The Cat in the Hat

Madeleine wears a purple statement, made for her with love by Auntie Katie (18/6/02). In Madeleine's hands is 'doggy', who has been by her side since any of us can remember. Doggy was initially a gift from Kelly Nolan to Eitan, who did not take to him straight-away. Madeleine moved in, and quickly the two became inseparable friends. Without doggy, there would be no bedtime story, no peaceful sleep, no morning cuddle and thumb suck. In short, the world would be a much harsher place.

Big Mouth Strikes Again

This is a posed photograph, taken in front of the Orangery, Kensington Palace, following afternoon tea and biscuits (20/1002). When prompted, a rather bemused Eitan gave me his widest smile, while I snapped away with my Camedia. For a while I used this shot as my screen-saver, which somehow seems an appropriate 'gate' into my computer.

Duck

Eitan is three days old (2/10/00) and already has formed a bond with the yellow duck which is still located in the bathtime toy bin. Eitan, when asked now about the photo as I write, notes 'my willy looks bigger than it is now.' He also comments that he is 'a bit smaller.' His hair calic already evident.

More spring

This flower also found at Embankment (1/5/06). The cherry blossoms now in full bloom for aprox. two weeks.

The Blitz

The Arts Council of London and the Royal de Luxe 'host the biggest piece of free theatre ever seen' according to them (4/5/06). de Luxe was founded by Jean Luc Courcoult in 1979 - leave it to the French. This 'capsule' positioned at Waterloo Place just off the Pall Mall and two stories high elicits numerous responses from passer-bys on their way to wherever. My favorite, in the finest Southeastern brogue: 'wha tha fook is that?' which pretty much sums up my feelings too.

Springtime UK

English parks come alive by May, and this tulip bed on Embankment no exception (1/5/06). Over the Bank-holiday weekend (May 1) the Brits come out from underneath their rocks, squinty eyed and pale skinned, prepared to do a summer's worth of DIY in one weekend. Invariably there are traffic queues into B&Q and Homebase. It's also a given that 90% of the adult population will return to work sun-burned.

Ps - I took this image using my little Sony Ericsson mobile phone, which has a 2.0 megapixel camera.

These boots were made for walk'n

It's not entirely clear to me, or Eitan, what actually IS in Madeleine's cowboy boot though it certainly has captured their attention (9/7/05). The pink dirt kickers, purchased by Grandma Silver in Colorado, remain a favorite item. While the initial pair out-grown some time ago, a replacement set may be found in the pantry (unfortunately the Montessori forbids her to wear them - the boot heel considered to be quite dangerous to the other children, you see).

School Colors

The every-morning circus ends with the kids fed and dressed (it's hoped) and raring to go. Eitan's journey to school and reception (or kindergarten) is several quick blocks. Madeleine tags along for this part, then makes the longer trek to her Montessori just across the train tracks. Often there is whinging and moaning, and depending on my mood (or the weather) we drive.

Cow

Madeleine over Easter Weekend, at the Kew farm (21/4/06). More likely than not, her expression in response to something I've said - like "let's bring home a cow to take care of the grass."

More pumpkins

Pumpkin and apple picking in Hertfordshire last fall (21/10/05). A photo of Madeleine's 'cat' can be seen in an earlier blog below.

History of the Jack-o-Lantern (thank you, Univ. of Illinois Extension)

People have been making jack-o-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o’lanterns.

Auntie Katie

Katie visits London with her think-tank 'The Hidden Brain Drain' with Sylvia Hewlett and Cornel West to present to the House of Commons (29/4/06). Also attending were Cari Dominguez, head of the European Economic Commission, Prof. Lord Eatwell, President of Queens College, Cambridge, and Jermey Isaacs, CEO for Lehman Brothers Europe & Asia. Closer to home, Katie attended a typical family weekend of football, yard-work, hair cuts and general business. The kids were rewarded with special artwork made by her for them. They also had an above average quotient of potato chips and junk food.

PS- Cornel West, who clearly adores my sister, called Sonnet his 'soul sister' while I received a hug and the warm title 'my Berkeley Brother.'

Goal!

Eitan plays football in Palewell Park. While a bit turned around in this shot, the kid is a natural striker and models his play after England heros Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney. We've not picked a team to support together, but given the life consequences of this choice, it is wise to take one's time. For the record, I'm an Arsenal fan.

Cheeseburger!

Eitan at a diner in Hamstead (21/9/03). Without doubt, he enjoys his favorite meal.

London fashion week

This photo I took during London Fashion Week, courtesy of Sonnet, May 2003. The clothes are Vivianne Westwood.

RR

I bring forward this photo as I like the cool arty effect of the Queen's Rolls Royce parked at Buckingham Stables.

Boy on the Move

Eitan races the steps at the Tate Modern. Another favorite is the belly role down the main, sloped corridor of the museum, which both kids perform to perfection (or distraction).

The Tide Is In

The Thames, dating back 600,000 years when it was a tributory of the Rhine in GD, is today tidal to the Teddington Lock from the North Sea or about 90km inland.

From there, the river wanders anothr 250km eventually passing Oxford and ending at the village Kembel. At one point, the river was seven miles wide covering the Thames Valley, and today flooding is prevented by the Thames Barrier constructed in the 1980s.

Famously the 'Great Stink' of 1858 emptied the House of Commons, which had to be abandoned until the river was adequately cleaned up. This photo of the kids taken on the Thames Path at Kew (10/06/05)

Sonnet and Katie

in the Buckeye State, summer '04.

Roar!

Eitan gets busy with his bathtime toys (10/4/04), in this case a Sagittarius (I think). Play acting is a big part of the kids lives, and each has a unique and active imagination. Still it is interesting to note how similar development paths are with children - Eitan and his trucks, dinasours and swords; Madeleine with dolls and dresses, when she's not clobbering her brother.

Silly Stretch'n

 Madeleine, age 2, joins me for gymnastics (24/1/04). Here she works on her Arda Chandrasana posture also known as the back-bend.