Thursday 29 January 2015

Rinse and repeat. And repeat. And repeat...

Things I never imagined I would say as regularly as I do (but which I suspect other mothers of boys might find somewhat familiar):


  • Why - exactly - do you need to be naked to listen to Debussy's 'Clair de Lune' / Uptown Funk / The Black-Eyed Peas?
  • Because I don't really want you to sit on the sofa cushions with your bare bottom
  • Well, would YOU like to sit somewhere that someone else's bare bottom had been?
  • It's state of cleanliness is not the point.  Well, OK, it is.  But you still have to put your clothes back on.
  • Hurry up and put your taekwondo kit on, and leave your pants ON this time, please..
  • I know papa does it - but that doesn't mean you have to.
  • I know it's -10deg C outside, but can someone open the window please?
  • Who-ever is responsible for what's on the loo seat, can they clean it up NOW, please?
  • The idea of a family signature dance is lovely, darling.  But we're not doing that one.
  • Well yes, I did hear Grandad tell that joke.  But it's still not appropriate for school.


And of course, that all time classic:


  • No-one needs to see that first thing in the morning.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

'Trees'; Week 214 of The Gallery

I've not done this for a while - pure laziness, probably - but this week I'm submitting a photo for Week 214 of Tara's Gallery over at Sticky Fingers.

Well; how could I not?  This week's theme is 'Trees', and if there's one thing Russia has in abundance, it's trees.  Honestly, I was spoiled for choice when it came to selecting a photo.  There was only ever going to be one winner for me though; this shot, taken a couple of years back when I visited Izmailovsky Park on one of Phoebe's Walks (long-term Moscow expats will know what that means) and turned a corner to be confronted with this Lothlorien-like grove of silver birches.

Even to look at it briefly calms my soul.






















Sticky Fingers Photo Gallery

Wednesday 14 January 2015

Not dead...

... and not even in Moscow (although we will be again, soon).  No, just trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together.

And that, for the moment, is all.