HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

Its already mid Jan and I have not updated since before Xmas. We did have a lovely Xmas and New Year in NYC with the monster, tanuki Rieko, grandad, uncle Karl Karl and auntie Alex. I don't think my brother new what hit him with a 2 year old in his pristine loft and all us bickering adults!!!! To his massive credit he bought in preparation for us a potty and a baby bed and I got to order online the stuff that she might eat. The designer sofas got covered with throws though and I think he could only cope with 2 toys at a time in the living space but charlize really followed him like a shadow and Grandad was great at tormenting teh hell out of her everyday. Taught her "yum yum pigs bum you cant have none..) It was FREEEEEZIING cold weather to the point she would cry with the change of temp when we got in from the cold and had to use the rain cover all the time to keep wind off. The flight over was NIGHTMARE. Don't ever do Northwest/delta the old hags were complaining as they were serving us about their jobs as if we didn't exist. After much begging we got the bulk head going out but armrests don't go up and we had a 8 month old Chinese baby next to us whose mother was having a nervous breadown because it wouldn't sleep. In end threw the akachanhonpo futon that I took on board ( lifesaver) with Charlize on it and took the poor baby from her before she killed it. Considering C and I flew alone c was not too bad but the 17 hours we were in the plane because of delay on way back, I could not have done without Cliff. I threatened divorce!

We did the Bronx zoo which was great but again soooo cold. Central park zoo where she got to see her Madagascar friends and the gigantic FAO toy store where she was in heaven. She painted a ceramics penguin in psychedelic colours as a present for Uncle Karl Karl. I hope he understands when it arrives in the post. Auntie Rieko was already there when we arrived but more jetlagged than us on day 3! We did have a nice day in the snow in central park, lunch and then the natural history museum which is FABULOUS for kids. The dinosaur floor is amazing as was the butterfly house and imax theatre along with all the stuffed animals. We spent 4 hours but needed a day! cliff arrived with Grandad Xmas Eve and the boys were in charge of Xmas dinner as bruv is Jamie Oliver in kitchen. Did a bit of shopping in the sales but mostly watched Rieko spank her credit card in Anne Taylor while I sat through hours of trying on sessions with her! We also did ladies that lunch at the Palm Court Plaza Hotel with full on scones and little sarnies delicately arranged with free flowing earl grey ( of course without c for a change!). In Old Navy picked up all bigger sized clothes for C for nothing so she is sorted for the rest of the year. Apart from that not really too much shopping we didn't have the energy for it but Union Square with the squirrels and new play place and organic market was a daily run. The kids museum with Dora rubbish was ok-ishfor maybe an hour but many more things to do that are better. The rocker fella centre with the ice rink and lovely restaurant was a nice afternoon with c very well behaved. Would liked to have done statue of liberty but way way too cold even just to pop to deli! Think spring would be a better time to visit but the Xmas lights made it very festive we did have a good time. Also manged to get C baptised in Grace church right next to bruvs place. Its the most amazing Episcopalian church gorgeous.l The lady vicar after explaining our nomadic circumstances agreed to do it for us the very next day and gave us a guided tour and personal service which was really lovely. Now I don't have to suffer the constant nagging from Cliff any longer plus I am happy that its not Roman Catholic as I just cant bring myself around to some of those ideas. School has already started and C is over jet lag but Cliff pretty much turned around and went back to Chicago for work and just got back today. c also being very spoilt recently so both of us laying law down and more shouting these days or else there is no stopping her. We have started gymnastics too on Sundays at Nishimachi school with full on trampoline, beams, bars and floor mats where they teach them handsprings!!! She loves it but wants to do all the other stuff really fast just so she can get onto the trampoline!!! belly IS REALLY massive and have to wear Cliffs coats now.. Need to curb the scoffing too or else its gonna be a tough next year. Monster waking up cant think of anything else to report except we are off to Hakuba next weekend for fun in the snow and there is so much of it this year too.