pride

Miss Lily is super proud of herself and rightly so.
Yesterday she mastered riding her bike. We went with the two of them and Dukie and her bike without its training wheels to the green field which has a track running through it, its really like the South downs there, anyway off she went a little wobbly at first but determined and she did it. Its good timing actually as shes fast growing out of that bike and needs to be in her new one, its bigger but its also heavier so she needs balance to be able to ride it.

The day before she managed to swim without her floaty jacket. I said yes to taking it off in the pool as this summer she can touch the bottom in the pool so its a whole lot safer for her than it was last year.
So I took if off and she swam off in her little doggy paddle but she didnt sink! She swam!
SO PROUD

Today is another gorgeous 27C day and its only the end of July. Its my lovely Mothers birthday today and I wish I could be with her to celebrate but my brothers are there with her.

Tonight I am off to the movies straight from work, I am very excited, Its been a very long time since I have been to a social anything "straight from work"!
My pal and I are off to see "The Watch" with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn. It looks like fun from the bit of trailer I have seen. And its half price Tuesday night so that works for me too.

Leibster award

I received a Leibster award from Kim at The Birds Nest which is rather exciting. In German Liebster means "dearest, beloved, or favorite" in German. This award is awarded from one blogger to another as a way to give a heads up to new or up and coming blogs of 200 or fewer followers, I have also added a couple of my just favourite bloggers.



When accepting the award, I am asked to:

• Post 11 random facts about myself
• Choose 11 deserving bloggers and tag them in my post.
• Tell the chosen bloggers that I’ve tagged them.
• Answer 11 questions the tagger has asked me, and give 11 questions to the people I’ve tagged. I'm not allowed to tag back the blogger who chose me

11 Random Facts about Little Me:

1. I used to ride horses, quite well and had two that were close to my heart - Pele my black Belgium warmblood who was meant to be my showjumper and Pebbles my grey belgium warmblood x connemara who was meant to be my event horse. Both suffered injury and were put to sleep. I still cant watch a grey horse without sobbing.

2. I wanted to be a marine biologist but couldnt get past the biology bit. Playing with dolphins and scuba diving is fine, looking at blood etc is not. I also wanted to be a fighter pilot - I saw a lot of Top Gun. I was even accepted into the RAF but flunked out when I met my first boyfriend and decided to become an accountant.

3. I want a tattoo that says either "I think I can, I know I can"or "one life, live it" but I am too scared.

4. My heart is in Key West and I plan to one day have a conch house in Old Town Key West as my annual winter escape plan.

5. I love reading, but I dont like sci-fi or anything dark. I love crime and thriller as long as there is a personal story attached to the hero/heroine

6. I cant decide if I like a Gap look or a whisical bo-ho look, I drift between the two with jeans and t-shirt chucked in at times

7. I really wish I could see my friend Alex again, just 5 mins with him would be THE best. He passed away in March 2009 and I think about him every day.

8. I love my family SO much, my children are the best and most wonderful part of my world and so is my husband, I cant bear to imagine life without them.

9. I am afraid of fire. We had one in our house once and I saw how fast it moved. I always need to know my exits and plan my escape route.

10. I love good restaurants like Louies Back Yard but equally IHOP, Dennys, Montanas and Bahama Breeze rock my world, to say nothing of Mangos, Sloppy Joes and the Hogs Breath.

11. I love the word Island, it suggests romance and escapism to me.

The 11 Questions that Kim asked of me are:

1. What is your favourite blog post that you've written so far? Link it here.

My favourite blog post may well be:Summer Musing

2. If you could re-live your high school years, would you?
Absolutely not if they had to be the same, they were in a new school, I had no friends, it was an hour and a half from my home and I flat out hated the place for at least two years

Sweet or salty foods?

Sweet

1. Did your family have pets when you were growing up?

Yes, we had cats and dogs and I managed to loan a pony which saved my life at 12 years old (drama yes of course)

1. What is your number one can't-live-without item while travelling?

on a plane - socks for when they turn up the AC, when I am away with work I need my laptop so that I can skype with home and see my children, when I am away with my family I need my linen trousers

1. Do you prefer to fly or drive when taking trips?

Fly, I love planes

1. What is the square root of 81? (Haha..the real question is do you like math?)

I like math, I love equations because I love the absolute answer. I used to hate them until I had a private tutor

1. When did you write your first blog post ever (even if it was a blog before this one)?

It was when we decided to emigrate and I wanted a log of all my wants, fears, freaking out moments and the journey. I wanted to remember it.

1. Do you enjoy working out, or is it something you have to make yourself do?

I have to make myself do it although I have had moments where I enjoy it, really I want to ride again but I dont have the time or the spare money currently

1. What is your favourite meal?

A Key West fish dish like Mahi Mahi or my friend Shanes french toast - it is AWESOME!

1. Have you ever visited my home turf, Nova Scotia?

Yes, I am honoured to say that this is now my home.

6 (should be 11) amazing bloggers to whom I'm passing along the Liebster award:

Amy at Rainy Saturday
Meg at Whatever
Jack and Ellas Mum
Helens journey in her 30's
Maria at Bragg Life
Adeye at No Greater Joy Mom
Ains Rae at Peas and Carrots

The 11 Questions that I am asking of the bloggers that I have passed on the Liebster award to are:

1. What destination have you visited that left a lasting impression on you?
2. What is the biggest risk you have ever taken?
3. If you have to take sides would you be in Camp Angelina or Camp Jennifer?
4. What really affects you in this world that you would change if you could?
5. If you could interview someone who would it be?
6. Do you have a favourite season?
7. Do you do the job that you envisaged yourself doing when you were younger?
8. What is your favourite book and why?
9. Where is your Happy Place?
10. If you could have any meal, what would it be?
11. Are you a chick flick, thriller, drama, horror or Disney fan?

rain and hornets

Yes its raining. on Tuesday it started in the afternoon and carried on all night, a gentle persistant rain that we all needed and that sounded sweet against the window.
Then it stopped and was gorgeous.
On Wednesday night I got back from work, took the dog out with Miss Lily and then came back and then went straight back outside to do some weeding. Suddenly I was attacked, yes attacked as dramatic as that sounds by something small and black that stung me in micro-seconds on the arm. It was weird in that it was an instant searing pain that went away quickly. The damn black thing was then all around me so I ran screaming into the house.
Paul didnt believe me (naturally) and went out to see what I was on about. He got divebombed by a couple of the black things (but not stung - way too lucky) and came back in.
We quickly realised that we couldnt use our front door. So Paul snuck out of the garage door to take a look and I followed. There was a mashoosive wasps nest there. I had not noticed it being constructed at all, it was almost like it had appeared overnight.

So we called a friend who came the next day to get rid of it. In the meantime we put up a warning notice and used the garage to enter and exit. Apparently it was full of Bald-faced hornets, the most evil aggressive hornet in North America, Hey nice to meet you!
Paul is now going to Home Hardware to purchase some lanterns to put up everywhere to put them off pulling another stunt like that. Apparently they are extremely territorial (as well as aggressive -did I mention that?!) and wont build a nest near another nest. These lanterns look like nests to them.

So my arm is sore abit and today its raining AGAIN which doesnt suit me as I have open toed wedges on and want to go to Superstore at lunchtime for some food supplies.
Its meant to be a good, hot and sunny day tomorrow and Ruby and I plan on taking the kidos through the Musquodoboit Valley down to Martinique Beach for some soul time.

whale watching

we just had the most awesome weekend. We went whale watching in Brier Island, off the coast of Digby in the Bay of Fundy. We  went in a convoy with our friends who we plan to drive to Florida with and the term Roadtrip 101 was coined. We met at a Tim Hortons at 7am on the Sunday morning (how very Canadian of us) and drove up, through the valley and a gorgeous place aptly named Paradise.
We got to Brier Island after two short ferry rides around lunchtime. We barbequed, we watched the sun go down whilst checking out the whales in the Bay and the seals on the rocks and had a wonderful 4 hour boat ride on the Sunday.

Our guest house

Lily bird watching

waiting for the sunset

Chloe seal watching

3 humpback whales close to the boat

old habits

So I am at work today and I have been listening to Grooveshark. I have a playlist of Don Henley, the Eagles and songs from Forest Gump. Funnily enough all the sings remind me of our little Langshott house, our first home together when we used to go to the Florida Keys every year – twice once. We used to live in our little Horley home and dream of the Keys.

I remember my job at the time in a little Kent town for a big American company and the days when I used to get in to work and log onto the Keys Webcams so I could watch the last stragglers wander out of the Bars and the cleaners mopping up in the Hogs Breath and I used to dream of being there and plan my next trip.

I had big spreadsheets going with flights on them. I used to look at all the webcams every morning and imagine myself there.

Nowadays I come into work and get my breakfast and have a glance at the Daily Mail. Hows that for misery. I have come to realise that I do in fact need a new set of habits or I may just go back to my old ones.

I think for a week starting tomorrow (Friday, yes I know but theres nothing like the present) I am going to ban the Daily Mail from my life and I am going to go back 13 years to my days of Key West webcams. That will be my new old daily habit.

And we have a big old road trip coming up that needs planning for. I don’t know why I am not so into the planning. Maybe its because I know we are going with another family and therefore its not all down to what we want. Maybe its because I don’t need to escape anymore.

But we ARE going and there does need to be some planning involved so I need to put pen to paper or rather font on spreadsheet and start my budget, savings plan, list of must dos and must visit restaurants.

I can just see those fish off the deck at Sundowners and the girls feeding the Tarpon in Islamorada

OK, so below are some pics from last weekend:

the sea was clear on sand and as you can see glittery in the sun.

Melmerby weekend

Last weekend was amazing. Ruby and I packed the kids into the back of the new car and set off for Melmerby Beach (my favourite)
We got there and had lunch sitting by the back of the SUV. I love lunch like that, theres no sand involved but good simple food. The kids had sandwiches and goldfish and juice boxes and Rubes and I had her homemade mango salsa with zesty lime chips and humus on crackers.
There were more waves than I have seen before but the water was still clear and it was hot. The kids had a great time playing and then I did something I havent done since I was 13 years old. I swam in the sea.
It was amazing!
Ruby and I swam out whilst leaving the older ones in charge on the beach and constantly watching them we swam in the sea, it was AMAZING!
When I am in Florida I snorkle in very shallow water with my eyes peeled as I am so worried about sharks, I never swim in the sea. My nerves wouldnt handle it at all.
Here there are no big sharks, just cool clear water that was warm enough to swim in and enjoy, it was soothing and rhythmical and that night I went to sleep to that feeling.

It was in fact a three day weekend for me and on the Monday I got some housework done and took the girls to their swimming lessons. It was a much cooler day and when I took Dukie for his walk the clouds were ominous but no rain.

Last night the rain started at about 8pm. I went to bed to the sweet sound of it and woke up to the same pitter patter on the roof. When I let Dukie out for his morning run he lay out on the deck in it and wouldnt come in, I wanted to join him.

By the time I left for work it had stopped and now its another scorcher. That was a nice relief last night. I will post some pics soon of the weekend.

the heat is on

OMG its hot, its currently 27C, feels like 32C and I just walked 4km (ish) to get sushi for lunch. I figured I would get a chance to look at the water in all its glory with its pretty boats and get some exersize too. What I didnt think too much about (in case it foiled my plans) was how hot it is and how I would suffer. I got back with my lunch in a shaky kind of way - not sure if its the speed I went at or heatstroke frankly!

I just had my sushi (my new obsession) - dynamite rolls and sweet potato rolls and now I am on the cherries for dessert. The fan is on in my office and I am wishing for rain.
We have an "all open fires ban" on currently as the place is SO dry and theres a hot breeze which, as I understand it, equals perfect conditions for out of control fires.
I dont really mind as I am not sitting around any firepits currently due to the night-time mozzie attacks and bbqs are not included in the ban. Gah, can you imagine if they were! The whole province, the whole country would be in an uproar.

We have some VERY exciting plans afoot, we are off soon on a whale watching tour in the Bay of Fundy. I am SO excited. I think camping may be involved on the first night but thats ok as a very nice guest house complete with running water figures in the next night. What this space for some pics with my Canon camera!

Canon love

Its half way through the summer (or is it?) last year we went with great weather to the end of September so maybe are just a third of the way.

I won a camera when I donated to the cause of raising money to adopt a little girl from Eastern Europe
http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2012/04/because-this-life-matters.html
.
This child touched my heart hugely, she is 14 and weighs 14 pounds and resides all her days in a cot on a liquid diet and drugged for "good sleep". The children of these institutions break my heart and this wonderful family who had already adopted 4 children wanted to bring her home and needed some help. So I adopted my mother days budget of $35 and felt good. I hadnt even read the list of donated prizes and was therefore astonished when I was informed that I had won a camera.
A big chunk of guilt then crept in, I hadnt donated to win.
Anyway,this camera turned up via UPS yesterday and it is a camera of all cameras. A Canon that is beyond my wildest camera dreams!
I can see some very good pictures coming up in my future, I will be able to capture the colours and ambience (hopefully) of this amazing place. You never know, this camera may well turn me into someone who is actually good at taking pictures (overnight of course!)

And this child, well I follow the blog for news and updates on all their precious children and the upcoming homecoming of little Hasya.

It makes me hug my children all the more, I am SO grateful for them and plan on getting some amazing pics to put on here!

loving this here Nova Scotia

Sometimes I feel like I am just plain showing off on here. I am well aware that the weather is just crap in England currently and its gorgeous and hot here.
I also feel a teeny bit bad as I make it clear (becuase I cant help it) that I find the weather here far nicer and I would never ever ever live back there and i dont miss it one iota. And thats not just to do with the weather either.
Part of me thinks , be careful here Natasha,people in England dont want to hear this and part of me things - dont care. We made a massive leap to be here and I will be proud and happy if I feel that way.
The other day we went for fish and chips at the Lighthouse. We sat in the heat and waited and felt SO lucky to be able to live here

Canada Day weekend

Well it was a hot and steamy weekend and I mean that in the sense of the temperature. I am now well versed at closing the windows at 9.30am and shutting out the heat all day. You open them again at night and let the coolness in. This was a new one for me, I have NEVER had to keep windows closed in summer before.
At one point it was well on its way to 40C outside :

The weekend was awesome! On Saturday we hung out at the pool with our friends and had some scrumptious Penne con Salmone. A dish that I used to love to eat in the UK at a pizza chain whos name now escapes me. Anyway I manage to pretty much perfect it here, I just switched the cream in it to greek yoghurt.

Sunday dawned bright and well, hot! We got some good spots in the shade and watched the parade, the girls got their usual stash of sweeties (aka candy) and I felt my usual rush of emotion at all those that put in effort to entertain me. There were a lot of fire-trucks involved, all the volunteers so proud and I was so proud to be in a community where that means alot to people.

We then went up to Rubys and hung out for the day. We meant to check out the car show but let Steve and the older kids go and look, it was baking out there.
We got out the water slip and slide and the kids played and we ate good food and watched a pretty decent display of fireworks at 10pm put on by Shubies fire dept.

Monday was chill out day with guests. We got some housework done and some friends came up to see us. It was slightly cooler day and I got some good dog walking in too,. I have taken to walking him in the morning when Paul is home, before work. It makes for a great start to the day.

Tuesday we went to the Dodge Garage and looked at some vehicles. Girls were really well behaved and we got ourselves a new car - 2011 Dodge Journey SXT, so now we have the right crossover for our trip to Florida next year.