bits and bobs

I took Lily to soft play today for the first time ever. Don't know why I have not taken her before but I have not. In fact I was thinking that she does not do a lot of normal kiddie things and i must assume its because of our parenting. Today I just giggled as I watched her return all the stray balls to the ball pit. I went over and said "darling you don't have to clean up , just play like a child" Ok mummy, she replies and runs off to primly slide down the slide. she got right into it and her friend Emma , who is a year older than her and is a seasoned soft play expert, showed her how to get all the way to the top of the big tower thing. they had a ball climbing and sliding.

My tomatoes are all ripening now and we have had my home grown cherry tomatoes in our salad the last 3 nights. they are so flavourful and fragrant having not seen the inside of a fridge. I just go outside and pluck them off . I am like a proud mama showing them to everyone who will look. My neighbor has been growing runner beans as well and they all came over the fence so now I am awash with them too. I had a moment of guilt when I thought she might be on the other side thinking her harvest was so crap this year while I had 50 runner beans on my side , but after some investigation I see she has plenty so... I am eating runner beans. I actually love them even though I am not a green bean fan but with these I remove the stringy bits and chop into bits. place in the microwave for 1 min with a drop of olive oil and a tablespoon of water and lovely crisp beans come out. I cool them and put them in a salad as I am a salad person.

My good friends Gavin and Catherine had their second baby boy last week, Jasper. He looks so adorable and I wish I could be there to go and see them and give them all a hug. I am so pleased for them and after having a chat with cath in the week I am absolutely certain I will wait to have another baby in Cape Town. She is the only other person I know who has given birth on the NHS and even though its OK and everyone lives you want it to go better. I see the NHS has been in the spotlight with America using it as a what not to do. Of course all the British public have now jumped to its defence. Why do people do that? moan and bitch about something until its criticised and then they jump to its defence. Don't get me wrong bits of it are very good but it comes down to this.. there are not enough doctors , nurses and midwives to go around. this countries population grows on a daily basis and its all at bursting point. I also have an issue with the "free" thing. Sure if you are on benefits or under age or a pensioner its free for you, but as a working adult you pay national insurance contributions which go towards this exact thing. My husband pays in excess of £350 a month to NI. just saying..

I have decided that now is the time for me to drag out Kristian's vintage I pod and make it my own. I want to put all the music I love in one place. I will keep you posted on my wide and varied music taste.

My lovely friend Sandi posted me a magazine she knows I love and another one she loves for me to try. I was so happy when i received them and it made me realise that its these little things that friends do that make them good friends. I am blessed with a good handful of good friends that truly care about me and I about them. Some are old , I have known them forever and know exactly what they are thinking, friends and some are newer friends that I am learning things about every day. But this much I know, most of my good friends don't even live in the same country as me and even after 5 years away we are still close. I know who my true friends are through that alone and for that I am grateful

Just a small note to say. have any of you seen that new Shakira video where she is in the cage!! what the hell are these people doing to me. I have an impressionable 3 year old!!