Nearing the end of the week. It’s been a long one.
A slight flaw
Betwixt
We’re in the thick of winter mayhem. It seems as though the only way we know how to operate, is to throw a bunch of things together at once and find a way to make it work. It has been the craziest few weeks!
We leave for La, Hawaii and Northern CA in less than a week. Today Linc got his one year evaluation and MMR vaccine. I’ve been nervous about this vaccination for months and it finally happened. Now he’s asleep next to me and I’m watching him for a fever.
The doctor who evaluated Linc asked a list of questions, starting with “does he walk”. He was surprised to hear that he does. “Does he clap and wave” “does he say words?” “How is his eating solids?” Milestones stress me out. I think I’ve finally gotten to a point where I accept the fact that all kids just progress differently and at different times. It’s been a long journey to get here though.
Over the weekend we took a trip down to Waddesdon for their annual Christmas market. It was a nice day - the sun even made an appearance. Lots of food and crafts and Linc got to walk the grounds, which he loved. I think it was worth the long drive down and home. I’ve never seen Linc so happy to be walking. I can’t wait to walk with him on the sand in hawai’i. I just hope he doesn’t try and eat it.
Tuscan memories
Going through hundreds of instax photos I’ve accumulated over the years and wanted to share some of them here.
These were from our anniversary (and my birthday) trip to Tuscany.
It was so hot and our bnb had no AC. Hot air blowing more hot air around the room. Pici pasta for breakfast. Walks through olive trees while cicadas sang screeching melodies. Rolling hills, burnt by the summer sun and dusty white roads led by Italian cypress.
Tuscany is my happy place.
10:30 am - Saturday - July 18, 2015
Forgotten notes:
Olive trees. Slabs of marble. Intercity trains. Sleeping women in short black skirts. Thin dusty roads lined with orange trees.
Miles of green past Carrarra are the lavender homes of Massa Centro. Crowded train containers rattle the thoughts in head.
Locals sweat in tank tops and ripped denim shorts. We shift along the old tracks past hillside towns carefully placed on ridges. The red and white flashes past my window. A sleeping husband. Tanned women in tortoise shell sunglasses and silk tops. The low hum of the AC. We make our way through the red rooftop towns of Forte Dei Marmi. Broken restaurante signs. Old church towers and broken bells. Golden shutters. Industrial warehouses. Pietrasanta. The occasional stray dog.
Ode to summer
Long gone are these warm summer days.
It’s now December and our Christmas tree has been up for over a week.
Linc is walking. Babbling. Teething.
Sleep has been scarce this week, but it’s sunny today and we’re going to take a long walk along the crunchy streets full of old, brown leaves to watch the planes and contrails fill the sky.
A few more weeks till palm trees, sand and sea. A bit hard to believe. It’s been so long.
Working backwards
Heading back to the orange trees of Pasadena. I can almost feel the dry Californian air.
Last year.
Just after moving in and re-flooring the bedrooms.
The cycle
It feels like winter here in London. Christmas trees and mulled wine. Gloves, scarves and darkness at 3pm.
One
Happy 1st Birthday, Lincoln.