June 23rd, 2009

To the islands indeed

We’d never have guessed how prophetic that particular blog title would be and if you’d told us a week ago we’d be moving out to waiheke for two months, well, we probably would have believed you – but we certainly wouldn’t have thought of it ourselves. Not then anyway.

But we did a few days ago (think of it). And the next day we found ourselves, the kids, the cats and all our stuff in a car, on the car ferry on our way to a little cottage in Little Oneroa. A cottage with a dualit toaster and gas cooker – that was enough to convince us – a little cottage just a few minutes walk from a beautiful beach – and a few more minutes up the road to the local shops. There’s a lovely organic general store, a butcher and a closed-for-winter junk shop (damn!).

So here we are. On island time for two months.

Timeline of recent events: Friday, land at lunchtime. Saturday, coffee and danishes at our favourite little spot at cheltenham. Sunday, find our little cottage, visit Campbell and Ande - the beginning of the virus. Monday, still all sick, pack up, go to Waiheke. Tuesday, eat eye fillet which we’ve been waiting for for a whole year, everyone well again.

We get broadband on Saturday - currently sitting in a cafe - so if you haven’t heard from me I’ll be catching up on emails over the weekend. Thank you T and H !! And L I will email you to catch up soon xx

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June 15th, 2009

my perfect garden

Just down the road a little old lady has a wonderful meadow garden. Ours never had the chance to establish itself but this is exactly what we’re after. Vegetables in amongst the flowers and flowers everywhere. Perfect!

I felt a little bit naughty taking photos so these don’t quite capture the full magnificence of it all.

Two of my other favourite gardens are this one and this one.

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June 14th, 2009

bye bye camp richmond (in two days)

It’s been such fun!!!!

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June 13th, 2009

oh fuck it

I got an ipod. I forgot but Kevin wheeled me into HMV because there’s no apple shop in Richmond. And I chose yellow. But they didn’t have yellow, so we went to Curry’s which Kevin said was shit, but we went anyway, because they might have yellow and a pretty cool dude with dreadlocks and a nice face found us a yellow eight gig ipod. He was pretty laid back about it seeing as he said there mightn’t be any in stock. Compared with just how excited I was that I could actually get one. Because I only wanted yellow.

So tonight. Tonight. I have a whole tonight. And have already been out all day long with Polly and Steve and Kevin and the girls. I got my electric toothbrush. We walked and walked. But I’ve got a whole night although the faint sound of screaming is slightly. Um. No. It’s ok.

We had 1970s fish and chips in Richmond (minus camera damn the interior was so so so damn 1970s as were the patrons). And you just would not believe the brilliant maths and the visual way our waiter displayed and calculated the bill. He pointed to each item with his pen and added it all up on the spot - 1.30 plus 2.30 is 3.50, added to 1.70 is 5.20 and so on - all with the pen - all down the list we went. I told him how we love the tallying - it’s the best bill we’ve ever had. And he told us he was quite good at maths. He also told us how Edith was happily playing in the pram when we couldn’t quite see after we were hoping she’d go to sleep.

Then we did the walk from one side of the river to another side and then back to Richmond again and up to the train and back over the river again back to home. P.H.E.W. Then we dropped the kids home and then we went back O.V.E.R. the river again - oh the himmelich blick - auf the river thames again - lovely London summer haze. Over the river. Over to the pub. The old proper little low ceiling little pub. The one with the best of british masterchef food. Duck with beetroot, buttered cabbage, goose fat roasted potatoes or lamb shanks with mint crust on green beans times two. Yep.

On the way home from the big long walk – the one after the little walk up to the station and then down to all the charity shops and back home. The walk back from home, all along the river, up through Richmond, back along the green and down past the pub where I thought it worth carrying the kids up the bridge stairs just to pop into the pub to check and to reserve a table. That pub. The one Kevin chose. The Swan. Empty when all the pubs in Richmond were heaving with tourists. With their grey walls and uniform fonts. The Swan was there unassuming with its low ceilings, reeking of fags from days gone by. The food as I’ve already said. And the guy at the table next to us – saying to his companions – it’s pub food – bloody hell though – one day it’ll be michelin star food. Or maybe that’s just me.

And I forgot to say, this comes later but it goes here. It rained on the way home and we ran across the bridge. It was so funny we laughed and laughed and laughed and we ran and ran and ran all in the rain. And we got home and Edith was awake and Astrid was awake and we went and played outside in the rain. And Edith went to sleep. And Astrid was dificile. For a bit…Oh yeah. Dessert was. Deep fried rice pudding balls. Cinnamon ice cream. Raspberry coulis. Nothing is ever going to stop me liking raspberry coulis. But you know what. And here’s another thing. I like being lo-fi. In fact I take great pride in being lo-fi. As do so many of my friends. Yes you! Some people we know take great pride in being fancy, and going to posh restaurants with grey walls and expensive champagne and nice hair cuts. And that’s very nice. I used to do that too. And I see quite a few trips to The Grove in our future also… Mrs Charlotte will have a proper job soon…

And then I forgot to say all night we planned the renovations on our house - the new kitchen - that we’ll send to friends to be signed off before we begin. To friends who will help from Europe - who’s advice we wouldn’t live without. But you know what. I could have put my expensive makeup on and posed for this photo. But I sent it to a friend because I love this photo. And she loved it so much she printed it out and put it on her fridge.

And that makes me laugh. And she makes me happy. Because she loves me. And she’s bloody brilliant herself. And I’m so lucky to have such great friends. I have hesitated to say anything and now I can say anything here I’m going to say it. Quite a few months back I had an email telling me I ought to do something about my appearance. I think that was when I was, um, about 8.5 months pregnant. Actually. No, I’m wrong – perhaps it was when Edith was about two months old. So I got an email saying I should be spending more time with my children and spending more time on my appearance. And that’s the big story about why I deleted my flickr and why I stopped talking to my blog.

Because you know what. It really hit a nerve. And it’s upset me a lot. It’s upset me pretty much every day. Every single day until maybe a week or so ago when I’ve had the time to do anything about it. And now I’ve got the time to do body lotion and makeup and hair and stuff. I might look like a dick in a photo but I don’t care. Because it’s just a terrible but hilarious photo! Most worthy of a fridge no! Me and my beautiful girls.

Hurr…

52 comments

June 10th, 2009

closing time

Tomorrow we’re going to buy me an ipod. It’s not so much the thing of buying a thing. Today it’s the choice between music and drugs. Not fun drugs but the drugs doctors hand out. And I’m not much of a one for the doctor. Today I said well look I’m already going to go to my acupuncturist. I’ll go when we’re in Auckland. Then today, tonight, this evening, I looked outside. I ran upstairs for the camera.

Tonight abba was playing and I felt happy again. And I thought, bloody hell. Abba makes me happy. That’s what ‘makes me happy means’. Because is this unhappiness me. Or a thing. Or a thing in me? Is it something I can have removed? What am I supposed to do with it? And then along came music and made me want to dance. And it made me happy. And Astrid was all for dancing to the music as well.

And deeper than that. Sometimes I wonder whether my investigations further into life are here to make me happy, or to make me discover and if not being happy is a part of that. Although in my quest to discover things I did discover the biggest happiness I could ever feel. That time I was in the big dome of suspension - there in Brazil - the big dome of the best loveliness ever. I wonder if that was Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s pleasure dome? I know it was what Hunter S. Thompson was looking for. One night I sat outside my thatched hut with my cigarette and my cargo pants and thought I felt just like him after he’d been here. There.

And then the night after the night after that. When nothing happened and I was left watching the mosquito netting all night. All night watching silvery rays wander down from the moon. Lighting the night grey. Lighting the night silver. Lighting the silver night with solid beams and silvery shimmery reflective rays coming down from the moon. And thinking. Oh hey this is god. I love god. God is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever. Felt. FELT.

Yes. Felt. And then god gave me a vision of photographing apples on wooden floors with old fashioned school chairs. Very simple stark rooms. Apples. Wooden floors. Aqua detailing. And lovely old wood. But that was so much later than the first time I was in Brazil.

That time I could feel Hunter S. Thompson. Out there smoking my cigarette. The first time in Brazil was well before that and a much more interesting story. But that story is reserved for later.

I wrote a big long rambling piece of writing about this. Which I have just written over. My main point was, well, I’ve been wanting to write about this for a very long time. And this being my blog I’ve decided I can just write whatever I want and I don’t need to start a new secret one because this is my blog and it’s me and who I am. And now by writing this I might be inviting some form of criticism as I have done in past posts. This time I would ask please if you don’t like what I write – if you don’t agree with me – well, you don’t have to and you have every right to be you and have your own opinions. But if you find yourself there I would politely ask you to take yourself elsewhere – I am not in a space where I want to engage in any conflict please. This is my space, and you are very welcome not to visit. And to people who want to visit you are very welcome. And I’m just going to hit publish now.

Thanks.

21 comments

June 9th, 2009

a little book

Lovely styles of London living spaces at amazon.jp

Just after edith was born I was emailed out of the blue by a japanese journalist asking if I would like to be interviewed and for them to photograph our house for a book on London interiors.

And here it is a few months later - by a very strange coincidence it arrived the exact day we moved out - our humble little home - in print.  There’s also a little cushion tutorial at the back which I forgot to photograph in my one hour off babies and children to cram in as much blogging and flickring as I could.

We spent a Very Long Time getting the place ready for the shoot. Edith was all of four weeks old and I’d have never managed it without Kevin’s help. Yvonne rallied around and sent the message - dust and vacuum, buy flowers and fruit and you’ll be fine.

I feel quite sad about our little Hampstead cottage that we’ll never live there again. So far I miss the oven most. The hot little oven that would bake a cake to perfection in 35 minutes, oven fries in 12. Perfect roast potatoes in 30, roast pumpkin in 15. And the best pork crackling ever. Ever.

Oh, and the other London Charlotte is in it too. It’s nice having a friend there to keep each other company. Another friend who’s leaving her little house very soon too.

Thank you Saya, Aya, Kevin, Yvonne and Lottie for saying yes!

satin blue nailpolish by chanel

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June 9th, 2009

camp richmond

Here we are a week later. We’ve sorted and sold and thrown away and packed. The cats are in Auckland already. We’re at my brother’s in Richmond another week.

It’s a bit of a utopia once one hits the river path. On Sunday we walked to St Margarets village and down to the playground. It was raining and we thought it would be lovely to wander home. The plink plonk of raindrops on the calm river. Families in raincoats rowing long narrow dinghies up to the pebbly beaches along the riverside where canopies of emerald branches give shelter.

The train goes by at the end of the garden every ten minutes or so. It’s a sweet little train from St Margarets that sort of just goes whoosh in a nice quiet fashion.

Also, I know in general I’m pretty crap at replying to questions and things - so… the white mugs from ages ago are from Skandium. I think they’re ittala. The painting in our Mt Albert house is by Elspeth Hitchings - my old drama teacher - and one day I promise I’ll write up my risotto recipe.

And thank you all very much for reading and commenting - I appreciate it so much. I’ve been a bit pre-occupied with stuff of late but I’m planning on being here more, writing more, taking more photos - yes, a bit more being here.

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May 28th, 2009

returning

I’m back online.

twitter
flickr
getty

Lovely NZ will be being tended to again, soon too.

Less than a week in this house. The cats fly out on Tuesday. We fly on the 16th after a couple of weeks at my brother’s. Hong Kong first. Then Auckland - currently creaking under the weight of all those feijoas. Excellent news.

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May 25th, 2009

everything all in good (Astrid) time

Sometimes as parents we wonder whether Astrid shouldn’t be doing this, or that. Because everyone else’s children are, and have been, for ooh - well at least this long.

But Astrid - no way. Astrid is all about Astrid time. Expert at digging in the heels. Expert at immovable. Astrid will not do anything she doesn’t want to do.

No way.

Jose.

We told you how Astrid can shake her head no no no nope nope. No. No Absolutely not. Definitely No. You know we had to invent the Astrid Wiggle so she could find a way to say yes. Now it’s more a dance and a little song than yes. But if something really good comes along the Astrid Wiggle tells us so.

But Astrid can now Say Yes. Only when she feels like it. Often Astrid will still shake her head when we think she might possibly mean yes. And when she asks for something she’ll shake her head as in, no. I know I’m asking but you’ll probably say no. So it’s no? Right? No? Yeah? Shaking head. No? Right? Can I? No?

But all of a sudden. Astrid is now VERY interested in all the things we lamented she’d never want to do. Like cleaning her teeth. Like washing her hands. Washing her face. Using the potty. Washing her hair. Cutting her nails. Cutting her fringe even. All now wanted, and asked for.

All the No’s. All the No’s are now yesses and can we pleases.
All thank you to a nice new facecloth.

And a little bit of Astrid time.

7 comments

May 25th, 2009

me and my pans

I don’t know whether i’ve mentioned this - but my main ambition for our trip to the uk this time was to furnish myself with a nice set of le creuset pans. So I’ve been monitoring amazon - and I must admit I’ve been kicking myself for not just buying everything I wanted when the satin blue was half off – but i think I’ve found my final two pieces to complete the set.

Because my life is so exciting I spent all of last night looking for the best pan to buy before we go back because they’re six hundred dollars in New Zealand (also not a joke) and our red habitat one has well and truly died. And because I’m not averse to the odd bit of mixing and matching – and because we like yellow – we bought the olive pan which is quite nicely reduced. I found a nice Tefal Jamie Oliver one but that would be one step too far in the mixing and matching department.

And while I was buying the olive pan I discovered the 26cm olive baking dish which I already have and love is reduced from £20 to £7. And the ramekins are a bit of a bargain too. Anyway just in case anybody wants to know, that’s not bad.

As long as you like yellow that is.

edit: changed my mind today as I saw the olive pan in a shop and it’s way too shallow and small so I bought the non-stick lidded wok instead. And the baking dishes at that price have sold out.

6 comments

May 14th, 2009

(muji) spree

It all began with a pair of black shoes and a navy raincoat.

Nothing like a few pieces of beautiful simple design to refresh one’s everything. I feel brilliant walking down the road in a lovely black jersey knit dress, black leggings (today indigo marle), grey cotton socks, simple shoes and a navy cotton jacket.

Brilliant.

12 comments

May 12th, 2009

Fleeting

Not been around here much of late.
I’ve been slightly grappling with the whole blog thing. The whole flickr thing.

The other day I observed the arrival of purple wisteria petals, fallen from the pergola – and thought to myself, in a past time I would have returned swiftly with my camera – and now I don’t really care. But apparently I do. Because today I returned with my camera and took, just the one photo – late evening in the front courtyard.

Soon to not be our courtyard. Soon we’re on the move again. I’m going to miss this house. This little house that’s too small for us but I think I’ve loved it more than any other house I’ve lived in even including the big one in mount albert. But that’s the one we need to be back in for the kids to grow up. They need space to move around. Big long halls to go careening down, leaping over sofas, chasing each other out into the garden and back again all through the house, up the hall, into any one of three bedrooms, rumpus room, kitchen, sunroom, living room, dining room, out onto the deck and back into the garden they go…

Every time we think we want to stay we just think of the space for the kids and we know it’s the right thing. For us. For now. Oh but do we love it here though.

People have said to us we must settle down. We must stay somewhere. We’re crazy. We’re mad. We should just settle down. In part yes, that’s absolutely right. But we’re already planning our next trip here. A different way to be here. A bit easier. A bit less of a wrench. Maybe a bit more Auckland than London, but London too nevertheless.

You know it was only the other day I noticed the wisteria.
And already it’s on its way out.

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