today that said that the first monday in february is the most skipped day of the year. Not if this train is any illustration! Yesterday, when we were at Spitalfields market - Mary Catherine asked me if we would see her favourite statue. I said yes and we did see it. It's a good one and I'm rather fond of it. Sort of looks like multi-coloured beach chairs tangled up and hanging from the ceiling. I am so stoked that Mary Catherine a.) Knows what a statue is and b.) Has a favourite. I know a few children who are clueless to things like that. How can you not point out art to children? Listening to her interpretation of what she thinks stuff is makes me smile. Big time. I think soon I'd like to take her to the Tate Modern, my favourite museum in London, armed with paper and crayons and have a go at drawing what we see. She's probably a little young for it, but it would be interesting to compare the results years on end. Aha! My very own child development experiment. Andrew and I were talking yesterday and I think I really need some serious artsy fartsy interludes to balance me out. I suppose that need was partly behind the odd juice choice yesterday!
sunday night.. we had a good weekend - not doing very much at all. given how stressful this past week was for me, it was welcome.
thursday and friday at work were alright - i've basically been told that it's politics, not performance keeping me from the position i wanted. i've also been asked to stay in that office for another week until a replacement can be found. the crap thing is that they're looking for me, who isn't me. yes - that's right. ME who isn't ME.
there's someone who works on my floor who isn't my greatest fan, not because she and i don't get along, but because i'm not afraid of her and because i don't feel the need to have her on my side as some others do. she's quite powerful, some would say too powerful, and the long and short of it is that she is keeping me from the job. it's a weird world.
i spent most of last week in emotional turmoil, so much so that i actually have overspent the amount of energy/emotions i had and just ended up exhausted, uncaring and ready to put it all behind me. hopefully, that will be soon.
i do sort of think it's a bit crap that i'm staying in the role until a ME can be found - seems a bit like a kick in the teeth. i wouldn't complain or not do it - see, i'm what's called a team player and apparently i'm quite valuable to have in your company. i guess someone's gotta be the dishrag.
i will stop now, because i only have mostly ugly thoughts to share on that topic.
today andrew, mary catherine and i went to lunch and browse at spitalfields market. we had a fantastic time and mary catherine and i stopped at a fabbo bohemian juice bar and had juice that contained apple, pear, spinach, wheatgrass, brocolli, kiwi, cucumber, celery and a twist of lime. the first sip was pretty gross, actually, but it grew on both she and i. we didn't finish it, but we did both have a good amount. mary catherine said to me, 'mummy, this is very healthy.' andrew called us hippies! all in all, a very good day.
tomorrow starts another week. i'd like to get through it with good humour and grace. at the very least, i'll take dry but not sarcastic with a tiny hint of bitter. oy vey - give me strength.
could someone just pay me to stay at home, please?
At the present time, I feel like my world is falling apart a little bit. Not all of it, mind you, only the professional part.
Work has been challenging for the last three months since I was moved to another department via staying with my Manager. I love my boss, not in a romantic way, but I find him very kind and good to work for. I enjoy working for him.
I do not, however, like our new department. I find that I do not have a lot in common with the other 'me's on the floor (apologies for being vague, but there's no way in hell I can afford to be 'Dooce'd'). I find that where I used to love coming to work, I merely come in now because well, it's what I do. I left a lot of friends in my old department and I just don't have the same balance/harmony in my new one.
A position in my old department suddenly came up, due to sad circumstances, two weeks ago. I was chosen to step in and sort things out. It was implied that the position could become long term. In the last two and a half weeks I've worked really hard to sort things out. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say that I feel I've done a very good job and given over 100%.
Long story short, I heard yesterday that I will be going back to my old job after this week. It's fine - as I'm happy to still be employed, but the reasons given were a bit strange and while I do think people have my interests at heart, sort of, I question why I don't seem to have a say in things.
Have I confused you yet? It's basically a 'I'd keep you, but someone else has greater possibilities for you than I do' thing. Well, what if I don't want greater possibilities? What if I really wanted this position? What if I'm absolutely gutted over it and am really tired of giving and giving and giving 120% with no reward?
I'm tired of being the reliable one. The one to go in and sort things out only to be pushed to where they want me when they're finished with me. I feel like no one really gives two cents about what I want or what I need. I know it's big business, I know. Honestly, if it's a performance related thing, then that is fine - but if it's selfishness and politics, I'm so not cool with it.
In my mind, the new position represented more money - and it's quite clear to me now that I am motivated and driven by the urge to earn money with job satisfaction running a close second. Since I'm not what I wanted to be when I grew up, radio/graphic design/creative, I do something that comes easily to me and that I enjoy for the most part. So, I realise now that in my mind, this position meant a bit more financial security which is important to me at the moment, as we're staring private school and possibly a nanny for Mary Catherine in September.
I am the primary bread winner in our family, not by much though, and I am happy to be that most days. However, it's on days like today where I am really struggling not to cry at my desk that I wish Andrew were motivated to climb the proverbial ladder. I'm not saying that to pressure him via this post, I'm saying that I'm fine with him working somewhere that doesn't have a lot of advancement financially - but that I wish I didn't have to carry the burden of struggling to afford things on my own.
I think I'll stop now - as I need to focus on work. I need to get back to giving my standard overperformance, even though today my heart isn't in it.
totally stolen from Nancy..
3 Names You Answer to:
Elizabeth (since I married into a mono-syllabic surname family, Liz Dunne just seemed to stark)
ebeth (because sometimes I'm too lazy to write my entire name)
'liz (or any variation therein, a name I went by in America from age 13 onwards)
3 Parts of Your Heritage:
English (I've been to the town of Bingham here in the UK)
I actually have no idea on the rest, it's not something that interests me.
3 Things That Scare You:
Something happening to my immediate family/friends
Terrorism keeping me from my family
Losing my mind/mental health
3 Everyday Essentials:
Laughing with Mary Catherine
Attention from Andrew
Office supplies (I'm picky about my pens, you know)
3 Things You’re Wearing:
My new trousers that I bought while home in America. They're a size 22, which I haven't been able to fit into since mid-college. (oh wait, I haven't told you all about my diet yet, have I?!)
Same size shirt from Marks & Spencer, which I don't particularly love, but think is suitable and appropriate for work.
My Tiffany diamond earrings that I've starting wearing again - turns out that they're not cursed, after all.
3 Favorite Songs:
Hope there's someone - Anthony & the Johnsons
Lose control - Missy Elliot
That's me trying - Ben Folds, William Shatner and Aimee Mann
3 Things About the Opposite Sex That Appeal to You:
Intelligence
Height, I don't do short
A big willy. (sorry I couldn't resist!)
3 Things You Want in a Relationship:
Communication
Fun/laughter
Intellectual stimulation
3 Favorite Hobbies: (who has time for hobbies? I have a three year old!)
Apple Computers/Internet
Going on adventures with my family
Reading 'Chick Lit'
3 Things to Do Before You Die:
Travel more
See my daughter excel as a smart, kind and caring person
Enjoy my life for better/worse
3 Places You Want to Go:
Rome
Tokyo
Switzerland
3 Ways You’re Stereotypically Female (or male if you’re a guy):
I get titchy about women's rights
I feel like I do everything for everyone around me
I secretly enjoy making people feel guilty
2 Truths 1 Lie:
I bite my nails
I barely graduated from college
I can lick my own big toes
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