While everyone else was at Cybermummy....

So I didn't make it to Cybermummy, the Mummy Bloggers conference this weekend. (The reason is simple; we'd already planned a trip back to the UK in August, and I just couldn't justify shelling out for another return airfare from New York to London.) So I didn't get to spend the weekend gallivanting with a bunch of witty, fun and intelligent bloggers in Earls Court. Or listening to fascinating debates and lectures about how to get the most out of blogging. I hope to get to the next one (please say you're going to organise another one, Susanna).

So what was I doing when the rest of the blogosphere was quaffing white wine and chatting?

Trying to keep cool in 35 degree heat. (As I write, the temperature is pushing 100F, or 'the century mark', as someone on the radio described it this morning. The weather forecast symbol is not for a cheery yellow sun, but a red ball of fire looking like something out of a nuclear war).
Watching Germany v Argentina with two German families (and enjoying their success vicariously)
Swimming with my boys in the sea and the town pool. (Littleboy 1 can now officially swim - hurrah!)
Watching swarms of American families pitch up at the beach with barbecues, hammocks, coolboxes, entire collections of toys and the kitchen sink on their annual Indpendence Day pilgrimage. We arrived at 10 and left at 1pm - by which time there was a four mile tailback to the beach carpark.
Hosting and cleaning up after two evening parties (luckily The Doctor did most of the cooking)
Sitting outside in the darkness watching fireflies and listening to the hum of the cicadas, which have just started up this weekend.
Watching the Macy's Fourth of July New York fireworks show on TV (with two cynical British friends who though it was terribly cheesy.....it seemed fine to me, which just goes to show I am just used to these things now)
Repeatedly hosing and sprinkling the garden
Repeatedly hosing and sprinkling the Littleboys
Changing the Littleboys in and out of wet, sandy or muddy clothes (from their new favourite game of making mud pies, or 'pancakes' in buckets)
Retrieving the Littleboys from one or other of our neighbours' houses
Putting the washing machine on
Preparing the boys' bags for the first day of camp - towel, change of clothes, lunch, photograph of them, Ziploc bag of clothes.....kitchen sink.....

Phew.

This morning I dropped them off at 9.30 at two different locations (luckily near each other) for camp, rushed back to write a feature, rushed off again at 12 to pick them up. Then I rinsed out their dirty towels and swimsuits, found dry ones, and took them off to swimming lessons. We are now back to discover that the outdoor picnic/concert we planned to attend this evening is cancelled due to the ferocious heat (news which I have to say is rather relieving).

So, as you can see, I have been pretty busy. Busy enough not to really mind about Cybermummy, (although I do feel a little left out). Please tell me it doesn't matter.......