The Big Easy

What can I say? It's been busy, but somehow outrageously dull at the same time, down in this corner of the world.

Kids and I fly to Borneo in five days' time to spend Christmas with my mother and stepfather (Spouse joins us a week later). This is Spouse and self enjoying a bit of luxury last time we went, 7 years ago.

And Kid 2 also clearly having a terrible time; Kid 1 enjoying the sunset.

There, now I've got myself in the mood for it.

Kid 2 is obsessed with elephants so the timing of this story was a bit off.

The list of things that Must Be Done before we get on the plane is staggering. I have made shortbread and caramels and chocolate truffles and bought gifts for all those people it's important not to forget (piano teacher, band teacher, tutors, woman who helps the kids cross the road - it's a long list). But I'm about to concede that it may be the first year in about 15 that I have not handmade my Christmas cards. Sometimes one just has to let go ...

AND, my clients apparently have sixth sense - they don't see dead people, they see people trying to get away on holidays. Turns out my laptop will be enjoying a trip to Borneo too, lucky thing.

Apropos of not very much, I had a birthday a few weeks back, and we went away for a weekend with some friends. Auspiciously, the weather was fabulous. We played badminton and drank champagne and ate duck with quince and pistacchios. Since then, it has rained more or less non-stop. We have had the coldest start to summer in 50 years. I am almost looking forward to the steamy heat of the tropics.

Midnight in Paris

What a fun movie that was. We went to see it late Sunday afternoon, Kids 1 and 2 in tow. Even they quite enjoyed it, although Kid 2 didn't get most of the references ('Who's Hemingway?'). I told them it was to get them excited about going to France next year. It certainly worked for me.

In other news ... there isn't any. We are having a ridiculous spring - Monday was 34 degrees (C) and today (Wednesday) it has just reached 15 degrees.

Several people have now told me they like my red (hmm) hair. I can never tell if people are sincere or just polite. Anyway, I can't BEAR to spend another two hours in a salon for a couple more weeks at least, so I'm just going to have to live with it.

And, continuing with random topics, Kid 1 had a meltdown at Spouse the other morning and revealed that he HATES the boring sandwiches that Dad has been packing him for his lunch for,  let's see, almost 9 years. I am not a fan of the sandwich myself (unless it's a super-duper deli version), so I do understand. BUT ... now I'm having to work out other things to feed the blasted adolescent. It would be easy (if expensive) just to throw money at him and let him buy lunch, but I don't want to do that. So far I've managed a meatball sub (apparently this doesn't count as a sandwich) and I'm thinking frittata for tomorrow. I suspect my mother's advice would be 'Let the kid make his own damn lunch' because that's what I was doing at his age. Am I being over-indulgent?