Monday 10 May 2010

It's all parties, parties and awards.......


I am pleased to report that Littleboy1's party was a success.

We eventually ended up with 12, plus 2 extra sibilings, so had just about the right number of kids. (Although The Doctor now thinks I was unnecessarily worried, I did have to point out that this was partly down to my hard work chasing non-RSVPers in my politest British phone voice and inviting other friends at the last minute - but it was worth it, and we eventually ended up with a good mix of school and other friends).

I also caved in to his demands for a Thomas the Tank Engine cake. Realising that creating such a thing was definitely at the limits of my own cake-baking 'skills' (Ha!), I ordered a custom-made one from the supermarket bakery counter. What with this, an hour of gymnastics at the party, and a huge pile of presents, he was in seventh heaven and yesterday evening announced that 'this has been the best day ever, Mummy.'

We did still get a lot of comments about how brave (read: foolish) we were to hold a party on Mother's Day. Yup, OK. I think I've learned my lesson on that one. It's about as optimistic as expecting any American friends to be interested in the British election result......

Anyway, the combination of the party and an exhausting trip to the Statue of Liberty on Saturday (high winds; small boys; lots of queuing) has left me quite worn out. But I've been perked up a little by the receipt of a lovely Beautiful Blogger award from the wonderful Mothership . This involves revealing seven things about myself and then tagging some other bloggers to do the same. So here are some (vaguely interesting )nuggets for your perusal.

1. I am one quarter Portuguese. My grandfather was the descendant of Madeiran immigrants to the West Indies (he grew up on Antigua). I have some distant West Indian cousins, one of whom is a piano teacher in NYC and one who is apparently a famous steel drum player.

2. I am allergic to cats. Which is a shame, because I like them. Or used to. But now my heart always sinks when I hear a friend has bought a kitten....

3. I played the 'cello at school, until the age of 16. I got to Grade 5. But I never practised enough, and found it terribly hard to cart around. I'd love my kids to play instruments, but would definitely suggest smaller ones.

4. I love learning languages. Before Littleboy1 was born we took evening classes in Italian. This has now fallen by the wayside, but I'm determined to learn one day.

5. I've been interviewed by Sky News twice. Once talking about M&S, once about Sainsbury's in my capacity as a business journalist. I have never worn so much makeup in my life.

6. Speaking of Sky News, someone I once recruited as a reporter is now their Business Editor. He was far and away the most talented person I ever worked with, and deserves his success.

7. One of my favourite films of all time is When Harry Met Sally. It never fails to make me smile.

And now I'm going to pass on this award to the following bloggers and ask them to reveal some fascinating facts:

Gone Back South (who has recently returned to the blogosphere)
Pants with Names (previously known as Brit in Bosnia)

11 comments:

Gone Back South said...

Aaah thanks for the award. I normally make excuses and don't do what's requested of me with these things ... but this time I actually might, ya know!!! Anyway I'm pleased the party went well - hoorah.

Mwa said...

Thank you so much! I blush.

Oh, and I see why I like you so much - with me it's the violin and Spanish but the same movie. x

Anonymous said...

Hello and congratulations!
I love organising children's parties - so much fun and absolutely worth it (esp when they say really sweet things - just like your son). The cake is always the highlight. I have these made, too, and even the adults have to say WOW... Last year we had a wonderful two-tier Nemo cake.

Home Office Mum said...

Glad the party was a success. What a relief. And thanks for the award. Now to think of 7 fascinating facts about me. Hmmm, tricky one. Will ponder. In the meantime, I'm still coveting living in LI and one day might just land on your doorstep

Expat mum said...

Glad the party went well. I am in the middle of trying to decide what to do for Little Guy's.
I laughed at number 5. I've been on TV a few times and they cake that make-up on don't they? One one evening a few years ago I had to go straight to a baseball game to pick up the man-child. The TV studio didn't offer me so much as a tissue to scrape the slap off with. I think some of the parents assumed I was a prostitute or something!

Tanya (Bump2Basics) said...

Thanks for the tag!

I'm just like MWA with the violin, Spanish and the movie - ha! Now I must think of 7 interesting things about me....hmmmm...

A Modern Mother said...

When Harry Met Sally is one of my all time favourites too! There really hasn't been anything like it since.

MyPerfumeLife said...

Glad the party was a success. Thanks for commenting on my photo yesterday. I thought that we must have at least one friend in common, and my/our friend Henrietta mentioned that she knows you. She saw your guest post. Small world.

nappy valley girl said...

GBS - you don't need to do it! Honestly, I will NOT be upset.....

Mwa - The Doctor plays the violin. And he is far better at than I ever was at the cello....

Cafe bellini - a two tier Nemo cake! Sounds fantastic. Yes, those things they say make all the difference.

HomeOfficeMum - oh please come! I'd love to have you as a neighbour....

ExpatMum - I remember sitting on the train home afterwards - was convinced everyone was staring at me....

Tanya - I'm sure there are LOTS of interesting things about you....

A Modern Mother - too true. (Although the other night we watched the Meryl Streep film It's Complicated, which I did rather enjoy...same slightly kooky humour).

Signature Scent - small world indeed. And I probably passed you on the Northcote road a million times....

Iota said...

Well, you'll have to go to Antigua while you're on this side of the Atlantic, won't you?

Glad the party was a success.

I saw It's Complicated the other night. You're right - it is a bit like When H met S, but not so good. I found the comic bits weren't all that funny, and seemed like they'd been stuck in as a bit of an afterthought. I wondered if the film would have worked better without them, just as a straight drama rather than trying to be a rom-com (eg the bit where Steve Martin on the laptop gets a full view of the ex-husband - bit predictable?) I did like the bit where the grown-ups got stoned at the teenagers' party, though.

nappy valley girl said...

Iota- I liked the getting stoned part too. And the horrified son-in-law. But yes, some of the other 'comedy' moments seemed a bit forced. I love Meryl Streep though - I think she has to be my favourite actress.