Bye Bye 2010!

Christmas has left my house a wreck of new toys and leftovers. Dodo is very happy and I am just fatter and poorer! But it was lovely having the family together on what my well be our last Christmas in London.

Father Christmas was bleepin messy with his huge feet!

The first of many!

2011 is going to be a year of big changes for us. Moving to Bangkok, Dodo starting kindergarten and a huge amount of excitement on the work horizon. Can't wait for it all to begin but also feel like hiding under my bed with the hugeness of pulling it all off! I will try my best to not crack up and keep you all  informed of the adventure as we go.

It's almost over a few more hours to go. I am about to break the habit of a life time and venture out for New years eve. I love christmas but really hate the build up of New year and the hype that seems to go along with it. I know I sound like a right old mardy bum but I am going to my local pub and paying to get in!! eh? Whats that all about?

So I will just wish everyone a very happy new year from Dodo and myself and hope you keep on reading our adventures.  Peace. Love. Out!

The Gallery: Love

I could have tried to be quirky or different but really is it possible that I could love anyone more than Dodo? Nah..

This post is my entry for this weeks gallery over at Sticky Fingers please pop over and take a look at the other luurrverly blogs there.

Ickle Baby Jeanus And A Wooden Spoon

Dodo is starting to get into the Christmas spirit thing in a big way..her very own big way. For starters the nativity has been getting a Dodo style makeover, with Jesus even being re-named. He has been at turns the "ickle baby jeanus" and "baby genius" Mary and Joseph have kept their given names..but are currently unaware of the gender confusion the infant Christ child is going through. He/she has also been joined in the nativity scene by a whole host of unorthodox characters including Teletubbies, Fathers Christmas (at least he was a saint!) and of course Upsy Daisy. Looks like I may have my work cut out explaining the true meaning of Christmas. I'm sure I will get the withering look and a no, no, no Mama you made a mistake..those aren't shepherds and Jeanus IS a girl!

Nativity team photo

And then the small (or not so) matter of the Christmas list..the list that keeps growing..So far it consists mainly of antiques. First up, the very expensive (I am quoting her on this) doll that she saw at the Tea Rooms in Brick Lane, oh and the vintage tea set and the sofa carpet (your guess?) and a blanket for the doll. Then it takes a musical turn..a guitar and a trumpet and a saxophone and a piano, drums and cymbals that go BANG and a tromboney (sic) her very own one man band! My ears are bleeding at the very thought. 

The one item on the list that stood out for me was a wooden spoon. Just proving the point that kids don't need all the fancy pants bits of plastic the t.v is trying to talk us into. I really love the thought that has gone into Dodo's list she has created a whole game in her mind. It's me that gets carried away with the gift giving, I just love it! Since becoming a mum Christmas has been amazing. I couldn't care less about gifts for me, as long as I have Dodo, family and friends, it will be a great holiday. Top it off with the prospect of a white Christmas and I turn into a totally sentimental fool. Those who know me are fully aware that I burst into tears at the first bar of Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. This trait seems to have been passed on in my genes as during Songs of Praise Dodo began fake sobbing when Away in a manger came on. When asked why she said "oh it's just soooo beautiful Mummy!"

This week my house will be full of the sounds of us sobbing into our mince pies in eager anticipation of the arrival of Father Christmas with a wooden spoon.

Silent Sunday..Keeping Faith

Writing Workshop: Paved Paradise

For this weeks writing workshop over at Sleep is For The Weak the idea was to be inspired by a song or lyric. I was struggling to choose and then inspiration came in the most unexpected way. The song is Big Yellow Taxi by the amazing Joni Mitchell.

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot, With a pink hotel, a boutique and a swinging hot spot. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

This post runs the risk of me sounding like a spoilt cow, but I can assure you that I am well aware that I am beyond lucky. Healthy, with a great daughter and a family who love and support me in all that I do. I have more than enough to be grateful for.

Now I have gotten that bit out the way I am going got have a little rant/moan, call it what you like but I have a bee in my bonnet about this. 

You see I have grabbed the chance to have a few days relaxing and chilling out with my Dad on the beach. Working in Bangkok makes this a perk I take advantage of whenever I get the chance, who wouldn't? especially as Nana is very kindly looking after Dodo!  Being time poor we took a recommendation and popped down to Phuket's Kata beach.

An easy 1hr flight and a short hop in a taxi and wham bam..beach time. But hold on..whats this I see? Well it's not the sea view I was hoping for, a big stonking great concrete wall. Running pretty much the full length of the beach, preventing any view of it from the road. Thanks for that Club Med! What was undoubtedly a stunning natural palm fringed beach is now utterly ruined by row upon row of plastic sun loungers. Concrete and building sites are creeping up the once green and leafy hillsides around Kata. The result is a pretty ugly town with nothing that makes you have any feeling that you are indeed in Thailand. The Indian tailors that badger you at every turn to buy ill fitting suits add to this dislocated vibe.

Now all of this being said Kata seems very popular with tourists and many of them look like they are having happy holidays. For me though it just makes me so sad. I am struck by a feeling of loss, a perfect wonder of nature has been dumped on by short sighted and ill planned tourism. Is this progress? Or will the very tourists they hope will fill the plastic loungers eventually abandon Kata in search of the next beach which will in turn be ruined? I write this whilst sitting on Kata Noi, which is the next beach over the hill, and although it is rather more tastefully developed will no doubt end up the next sacrifice to "progress".

Phuket was hit by the boxing day tsunami in 2004. This tragic natural disaster has been compounded by the man made catastrophe of over development. In the frantic rebuilding post tsunami, an opportunity plan for and think of the long term impact of mass tourism has been missed. The wave took the lives and wrecked the businesses of many people but surely a more positive outcome could have been achieved?

The tsunami has been in my thoughts allot since arriving in Phuket. Watching families splashing around in the sea and thinking of those who were lost is a huge reminder that life is short and we need to make the most of the one we have.

For those of you not familiar with Joni Mitchell check out her performance of the song that inspired me.

The Gallery: White Rabbits And Roll On Christmas!

This weeks gallery theme is celebrations. With it coinciding with the first of December I couldn't resist posting this.

For a lucky December

White Rabbits White Rabbits White Rabbits!

I love December! I love Christmas, snow and all the magic that goes with it..and I worry that I will miss it horribly when I move to hot sticky Bangkok. So it has come as a surprise how much effort goes into the decorations here. The rabbits are part of the Christmas display at a major shopping mall in Bangkok. I was totally in love with them and took tons of photos.

Father Christmas won't need a coat!

The rabbits had more traditional friends. I loved the sparkly reindeer might end up as my Christmas card this year!

Maybe I could get used to the tropical Christmas after all..just turn up the air con till it's suitably frosty!

Pop over and take a look at the other fantastic gallery entries at Sticky Fingers

Xuan Mai = Best Vietnamese Food In Bangkok

Would you believe me if I told you that in Bangkok you can dine in a restaurant that not only serves the finest Vietnamese food, but that it's cooked by a former F.B.I agent who was also a beauty queen? No I hear you cry! Surely Sandra Bullock and co could not come up with a plot that weird..but low and behold it's all true.

Xuan Mai is without a doubt one of my favourite places to eat in Bangkok. Meyung Robson (Chef/F.B.I/Miss Saigon/Superwoman) creates a stunning menu of classic Vietnamese dishes and puts her creative cap on with fantastic original offerings such as the eggplant crostini topped with crab meat and avocado. The menu is extensive but newcomers can trust Meyung to guide them through, she has helpfully taken photos of each of the dishes, which get your mouth watering!

   

I first came across Xuan Mai in the Bangkok City Scoops guide when it was at it's old Sukhumvit location. I was amazed that such refined food could come out of a kitchen the size of a postage stamp. Now Meyung has 2 lovely big new kitchens to work in since moving to the upscale Thong Lor road, the food has remained as fabulous as ever.

Meyung hard at work

On my most recent visit we had the Chả Giò, Vietnamese fried spring rolls from Hanoi. Crispy and delicious they have a fine spidery skin fried to golden perfection with a most meaty filling.

Crispy bites of joy!

We also had the eggplant crostini, Meyung has an American passport so we forgive the use of the word! Us Brits will be more familiar with Aubergine! It was as always, sublime.

We got carried away and started eating, whoops!

I have to mention the most perfect salad EVER! The avocado, mango, shrimp and more salad..every time I visit we have to order it. Just a wonderful combination of flavour could be a meal in itself.

Salad Heaven

I could bang on and on about the food forever but it would be kind of evil. You would be doing yourself a huge favour coming to try it yourself. Meanwhile check out the website and have a look at Meyung's blog, I wish she could find the time to write down all her tales for us, trust me this lady has stories! I look forward to hearing more of them soon.

Address 351/3 Sukhumvit 55, Bangkok

Telephone number (66)02-185-2619

Writing Workshop: Itch

This is for the writing workshop over at Sleep is for the weak I was inspired by the prompt Itch.

I hate flying. But you see, I have an itch. One that makes me do the very thing I am most terrified of in the world, a wholly self inflicted gut wrenching panic attack inducing leap of faith. All because I have an itch.

This itch started as far back as I can remember. Even in nursery I had the itch, the itch that caused me to walk out of the gates, up the road and all the way back home. My poor Mother has had to suffer for my itch. It sent me off to Glasgow at 14, off to sea at 24, Turkey came next. The itch calmed down for a while. But it was still there..lurking.

I work on the fear of the steel tube with wings and occasionally think I have beaten it into submission, but I know all it takes is one bumpy flight and I am back to the same old sweaty palmed mess. I even cheat by popping a pill, this I must stress is so that I pass only the positive part of my itch to Dodo! I don't want her to have my terror, she thinks flying is fab. As much cartoon action as she can handle, snacks treats and general star treatment..whats not to like?

This is one itch I don't really want to stop. It has made me see things that inspire and move me. It has shaped me and changed my life. Most of all it gave me Dodo..If I hadn't had the itch I wouldn't have been in Istanbul and she might have never been.

Tomorrow the itch and the work that has grown from it is taking me across the sky to Thailand without my Dodo. I am not sure I will sleep much tonight without her warm little body that sneaks into my bed every single night..I wonder if she will catch my itch? I think it may already be to late..

Now where did I put those pills?

The Gallery: Black and White

This week has been hard for me to find a black and white photo. I have moved around quite a bit in the past few years and during that time have lost many of my images. I have avoided thinking about the things that I have lost over the years as I have so much in my life to enjoy in the present moment. But all that being said it did make me a little sad and has made me want to fill my life with new and exciting photos..and some that i didn't take with the trusty i-phone!
So sorry but I am cheating, I didn't take these but I am in them.

Turning 30!

This was taken on my 30th birthday (before I hit the bleach!) with my best friend Emma. It was a day I will never forget, spent with people that I love/loved. I was still married and Dodo was being planned. It was an exciting time for me and I was happy.

Scream if you want to go faster!

Only a few years later and my life was totally upside down. I was a mother and my marriage was over. This picture was one of the turning points for me. I look at it every day. I was starting to be happy again.

Dodo was screaming with joy as we raced along in a speedboat in Thailand.

The Gallery: Before & After

I have to tell tales on Dodo's constant companion, her "most favourite doll called Upsy Daisy" Why she feels the need to introduce her this way I don't know, it's as if I have never seen her before!

Upsy in the daytime, all sweetness and light

When Dodo goes to bed Upsy has a dark secret..

Upsy and her drinking mate

She is a communist pool shark with a taste for serious booze.

She would take your last penny 

Don't be fooled, Upsy Daisy here I come i'm the only Upsy one...It's a cover. One day I will have to break the news to Dodo.

Writing Workshop: Paranormal Activity

This post is inspired by Josie over at sleep is for the weak I chose the prompt paranormal activity from this weeks movie themes. It's my first time *blush* be gentle with me!

Some very very strange stuff happens in Bangkok. Not just the nasty icky pervy old men (now thats another post) but the weird supernatural superstitious things that Thai people seem so used to.

Rewind to the horrible fire that happened at the Santika nightclub, New years eve 2008. A terrible tragedy that ended in the loss of 67 lives. I was at home in London when I saw the news, and remembered thinking how sad it was. I had no idea what part of Bangkok this was or knew nobody affected. Like most people watching, this tragedy went in one ear and out the other.

Fast forward now to 2009. I have embarked on the madness that is starting my own kids clothing brand and our manufacturing is done in Bangkok. I am spending chunks of time getting to know the city with my business partner known on this blog as Nana (well my Mum and Dodo's Nana!) 

Our wanderings have been majorly helped out by a great guide book Bangkok City Scoops. It has taken us to some well hidden spots and at times we have had to show ALOT of faith! When you follow the directions and get sent up some scary side soi with no lights..thinking there is no way we are going to get a good cocktail here..and are then rewarded with the coolest places, you learn to trust the book! And trusting the book was how we came to be walking from one bar to another laughing about trusting the book..

It's at this point that the skin and hairs on my right side suddenly start burning and I stop stock still in the street. White as a sheet (so I am told) I say "this is where the club was".  I can hear crying and screaming and I can feel panic..all I want to do is run. I turn to my right and for the first time I actually see the burnt out shell of the nightclub. The words had come out of my mouth before I could have possibly seen it. We picked up our pace..avoiding the temptation to leg it. The noises and 

burning sensation stayed with me a good few hours. 

I have no idea what to make of the feelings that I experienced that night and on several other occasions when I have had cause to pass by that spot. I'm not religious and still not sure if i'm honest what I  believe in but whatever I felt there has made me think about spirit. Could it be that when something really really bad happens it's echos stay around?

So up to this point it has all been noises in my head..no ghosts sighted..then I saw the zombie. Yes you read it right! The Zombie. and this time I was not the only one to see it. Same location but this time we had crossed the road and were walking pretty fast. Within about a block of the nightclub I start to feel the prickly heat on my side and feel quiet sick. I am trying really hard to carry on a conversation with my Mum and block this all out, we are walking arm in arm. 

Then I see him ahead of us coming towards us. I say nothing as now I am quite sure that I'm losing my marbles. Mum lets out a yelp and leaps about a foot in the air! We walk faster and I say "what did you see?" "a zombie" says Mum. Yes a Zombie! I don't know what else to call this figure who had black smoke rimmed eyes and soot marks round the nose and mouth. He was grey and ash covered and nobody else outside the busy 7/11 store seemed to see him.

On my last trip I was back in the same area and the heavy feeling seems to be lifting. Now I know that how that makes me sound but I just can't think of another way to explain. I just hope that whatever energy was echoing round has moved on to someplace better and has found some peace.

Freaky things happen in Bangkok…but I love it! Zombies and all. 

Oh and I still trust the book but it's a little out of date. If your thinking of using it please check the address and phone number before marching up any dark dark soi's..you never know what might be lurking, could even be me with a cocktail in hand!

The not very good or funny awkward first post

So this seems pretty silly to me and I think it may seem odd to most of you (what most of you…nobody will read this anyway!) but I have a bit of a block when it comes to writing stuff down. Blank pages freak me out..always have done. No I am not dyslexic, but I can't spell for toffee. It's just the whole blank page thing, for as long as I can remember..as a consequence I was rather shit at school.

I thought it would be a good idea to get this off my chest for a first post, and might make the next one a little easier. Well I could skip Tuesday and just start out with a wordless Wednesday..no no! This blog is supposed to kick the blank page phobia into touch and be somewhere I can yabba on about the stuff in my head. Hope I can make it a bit interesting and not too ranty, I do have a tendency to get a bit cross about stuff and sometime sweary. You have been warned.