Off to the 'Dam

I'm not off to Haiti - explanation at a later date, off to Amsterdam tomorrow for 4 days.
See you next week!

Happy Birthday Em!

Yesterday was my very best friend's birthday.  We have been friends since we were 3 years old and now live 250 miles away.  The last 10 years we haven't been particularly good at staying in touch - this was obvious by the fact I couldn't find many pictures of us (at least ones where we both looked half decent!)
But I know, no matter what, she'll be there for me.  She was a brilliant semi-bridesmaid (she ran around Southsea with me before the wedding getting last minute things likes shoes...) and official photographer last year at my wedding, and I'm sure she doesn't know how much I appreciate the 1000 miles she drove in May to come to my hen do AND wedding.

So, Ems, I love you - this year we shall be better at seeing one another.
And I cannot wait to do Glasto with you, it'll be amazing!!!!

(sorry I didn't manage to post this yesterday, I was in a bit of a state last night)

Weekend, and a Haiti update

Have had a funny few days, waiting to hear about things and then not hearing anything for days.

I tried keeping myself busy this weekend - went up to see Phil's family on Saturday - had a lovely lunch then stopped by his sisters house to see Mya, our niece.  She is 6 months old now and at a lovely stage - very interested in everything around her, happy and giggling all the time!  She has lots of lots of bright, lovely toys, and what was she most interested in?  Our Holga camera!

We had to pop to Ikea on the way back (because the only place you can set lightbulbs for some Ikea lights and sheets for Ikea beds is Ikea!).  We got back pretty late but still managed to rustle up some Crostini for dinner!  We got a griddle last week and have pretty much used it every day since, its great!  I am useless at taking pictures of food, need to get better!  Here are our crostini, which had mozzarella/tomato/basil or cannellini bean with rosemary oil toppings.  Yum!

Yesterday I had emails from both routes into Haiti that I was investigating.... only to find out they were the same one!  They are looking for doctors/nurses/etc to go to a hospital in northern Haiti which wasn't too badly affected to help mainly with the refugees that are coming up from the Port au Prince area.  I am currently on the stand by list and may be going on Friday.  I think the main problem is funding for so many people - especially the flights.  So am trying to sort out vaccines, what to take...... We shall we!

Haiti

This seems a good summary from what I have heard

BBC Summary

Helping Haiti

As some of you know, I have been trying to organise going out to Haiti to help out with the earthquake in a medical capacity.  I have annual leave from next week for 10 days with no specific plans and thought I may be of some use.  The last 48 hours I have spent researching, emailing and having a bit of a arghhhhhhhh when I thought I may be able to go out tomorrow.  This morning I had a message from Sarah Brown (the one who is the PM's wife) which was pretty amazing - I had messaged her on Twitter asking if she knew any organisations looking for doctors, not expecting her to reply - she actually has sent me 2 messages!  Through her I have become aware of an organisation in northern Haiti who have a hospital, clinic and children's home, who often have people come out to them for 2 weeks or so to help out.  I have had some lovely emails back but unfortunately all commercial planes have been cancelled so I have no way of getting there. This evening I heard from a local paramedic who had been asked to get a group of doctors, nurses and paramedics together to go out and provide assistance asap.  However, due to the huge problems with the airport (which was damaged) and safety issues, they have had their plans put on hold.  So, I am currently on hold.  Even if I don't get to go out this month, I may try again later in the year.  But in the meantime I am going to register with a number of charities and organisations for the future, so I can hopefully be part of their emergency response units.  Feeling a bit deflated but am taking the advice I have been given and just waiting for now.

In other news, I just had 3 days of annual leave - lots of sorting out the house, changing my name with companies (yes, I got married 8 months ago......), Japanese food, etc.  Tomorrow we are going to my husband's Dads house for lunch and to see our niece.  Quite looking forward to it actually!  Just got cheered up by watching Alex James on Pop star to Opera star - he is a cheese making legend!!

Happy 101

Alexa gave me the lovely Happy 101 award which is for all the ladies in the blogging community that bring a smile to your face.   Along with this award I am to list 10 things that make me HAPPY and pass the award on to 10 ladies that make me smile.

1.  Cake and tea - simply perfect.
2.  Police documentaries, like Road Wars, Traffic Cops, etc - love 'em!  Not entirely sure why, but I do! And those border control programmes.
3.  Red Pandas, which we call ratty pandas.  Long story, not very interesting.  And penguins.  Especially little ones
4.  Photography - digital and film, am into it all at the moment.  Just wish we had a scanner that worked with our macs!  And that I was better.
5.  Sakura, my local Japanese restaurant - best food ever!
6.  Make up.  If I wasn't a doctor, I may well be a make up artist.  I especially love MAC Cosmetics. And Dior.  And Chanel.
7.  My cat, Ayesha - especially when she lies across her chest with her paws on my shoulder and rests her head on my neck - heaven!
8.  Having a lovely, tidy clean house with everything where it should be.  Shame it's such a pain getting it that way!
9.  My iphone - tis simply amazing in every way.
10.  Being married - and knowing no matter what the world throws at me, I will always have someone to share it with, be it good, bad or ugly.  Its kinda like us two against the world.

Took me a while to think of that.  And now I've done it will probably think of 10 better things.

Ten blogs that make me happy
Firstly, two real life friends:
1. My best friend since I was 3 or so, the beautiful Emma, Oh Gosh
2. Alexa, who I became friends with through our RVA Autumn class, Curly Wiggles (great name!) - and who gave me this award!
3. One of the first blogs I started reading, Keiko Lynn - surely one of the most beautiful women in the world
4.  The ever inspiring Elsie of Red Velvet Art
5.  Another part of RVA and someone who makes me want to be a mamma even more, Rachel
6.  A fellow Katie and maker of beautiful things, Skunkboy Creatures
7.  The one who makes me feel guilty for not going to the gym!  Danielle at Sometimes Sweet
8.  Naomi, who I think in many ways is similar to me, other than being 20 time prettier AND a dancer at Taza and Husband
9. The lovely James at Bleubird Vintage
10. I can't actually think of a tenth that I want to declare a favourite!  May have to have longer to think about that one!

xx

I ♥ Orla Kiely

My lovely new bed sheets!  And so does Ayesha.

This weekend

We took a pretty trip on the train to London

Took a long walk through Portobello Road Antiques Market

Saw hundreds and hundreds of old Singer sewing machines in All Saints - I want just one!

I let my husband spend far too much money on vinyl toys

We had lots of hot chocolate

We were snowed on in London - it was very pretty

And then today I had an almighty grump, am thinking its probably hormonal.  Luckily my husband knew how to fix me, and now I feel much better.

London

Off to London tomorrow for the day, weather permitting.  Anthropologie, here I come!!

Hello 2010

Today is not a snow day - I have to go to work tonight (am going to set off super early).

The last 2 days the UK has come to a halt - no mail, most people at home, no schools open, operations cancelled .... quite amazing what snow does to us!  Apparently, Hampshire hadn't had much snow for years - we've lived here 18 months and have seen quite a bit of it!

Anyway, as I have been so lazy with my blogging, I thought I'd do a round up of the last week.

New Years Eve was a party for just 2, as none of our friends could make it.  We had fun though, making a yummy lasagne, drinking far too much, watching Jools Holland (particularly good this year) and falling asleep curled up on the sofa.

I was working nights on the 1st/2nd/3rd so we didn't have any plans, but by the Sunday morning, having just had 7 hours sleep at work, we were bored, so went on a spur of the moment shopping trip to Brighton.  We spent a good hour or so in Snoopers Paradise, an amazing second hand warehouse made up of little shops.  I got some vintage patterns and we got a (new) picture for the house, so we didn't go crazy.  Most of the good stuff in that shop goes straight away as it's in Brighton - if we lived there I'm sure we'd get tons more!

The beginning of the week started pretty lazy really - then on Tuesday evening (as we were driving to the supermarket), it started to snow, and snow, and snow.  Yesterday we went for a walk down to the seafront as we haven't ever seen it in snow.  We took a few photos but it started getting dark and very very cold, so we had to race back.  I was supposed to be having an evening with my friend, Laura, but once I was inside and warm, I didn't want to leave.

Today it is still very icy but hasn't snowed.  I'm hoping for a reasonable night but expecting lots of trauma patients due to the ice.  On Saturday we have plans to go to London for the day (mainly so hubby can go to the Kid Robot shop) so I am hoping we will still be able to go.

Anyway, enough writing, here are some random photos.

I found a K shaped Twiglet on NYE -it made my day!

Our last meal of 2009 - Chicken and Pesto Lasagne

The view from the hospital yesterday morning before I left - taken on my Iphone

The snowman in our back garden, who I just named Bob.  He has a mohican.

On the way to the sea yesterday

Hubby looking cold

The bandstand and sea - people had sledged on every tiny bit of hill available

The lighthouse in the castle where we had our wedding reception

Wish me luck getting to work and back! And Happy New Year!

Snow day!

Well I didn't think it could ever happen - with living on the south coast AND being a doctor and all, but somehow I have been given the day off due to snow - even though I made it to work this morning.  So am off to make a snowman and go see the seafront with all the pretty snow.  May even post pics later!