Christmas Market in Bath

We like to shop, oh yes we do, but Bath Christmas Market was pure madness. You have to elbow your way to overpriced stalls of overpriced-but-not-very-special products (with the exception of this). So we'd rather went for nearby free, quality art experience in Victoria Art Gallery, where lollies are banned but crowds are rare. Time well spent.

Our favourites: also here and here and here.

treat of the week

Since my debit card is blocked and there is no chance to get it back within the next week, I dropped shopping and started reading. As a depressed person, I need some comfort in my life (usually shopping sorts things out for me). A good easy read is all I needed. So I randomly bought this funny little book at the second hand stall. And that is how the addiction started. The author has already written about 60 books. But hey, listen, quantity here equals quality. Rather rare, isn't it? This is a brilliant, smart, heart warming criminal Botswana series. You couldn't possibly resist it! I read them wrapped up in blankets whenever I get a brake from kids and chaos. Such a treat.
What else can I say, well even Florian loves it...

the light

The light in Bath, better then anywhere else. November walks without the kids hanging at your leg.

occupy Bath

Queens Square on Sunday morning.
That is what it is all about:

treat of the week

What could be better then a pint of ale, a good read, smell of dinner being cooked (nut roast with all the trimmings!) and a bit of sunshine - all in mid November.
...and that silence!

bad day

How bad it has to be that you come to a stranger and tell him never to have kids... Oh yes, it has to be pretty awful.
This state of mind happened to me over the weekend at least three times:
First when my kids didn't enjoy Ravel quintet concert in St. George's Music Hall.
Second when they screamed they lungs off in a Starbucks over an orange and cranberry muffin and a cup of babyccino.
Third when they ran like monkeys in the Natural History Museum.

Trying to do something for your kids is not always the right thing to do. Why don't you do something for yourself for a change? - asked me Florian. Yes sure, but what I want for myself is peace and quiet, which makes me do something for my kids so that I can have that peace and quiet!
My mother-in-law, on the other hand, says that in the old days no one ever put so much effort and time into organising time for their kids. They just kind of grew up around everyday activities. They had fewer toys, no DVDs, no playgroups, no playgrounds, no story times or what not. Right I love the idea! But maybe they had extended families around? How can I make my kids entertain each other for a day while I hoover (oh yes I would make a use of that), clean the windows, declutter cupboards and wardrobes, do some ironing and cook a proper meal (we haven't had one for weeks). I just can't imagine them entertaining themselves around the house for 8 hours.
Non appreciation, tantrums and a waste of my energy, that is what I get now from my kids for all my efforts and it just brakes my back.
Bitter, that is how I feel.

whoa!

You will not believe me! I was just about to write how crappy day I had had but then I googled a name of my new china set and guess what? That is a fucking Rosenthal! And it is worth a LOT of money! And I just got a 5 more pieces of which three are exquisite! That made my fucking day much less miserable!
And I got more of it here!
HAHAHA! I paid a fiver for it BUAHAHA!

christmas pudding

I used my Irish friend recipe (substituting only brandy with sherry) for our first ever Christmas pudding. It was steamed for five hours, now all wrapped up and in a pantry waiting for the big day. Edible hopefully. We are not big fans of fruitcakes...

occupy Bristol

Just one blurry shot from the car window... College Green. I am proud Bristol is occupied!