I enjoyed our two weeks away, and it was definitely long enough for me to start thinking about all the things I wanted to do when I got back. There are many writing-related things, of course, but I’m trying to let them take a back-seat to family life, since I have my boys (9 and… Continue reading Let The Summer Time Roll
Category: Blethers
Normal
Today’s post is a private one on my boys’ blog. You probably won’t be able to read it, unless you’re me. (You’re not, are you?)
Things I Did Today
1. Woke up surprised that I wasn’t hungover given the amount of booze I consumed yesterday to celebrate becoming an American citizen. Realized it was 9:45 and both of us were still asleep while the boys played in the basement and helped themselves to salt&vinegar crisps for breakfast. Parents of the Year! 2. Walked to… Continue reading Things I Did Today
Welcome To America
I have a question for everyone on my list who is not American but has traveled here (or lived here). Imagine you have a friend who is traveling to the US for the first time. Previously they’ve only ever taken package holidays to beach resorts but now they’re branching out to a couple of weeks… Continue reading Welcome To America
Hot Now, Hot Then
“Healthfully Air-Conditioned!” When they filmed “The Blob” at our local movie theater in the 1950s, there was a banner on the cinema proclaiming it to be “Healthfully Air-Conditioned”. Every year for Blobfest they put up a replica banner (among other things. You really ought to come for Blobfest some year) and it takes me right… Continue reading Hot Now, Hot Then
98 Degrees
It’s 98 degrees out there, and humid. I tell this to people who have never experienced this kind of heat and they say things like, “Well, that certainly sounds hot.” and “What’s that in Centigrade?” and “I have no idea what that feels like.” To address these points, allow me to take them in reverse.… Continue reading 98 Degrees
All You Need Is Rov(ing)
I can be a bit reserved. I can see someone who looks really interesting and unless I’ve got a good excuse (like when I worked for newspapers, or in bars and shops) I tend not to wander up, introduce myself and ask all the questions I want to ask. Last week, however, my love of… Continue reading All You Need Is Rov(ing)
Health Care Reform for US – Why We Must Have It
I’m taking on one of the many, many myths about what will happen in the US if we have health care reform. Just one, but I think it’s one of the two or three most powerful and it says:
“If we change the system we’ll end up having to pay more.”
Time Enough At Last
I’ve been sending Gregor to Lunch Bunch a lot recently a, because he likes it and b, because the difference between picking him up at 11.15 (stop what I’m doing at 10.45, probably get dressed, and make sure I’m ready to leave just after 11) is hugely different from picking him up at 1. Every… Continue reading Time Enough At Last
Global Silliness
So, my friend Carol went to Thailand and Cambodia for Christmas and New Year (as you do). We’ve been keeping in touch by email, but this morning she caught me on GoogleTalk and we’re chatting in real time. She sent me a link to the guest house she is typing from, so that I could… Continue reading Global Silliness