Paddy's Day at the Madstad

The best hats are out

and the Guinness is flowing.

It is a sunny day to compare wigs

and the team are on top form.

Doris models her spring outfit

and the band is outstanding.

It is a great party.

I am sorry that I don't have a photo of the streaker...
I was laughing so much that the camera was shaking.
She looked as though she was enjoying herself.

Mothering Sunday

I have a son in South America
and a daughter at the top of Mount Snowdon.

I wish that I could magic them home
and cook Sunday lunch for them.

I have been thinking about parenting recently
after conversations with M and The Coffee Lady.

I didn't do much thinking about it
when MasterM and MissM were little
because I was too busy being a parent
but now that it is too late
I am allowing myself to think about it.

I have realised that
our principal objective as parents
was to raise children
who are interesting and amusing
to talk to over the dining room table.

I am delighted with the result.

I just wish they weren't so far away today.

Peer Pressure

MrM
A double expresso for me.

MissM
A double expresso for me as well.

MrsM
I will just have a single expresso.

MrM
That's not very impressive.

MrsM
What???

MissM
You should try a double - you might like it.

MrsM
I never have a double expresso.

MrM
Go on, go on, go on...

MrsM
What is this all about?
Why is there suddenly a big issue
about my coffee order?
I have never had to justify it before.

MrsM takes a photo of the coffee cup
as a clear statement of her intention
to record this emotional bullying in her blog.

MrM to MissM
Did you notice that she needed to use the Zoom function?

Tuesday, 'early doors'

Let us imagine, for the sake of argument,
that you have crawled out of your warm bed
at the ungodly hour of 5.10am.
You have driven your sleepy husband to the station
and you are now on the motorway to the airport.
What thoughts swirl around in your brain?

1.
You think about breakfast.
Because you didn't have any.
And it is a long way to drive without breakfast.
A croissant would be good.
Specifically, an almond croissant.

2.
You ponder the car accidents that you have read about
and are very glad that
you have just had the brakes replaced on the car.

3.
You smile at the thought of MissM
still fast asleep in her cosy room.

4.
You think of MasterM
on whose behalf you are delivering items
to be stuffed into a suitcase at the check-in desk
and carried to Buenos Aires by his friend B.

5.
You think briefly about the meeting at 9.30am
when you will discuss the travel insurance policy
that will keep other people's children safe.

6.
You remember the almond croissant that you had in Paris.
It was warm and crisp on the outside
and meltingly soft and fragrant
when you bit into it.

7.
You choose a gift for a new baby cousin
whose arrival is much anticipated.
This is very pleasant and absorbs many minutes.

8.
You consider what is for supper
but this is less pleasant
and you mind goes blank.

9.
You are relieved that there is no snow on the road.
The time before last it was very scary.
Very Scary.

10.
You remember the telephone conversation
with your mother the previous evening.
She tells you that the garden is full of snowdrops.
You can imagine it.
Each tiny clump nestled among moss and leaf mould.

11.
Your mind goes sideways into Blogland
at the thought of snowdrops
and you consider if Poshyarns
has written your favourite post this month.

Probably.

Would you prefer a Madeleine?

no...

because....

12.
The almond croissant experience
is starting to become an essential part of the day.
Never mind the delivery for MasterM...
this has become an almond croissant pilgrimage.
If there are no almond croissants at the airport
there will be a very unpleasant scene.

Welcome to 2009

New Year's Eve, 2008
Skaters outside the Natural History Museum.

We spent the morning in London
with my brother and his wonderful wife
who are expecting their first baby in February.
2009 will be a very special year for them.

Whatever your plans and hopes for the New Year
I wish you success and happiness.

Through the Trees

MrsM and MissM walk through the pine woods

to the silent, silvery lake.

It is not far to walk

but they have not been there for a while.

Every turn of the path holds happy memories.

(before blogging)

Two years ago my world was very different.

1.
I did not wrap cookies in cellophane
and tie with a recycled ribbon.
(please note my first tentative steps into 'thrifting')

2.
I did not own a set of red cross stitch Christmas napkins
(what do you mean - did I sew them myself - are you mad?)

3.
I would not have considered stringing cranberries
to make garlands for my wreath.
(I am not saying that I have actually DONE this)

4.
I would not have taken photos of my Sunday dinner.
(just in case you were wondering
we had a choice of chocolates for dessert)

5.
I did not know Ali
and would not have stopped to have tea
in her wonderfully festive house.

Such are the unexpected gifts that blogging brings.

Birthday Greetings

Today is the birthday of The Lovely MissE.

She and MasterM are no longer
(how shall I say it?)
an item.

However, she is a much loved friend
and I hope that she won't mind
if we still call her Our Lovely MissE.

We all wish her the Happiest of Days
and a Year full of Good Things.

I am hoping to persuade her
to join me on an expedition
to find vintage clothes in the holidays.
Please say yes, dear Lovely MissE!

University Challenge

MrsM hears shouting in the sitting room
and anxiously goes to check what is happening.
It is not an emergency...
it is only MrM and MasterM
watching University Challenge.

MasterM
We could make a great team
MrsM
You mean - you could do sport
and your father**
could do everything else?
MasterM
NO!
I have just been doing
Shakespearean Tragedies.

MrsM is impressed

MrM and MasterM
get back to the serious business
of rubbishing the panellists.

MasterM
You IDIOT!!
Haven't you EVER been around Europe??
MrM
He's only a mathematician.

As MrsM leaves the room
MrM and MasterM shout out in unison
NO!!!
NOT Achilles and ODYSSEUS...
It was Achilles and AGAMEMNON
YOU IDIOT!!!

It is so cultured in Chez Magpie.

~~~~~

**MrM was on University Challenge
in his youth.
He was part of the highest scoring team
of the time.
He is the perfect person to have
on your pub quiz team.

Yellow and Gold

Imagine that it is October
and you walk out into
a perfect autumn afternoon.

The air is still
so that the leaves barely flutter

and the light, warm and golden,
is low behind the great trees
creating long, angled shadows.

The last flowers of summer
glow in sheltered places

and you see the places that you love
as though for the first time.

Yesterday was such a day.

Family Portrait

There are times

when I realise

how much I love my family

and I wonder

if my heart will burst.

The Way to the Secret Garden

Walk through the gate in the wall

into the Topiary Garden.

Follow the soft grass paths to the summer house.

The little bridge will take you over the moat

to a rose garden, heavy with scent

and then down narrow corridors of yew

to the Secret Garden.

Take your time,

there is so much to say.

*****

MissM was surprised and touched
by all the kind comments yesterday.

She thanks you all.

...but Beijing was behind schedule...

An afternoon at the local agricultural show
is not a high stress activity.

You can admire the livestock,

be shocked at the low standard of baking entries,

eat a burger while watching Punch & Judy.

There are so many attractions that it is difficult
to know which way to turn.

A falconry display, a medieval stunt team
and the Centre piece of the Arena events:
the raising of the Olympic Flag synchronised with Beijing.

It can be very exhausting for a Lady Mayor.

Just when you think that you have seen everything
here is something to make you smile.

We will talk vegetables tomorrow.

p.s. half of these photos were taken with a mobile phone.

Saturday Morning

MrsM is Very Busy.

MrsM's List
Housework,
Laundry,
Shopping
Flower Arranging.

MrM is also Busy, Busy.

MrM's List
Catch up on Sleep
Honey for Breakfast
Read Papers
Decide What to Wear

MrsM starts to get cross with MrM
It is 8.15am and he has done NOTHING.

MrM decides to lighten the mood.
Option 1
Helpful Suggestions for Blog Posts
(Parsnips??)
Option 2
Mentions their long lost Children
(This almost works)

MrsM has a Schedule and must not be distracted
because she has an Important Meeting.
MrsM starts to get Very Cross.
(Tone of Voice: FIRM)
She tells MrM he must do something Useful
by the time she comes back from The Shop.

MrM promises to organise a Map
of the Hundred Acre Wood.

Later MrsM is VERY grateful to MrM
for aforementioned map.

Moral:
Small Contributions can be Crucial to the Objective