Sep 17, 2011 | Baby Photos, Stories
At sometime around 8:00 this morning, {London time} a taxi will be arriving to collect our many bags and four selves for a ride through the busy business of London to Heathrow. And at some time around 10:00, Lord willing, we’ll be allowed to pre-board a plane with our small children in preparation for take-off. And around 11:00 this morning that plane should be taking off, destined for Raleigh-Durham International Airport. And around 2:45 this afternoon, North Carolina time, that plane should be landing.
But before the joyful excitement of Mama-cooked meals, first days at preschool, and unpacking the suitcases we’ve lived out of for almost three months — before we even pile those suitcases into the car — I have one more mission in mind, another photographic one.
This was the moment when G-pa met the Bear in Cape Town airport in 2008:
{The Bear meets the Man in the Yellow Hat, New Year’s Eve, 2008}
And now, G-pa will meet the Tank for the first time in Raleigh-Durham airport, right here in 2011. So I’d like to stage a similar shot for posterity’s sake. But we’ll bear in mind that this baby has more weight and, for some reason, less hair.
Hopefully the same’s not true for you, Gpa? 😉
So here we are, the day has finally arrived! And it’s not just the day we fly for the Carolinas, it’s the last day for which we have clean underwear for the Bear. So I think we’re all in agreement. If you’re out of clean underwear, it’s time to head home.
Catch you on the left side!
xCC
Sep 16, 2011 | Scotland, Stories
We’re planning on trolling around London today. I hope. And having spent a decent amount of time in this uniquely fascinating city, and being a little on the tired side from the adventures thus far, my only goal is a simple one. Besides maybe getting fish and chips. Hero Hubs obliging, I’d like to get a photo right here:
{That’s me and Big Ben, 2004… living with a bad hair decision}
but I want a picture like this:
{with the Bear, 2009, better hair choices}
But I’d like a photo like the Eiffel Tower one in front of Big Ben with the Tank.
What do you think? I’m hoping my chances are good. And my hair looks better than in did in ’04, so that’s a start.
My dear friend Pam wrote a few special words about her return to the UK — we lived together for a bit here in Scotland, she’s most recently been in the States, but she’s from Zimbabwe. And honestly, I couldn’t have said it better myself — and I mean that with the most sincerity possible, try as I might for as long as I can, I can not weave words as delightfully and whimsically as she does.
So please take a few moments to enjoy her words about this magical place I also wish I had a “secondhome” word for. I think it’ll give you a laugh. If you speak English and have a heartbeat. And mayhaps you’ll understand my sentiments toward this place a little better at the same time.
And can you believe it — TOMORROW is the day — our big long flight from Heathrow to the tall trees and sunny skies of the Carolinas beckons. A reunion, an introduction, and much merriment will ensue. It’s simultaneously six long years and nine long months in the making. And I’ll keep ya posted.
xCC
Sep 12, 2011 | Scotland, Stories
Sorry for the delayed update from the road. By and by an explanation will be produced for this great pause in communication. Really, it all started not long after we last spoke on Thursday. Friday we got ourselves together to take the train up to Scotland. Besides consolidating ourselves to one suitcase for the week away, we also needed to pick up diapers and a quick lunch before the departure.
We found the diapers {but I should say nappies since we’re in the UK} and some snacks for the road {hello, pan au chocolat, I missed you} and the Hubs and I grabbed some chips {but I should say crisps since we’re in the UK}, and what have since been dubbed the chicken wraps of death. We won’t mention the name of the supermarket, but it starts with S and ends with ainsburys.
And all seemed right with the world.
After a quick lunch we were headed to the train to the tube to Kings Cross Station, to take the train up to Scotland.
And all seemed right with the world.
But as we made our way up the largest of the British Isles, as the light began to scatter across the green sheepy fields in the way that it only does in Scotland, and as the long hours of a Scottish summer day were drawing to a close, and we were nearing that sweet train station destination where I first arrived to settle in Edinburgh six years ago, suddenly
all seemed not right with the world.
And by the time the last train journey of the day brought us to our dear friends and hosts (life looked like this when we last were together)
they were offering us dinner and we were asking where the loo was.
And through the night, we got exceptionally well acquainted with the bathroom of their new home.
Hero Hubs seemed to experience a slightly more expedient recovery, and we managed together to muster the strength to make it to the wedding ceremony the next day.
There was a slight drizzle about as we made our way to the absolutely breathtaking church near Linlithgow Palace (gorgeous!) where the beautiful moment took place. I am SO glad I cowgirled up to be there. The bride looked beautiful and so joyful, the groom dashing and kilt-bedecked… love and joy in abundance. The music and readings were very well-chosen, and it was all just so special.
{The father of the bride and mother of the groom, and then father of the groom and mother of the bride, skipping down the aisle after the blessed event… awesome and priceless highlight.}
Very very very sadly, I had cowgirled up for as long as I could, and the Hubs, too, was pale and weathered, and we weren’t able to continue in the fantastical merriment. Meaning: we couldn’t enjoy the reception or the ceilidh, and that was a BIG bummer. My heart is still sore about it.
But the pledging of two loves to one another, in love and faith before God, that really is the highlight of the day (besides folk skipping down the aisle) and I am ever-so glad we were privileged witnesses of that special event.
{Congratulations, Grace and Gordon! We were so happy to witness you two tying the knot!}
In summation, the S to the ainsburys chicken wraps of death rained on the wedding day for us a little, and we were still a little worse for wear on Sunday, but we enjoyed being at church {a story for another day} and catching up with friends throughout the afternoon and evening, and were afterwards anxious to return to the beds from whence we’d risen.
And now to set about the business of enjoying the rest of our time in Bonnie (rainy) Scotland…
xCC
Sep 9, 2011 | Stories
There was a birthday. There was cake. There was a happy Bear. There were prezzies. And there were pictures.
It started with a little excitement about some balloons hanging above the table at breakfast.
Followed closely by the practice and perfecting of an important new skill.
After a brush of the teeth, a comb of the hair, and a special trip to the movies to see Jock of the Bushveld (a birthday gift that doesn’t have to be packed in a suitcase) we were back in time to begin opening a few little prezzies. (Which will be packed in a suitcase.)
Who needs wrapping paper when you’ve got the latest Pick n Pay circular at your disposal? (Or PeeTeePay, as the Bear calls it.)
Lightning McQueen is a hit! Success!
The Cowgirl from Toy Story …. mmmm…. not so much.
The Tank doesn’t care whose birthday it is. He’s HAPPY!
Time to try out the new car with Goo-Goo!*
*Excuse the high-waters. This boy has grown. Most of the trousers that are the right length are in boxes awaiting their turn to get on a ship and get sent to America. (Yes, they’re still on the South African side of the pond. We don’t know when they will depart. If I go to church with you and you see me wearing the same thing every Sunday, now you’ll know why.)
Then came a special surprise, complements of a multi-talented Gammy:
Would you like to bask in the awesomeness of this perfect for a three-year-old birthday cake, complete with working cars and toy helicopters and airplanes?
Savour the flavour. Or if you’re American, savor the flavor.
It was met with delighted three year old approval.
Joy!
Nobody’s giving me cake, but I’m still happy!
Lightning McQueen was happy to have found a good home.
We attempted a family photo with our freshly-turned-three-year-old.
And another with a baby brother…
All in all, I’d say the day was a success!
{Still happy, no matter what!}
We’re on the train from London to Edinburgh today!
xCC
Sep 8, 2011 | Stories
Travelling is a strange thing sometimes. One minute you’re wiping tears from your eyes and staring out the window as the brown hills dotted with green bushes go by, Bloemfontein in the rear view mirror. The next minute you’re watching two squirrels precariously balanced, stealing seeds from the bird feeder in the neighbour’s back yard, the gray skies of London dotted with airplanes overhead.
As strange as it is, here we are, at HH’s brother’s place, and the trip here couldn’t have been much smoother. The boys slept nicely for good stretches of the flight, the Bear gently tuckering out with headphones still round his ears and a kiddie cartoon on his TV screen, the Baby passing out in the bassinet and then in HH’s lap thanks to turbulence.
{In London, pregnant with the Bear, circa March 2008}
Some friendly folks helped us get our loads of carry-ons to the plane, which was a BIG help. (We loaded the carry-ons because we can have a lot and they don’t get weighed…grace, people, this is a transcontinental move!) Then we were initially rather concerned at our landing when the stroller we gate-checked had to be picked up at baggage claim, because four hands SHO WEREN’T ‘NOUGH to get everything through immigration and to baggage claim.
{This has happened to us before, and it shouldn’t have been a big surprise, but when you’re running on such a small amount of sleep, everything feels surprising and it’s hard to figure out how to navigate such circumstances…Hero Hubs to the rescue!}
The Bear decided he could barely make the trip from the plane along the skyway into the airport (read: he started wailing and asking to be carried about halfway, and HH was too far in front of me to know it, because he was keeping up with two nice gents who were helping carry our stuff, and I was toting the baby and a big pillow and 50 people were waiting to get through behind us. I consciously made the decision to relax and laugh.)
So when we were finally off the airplane and inside the terminal, we watched the little electric cars that take disabled passengers through to immigration and the baby was just looking so sweet, and our baggage looking so plentiful, three of us managed to score a ride. (Thanks to HH for asking!) The boys and I hopped on with some of the bags, and the Hubs met us at immigration with the other two.
Did I mention the baby’s diaper was so wet I was getting wet at this point?
But the awesome lady electric car driver who took us to immigration told the Hubs to hop in (because she’d dropped off the other passengers and there was space) and drove us up to the disabled section where the officer actually came out from behind her desk to collect our passports and ask us questions and clear us through. (Questions like why it looked like I lived in the UK but don’t anymore and why we have so many passports…) We probably missed out on standing in a line that would’ve taken AT LEAST 30 minutes. Score!
I pretty much felt like royalty on that electric rickshaw riding through Heathrow today. {Did you know those things fit inside the elevator?} I decided to opt out on doing a royal wave and rather wave the baby’s sweet little hand at the passengers we were passing by…because then who could be mad?
And I think if we had a chance to hang out, Kate Middleton and I would be BFFs in no time. But what’s her last name now?
Other than a bag that was temporarily delayed and momentarily sent me into great concern (but not panic) mode, and a momentary delay in finding the driver we’d arranged (bless his heart, he’d been waiting two hours and finally went to the loo!) it was smooth sailing from there, and we are incredibly thankful.
So if any of you prayed we’d be especially blessed in our travels today, just know that that prayer was answered. Thank you!! (And thanks to all of you who’ve been thinking of us!)
We are heading to the train station, and on our way up to Bonnie Scotland tomorrow afternoon…whoo hoo, we’ve missed you Scotland, the brave, Scotland the beautiful!
And if anyone talks to Kate, just let her know we’re probably gonna get a pay-as-you-go sim card for our phone this afternoon, and then she can call me anytime.
xCC
Sep 7, 2011 | Stories
Well friends, here we go…it’s Wednesday the 7th of September, a day that has been in our minds for quite some time. Not only is today the day the United States was nicknamed Uncle Sam (in 1813), but it’s also take-off day for us. We’re driving to Johannesburg and flying out this evening to head almost due north for a brief visit to the UK, and after nine days split unevenly between London, Edinburgh, and a special wedding in Linlithgow, we’ll arrive in the Carolinas on September 17th. Which, incidentally, is the day before my birthday.
New Year. New Decade. New Continent. New Adventure?
In the meantime, I’ve grabbed some spare moments here and there to prepare a few things for you, and I had the delightful joy of welcoming some guest posts from friends near and far. So there’s a heap of good stuff scheduled to come your way over the next ten days!
Beware, however — the posts headed your way are scheduled to show up without me pushing a button every day, and I might not get a chance to check that it’s behaving properly, that all the comments are polite and don’t need moderation, or that there aren’t any pictures posted where I have something in my teeth.
Be that as it may, there’s definitely a nice line-up on its way to your computer screen, or iPad, or cell phone, or whatever other device you might use for internet viewing.
So please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their upright and locked position, slide that seatbelt around those gorgeous hips of yours, and get ready for take-off…
Auto-pilot begins in three…two…one…
xCC
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