Day 19 Thursday 31st December 2009

So Hogmany is finally here and if I had been in any doubt - the party in full swing upstairs would've clued me in.

I wonder how my neighbours would take to Phil Cunningham and Ally Bain a Scottish hogmany tradition! Probably wouldn't go down well probably wouldn't be heard above their music! but hey its new years....

I was thinking of lowering my expectations rather than setting resolutions what's your resolutions this year?

happy hogmany
Claire

Day 18 Wednesday 30th December 2009

I have the cold!

When you have the cold everything seems bad, the tube takes longer, the coffee is cold, the bread is hard, the guy in front of you turns unexpectedly knocking you over with his backpack, rucksack - bag on back.... Why is it people who wear these bags on their backs on public transport do not account for their increased depth?

It reminded me of being knocked over by my hubby a few years ago when his camera bag which was wider than him was on his back, he turned quickly and I was lucky not to go over the edge, we were at the Grand Canyon at the time.

So anyways I am back home, and am looking forward to climbing under my duvet I suspect this years new year will be a quiet affair we have had a hectic month so I'll be happy to toast in the New Year with a cold n flu remedy.

Hope everyone else is well

Claire

Day 17 cont.

So we ate at Wahaca at Westfields and it was a great meal, we went for this combination which is basically a little bit of everything and it was hot hot hot, I think it helped my cold more than the cold and flu remedies I have been taking all week.

Kids had a great time too, Ethan trying everything, Corran not quite so adventurous but still willing to try some things (like the ice cream for example)

It was a good if not late night!

Highly recommended http://www.wahaca.co.uk/

goodnight
Claire

day 17 tuesday 29th december 2009

On our way home after a lovely family meal.

the cuisine of choice was mexican.

will fill you in when we get home

claire

Day 16 Monday 28th December 2009

So we survived the train trip yesterday with no casualties, lost children, lost dogs, lost bears or lost minds (well almost) and after an hour of running around and jumping on the beds the kids eventually crashed last night.

Today was a chilly day and even more so given the "planned engineering works" which translates to Get the Bus! But it wasn't a bad day, lots to do to keep us busy.

But tired now and still to research local amenities and services so I'll keep you posted

love
Claire

Day 15 Sunday 27th December 2009

just set off on the 6 hour train journey with two kids, 4 cases 2 bears, a dog and thomas the tank engine!

What could possibly go wrong?

answers on a postcard!

love claire

Day 14 26th December 2009

Just getting up, enjoying that yummy stretching where you wiggle your toes!

Had a rough night, and it wasn't from over-indulging as so many folks do this time of year. we had a nice family afternoon , not too many gifts not too much food, just right - and gymnastics in my mums lounge!

time to get moving off to see auntie Steph!

love
Claire

Day 13 Friday 25th December 2009

best christmas present ever - the moment corran realised mum was home and couldn't care about santa!

got biggest cuddles ever from my boys!

merry christmas everyone

Claire

Day 12 Thursday 24th December 2009

hi,

Tonight I write to you from Victoria coach station a mere 2 hours away from departure.

Interestingly tne toilets of Victoria coach station are closed for Christmas, coaches are still running for the next 3 hours but the toilets are closed because "its christmas eve". not sure if my Bladder understands the situation!

anyways, will see my boys soon,

love and best wishes on this festive season...

Claire

Day 11 Wednesday 23rd December 2009

Hello

I have the cutest boys and I am missing them so much but one more sleep and one awful 9 hour coach trip and then I get to cuddle them and give them big sloppy kisses.

Had a really good but busy day today and despite having a cold I just really enjoyed myself, I am lucky to work with terrific girls who are full of energy and you can't help but feed off their enthusiasm for everything.

I gave them all one of my pendants as a thank you for their hard work over the last few weeks and that went down well.

Well folks, I ma cold and about to jump into bed so goodnight and take care of yourselves.

love

Claire

Day 10 Tuesday 22nd December 2009

What a day! Its been tiaras and tantrums and all before lunch!

Lots of lovey kissing couples on the tube today it was a nice change from the hustle bustle of people trying to get to work but as the day drew on you could feel the pressure of husbands that hadn't got their wives presents, people whose turkey hadn't arrived from M&S, ladies who realised they'd forgotten to book a wax, manicure, pedicure etc etc, and all those poor folks whose travel plans are all over the place.

I myself am travelling back to Scotland on Christmas eve over night to arrive first thing in the morning before my two bears wake. And all I want for christmas is to get there safe and on time.

I usually love doing the whole christmas thing but feel somewhat detached from it this year given all the drama and separation.

But we'll all be under one roof again in a matter of days.

I wandered around Portobello Road today and it was entertaining hearing snippets of conversations, that said, I still think it odd that grown women refer to their mother as "mummy" and adopt a child like voice whilst attempting to extract cash from "mummy dearest" seriously take the silver spoon out your mouth, get a job and then you'll not have to behave in such a ridiculous manner, but thats just me! I'm a little grumpy today not sure why but hopefully it will have shifted by tomorrow.

OK well I have some earrings to make so I'll love you and leave you for now.

Claire

day 9 monday 21st december 2009

OMG Westfield shopping centre is huge! been wandering around in circles.

now on my way home - need my bed.

not so much walking on sunshine as slipping on ice!

love claire

Day 8 Sunday 20th Deceber 2009

Woke to the news that a colleague had been attacked last night returning home from the night out.

Poor girl I seen her this morning and she is, understandably, shaken up by the experience! She'd got a taxi home but had a short distance to walk to her house and was attacked for her money and mobile and despite handing it over was beaten up - she can replace bank cards and mobiles but her confidence is shot and as to the attackers - what goes around comes around!

Stay safe this festive season, stay in groups and see each other home, don't get unlicensed taxi's and keep your wits about you.

love Claire

PS RIP Brittany Murphy

Day 8 Sunday 20th December 2009

I am just home from our night out and a great time was had by all, we ate at Sticky Fingers just off High Street Kensington and then went to Amika (www.amikalondon.com)

Dinner was ok, I had the steak and by the time we ate I frankly would've eaten anything, steak was a little too rare for my liking but still good followed by a citrus cheesecake which was yummy followed by a shot, which I know contained Baileys and god knows what else.

We had pre-booked tables at the club on the guest list which was so much fun, always nice to have your very own personal barman at your table whose sole responsibility is to ensure we all have fun. Not a difficult task as we were all in good spirits.

I am exhausted but had fun and the girls were a laugh, it must be an Australian thing - they are all wild!!

So the £54 taxi home wasn't so much fun but had I not left my keys behind it wouldn't have been such an expensive journey home as I would've probably left earlier but then I would've missed all the dancing and knowing the colour of Bridget's knickers!

love
Claire

Day 7 Saturday 19th December 2009

Night out tonight - so I am going to keep this short and sweet will fill you in on the gossip tomorrow.

Have a great weekend!

LBD for tonight and sky scraper heels

love
Claire

Day 6 Friday 18th December 2009

Today was weird it was good then bad, then very bad, then alright, then busy, good and then surprising!

So, I'll not bore you with the bad, but the good and surprising is the result of a little experiment I carried out today on the tube. Smiling is contagious! I tried to smile at my fellow passengers today, despite delays, snow on tracks, leaves on tracks, trains on tracks.....and the results were interesting.

Most folk smiled back some even said merry Christmas and one had a half hour conversation with me about, engineering, Toronto, UFC, Brock Lesnar and the french language!

Restoring my faith in my fellow commuters so this blog is dedicated to anonymous who gets off the DLR at Westferry!

Short and sweet tonight got to make jewellery

Love
Claire

Day 6 Friday 18th December 2009

Yaaawwnnnn stttreeetcchhh, I'm up honest.....

I had weird dreams last night, nothing specific just lots of weirdness!

I foolishly sat up late, surfing, watching tv (on laptop remember I am here with only my clothes really) and now its time to get moving. I haven't opened the curtains yet to see the extent of the "bad weather" we were to be prepared for does anyone want to clue me in as to how bad it is? Keeping in mind I am from Scotland from a town that has its own weather system so I am fairly used to bad weather.

Well best get moving, will update you guys later

love
Claire

Day 5 Thursday 17th December 2009

What a day! Been very busy (nothing new there) but I did get a bit of a long lie which was divine not so lucky tomorrow - whilst I do have a later start I fear the weather will mean I have to leave early.

So a week until I am heading back to see my boys I cannot wait - have I mentioned that before? But when you look at Ethan is it any wonder I can't wait to get back and he knows how to work those baby blue eyes!

Today I had a very nice lunch/dinner at La Brioche on Old Brompton Road, very very yummy Tuna Melt Ciabatta and a cuppa, essential in this winter weather, on my way back I made friends with a lovely black Labrador who obviously was keen on me by tangling his lead around my legs and jumping up to kiss me, so adorable!

So I now have a little black dress for my night out on Saturday courtesy of Sophie, lovely girl. They are all lovely girls although I am beginning to get an Australian accent hahaha!

So time for some random surfing and maybe some biscuits (no tea still no kettle)

love

Claire

Day 5 Thursday 17th December 2009

Yay!

Train tickets booked, confirming that my boys are finally joining me after Christmas.

The thought of the 9 hour coach trip with a 3 year old and a 19 month old convinced me to book the train instead. This means I only have one more awful 9 hour coach journey on Christmas eve night - its not that I hate bus journeys its just that the last few trips have really taken it out of me.

I don't sleep and with my back still in pain - (cause still unknown despite an 800 mile round trip (by coach) to spend 10 minutes in the hospital and a repeat visit in January - damn kidneys) it is just too long a trip for me.

anyways bed time, I'll sleep easy knowing we are almost organised....

love

Claire

Day 4 Wednesday 16th december 2009

Hello,

Chilly chilly day and snow too! London snow isn't quite like the snow I am used to in Scotland, I found it amusing overhearing conversations - people panicking about the weather and it was just a short flurry of snow. Apparently it is to get really bad though so I best not speak too soon.

I took all the stairs at Bank tube station today, was so very proud and wanted to do my Rocky impression at the top but I didn't think the other commuters would really appreciate it.

For a few weeks I have been trying to rescue something that was trapped in the lining of my winter coat and today I managed to free the item and found it to be a butterfly hair pin that had been given to me (as a set) to pass on to a friend which I did but somehow managed to lose one inside the lining of my coat....weird. And then I remembered I had in fact passed the gift on and she had worn them on a night out last year and after dancing the night away she finally let her hair down and asked me to hold on to them - explains why one random silver butterfly hair pin found its way into the lining of my winter coat.

So had a really yummy lunch at Jacobs on Fulham Road, Persian Soup, good for this weather, it contains all sorts of ingredients its a meal in a bowl and their bread is the best, would highly recommend if you happen to find yourself down our way in Chelsea.

Anyways, busy few days and a night out on Saturday which I am really looking forward to, and not long until I go home to my boys, can't wait to see them.

Take care


love Claire

Day 3 Tuesday 15th December 2009

Hello,

Been a long day but a good day, I got to the DLR station in time (not for my train) but to witness a gorgeous sunrise from the elevated position of the DLR affords you, it put me instantly in a good mood. I then went on a musical journey listening to everything from Ozzy Osbourne to the Blue Danube Waltz and just about everything in between.

I skipped along Portobello Road stopping only for a Cinnamon Latte (yummy) and a Cinnamon Swirl pastry (extra yummy).

At lunchtime I met a cute little dog, who didn't seem to own a human and was a bit chilly so I picked him up some food but he had gone by the time I got back, probably off looking for his human who I am assuming slipped his lead.

I have, so far, resisted the urge to purchase the gorgeous Elle MacPherson bra and panties that I have fallen in love with, whether or not I can resist another day remains to be seen, more so since they have been put in a pre-season sale! I should get help, I have an addiction to gorgeous lingerie, in itself it isn't so bad but can be detrimental to the old bank balance.

Looking forward to the arrival of my boys, the dog and kitchen utensils, I feel sluggish as the temptation to eat junk is too much, I refuse to purchase more kitchen utensils when my own things will arrive soon enough. Note to self, buy fruit tomorrow!

About to make some jewellery - have withdrawal symptoms having not made anything all week.

Take care

Love

Claire

Day 2 Monday 14th December 2009

I had a bad Monday, Oyster card took payment twice - nice but I get to write away to them and in approx 4 weeks I'll get my money back!

That little disaster was like a snowball at the top of a mountain, I try not to let the little things get to me, but it was just a bad Monday. To be fair it only really lasted until early afternoon by which time I had it out of my system, so the knock on effect of snowball was that I was late which I hate, never got breakfast because I was late which I hate and my legs ache from doing that "not running but not walking stride" down portobello road because I was late which I hate!

The knock on effect of that was that I had a disturbing intake of E-numbers as lunch! So now I feel sluggish.

But I got home to an email with some piccies of my boys and that cheered me up, cannot wait to hug them on Christmas morning.

I need to get a Secret Santa gift for someone I've only just met, any ideas???

Bring on Tuesday

love

Claire

Day 2 Monday 14th December

Bbbbrrrrr its a cold start to Day Two!

Despite getting up at 3am to take a "cold n flu" remedy it seems to have had no effect I am a coughing, sniffling, sneezing mess! What an attractive sight I was met with in the mirror this morning - but hey its amazing what makeup can do, my mask against the world so to speak. I also got toothpaste in my eye this morning and more shocking is that it is not the first time either, this is a clear sign that I will at some point today burn my mouth with my tea!

Anyways cannot hang around here - will post later about my day.

Have a good one

Claire

Day 1 Sunday 13th December 2009...just

So with just over half an hour left of day one of this little project, I am ready for bed having just finished watching Coco before Chanel, isn''t Audrey Tautou beautiful?

It was an interesting film, I never really knew the background to Coco so it was a really good watch, makes me want to make something but its unlikely given I have left most of my tools in Scotland, perhaps best not to be using a soldering iron at this time of night anyways.

Sweet dreams

Claire

Day 1 Sunday 13th December continued

Too much choice.....

It used to be really easy, it was tea or coffee, and then it was black or white but now going for a cuppa is a complicated process. There are so many coffees now and so many sized cups, and skinny, full fat, no fat no coffee.....aaarrgh I usually take the easier option and order Tea but then its, "Is that English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Peppermint......"

But today I found the greasy spoon (the irony is not lost on me Spoonerisms:Greasy spoon) that made my day a little easier. I ordered a tea and flinched whilst expecting the range of choices to be told "Milk and sugars at the front love" perfect!

Claire

Day 1 Sunday 13th December 2009

It was so nice to have a long lie this morning although I did miss having the kids climb all over me as is the norm for Sunday mornings, well I have two Sundays before the kids join me so best make the most of it.

Today's options include;

1. Staying in the house (now not all our belongings are here yet so it would be a very long day with no kettle)

2. Getting out and about

3. Hiding back under the duvet

Option 2 please!

So Oyster card at the ready, hat, scarf, gloves, keys, mobile - now I'm ready to go. Today we are heading to the National Gallery, I never get the chance to do this and I am something of an art lover so unable to spend the day with my favourite boys I decide to spend the afternoon with my favourite men. Cezanne, Degas and Seurat.

Its not that I do not like or appreciate the work of Monet and Van Gogh, but I am a lover of Georges Seurat and breaking all the galleries rules of wandering around and appreciating all the masters I head straight for Room 44 which the guide informs we will lead me to "Bathers at Asniers" and WOW it owns the room taking up an entire wall in the beautiful room! I stand back admiring the work and then take a close look to see the individual brush strokes of this piece, I remember studying his work in college and love that I am fortunate enough to have seen not only this piece today but have also seen the famous "A Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte" in NY.

I then wandered around taking in the works of Cezanne whose paintings capture Provence in a way that no photograph ever will and smile at the fascination Degas had with ballet dancers. Naturally I did go and see Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" and was interested to learn that he believed the colour yellow to symbolise friendship and that they were hung in his guestroom in Arles.

All in all a very good afternoon, missing only two of my other favourite men Salvador Dali and Henry Moore, however a short walk to the London eye will correct that - so now I just have to find Moore but that can wait for another Sunday.

Heading home to wash London out of my hair and relax.

Take care guys

love

Claire

Welcome

Welcome to 365withclaire, which as the title would suggest is a year with me, Claire.

Its not that I lead a very interesting life, I just thought it would be nice to capture a year of my life, the ups the downs, the boring the exciting and the strange and weird.

Now I know it would make sense to start on 1st January but where's the fun in that so we begin our journey today Sunday 13th December 2009.

Stick around

love Claire