Happy Birthday

To me :) 30 years ago this morning I made an appearance, and I have enjoyed every minute since. I know that this coming year will be my best yet, and I can't wait to experience it.

I wish..

... you all a very merry magical Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

festive fish

I took the babies to the Aquarium today, here's my fantastic (haha) phone camera shot. Then we headed into Manhattan and somehow I walked from 34th to 50th then from 50th all the way downtown past World Trade Center, which for those of you not familiar with NYC is over 60 blocks... without passing out from hypothermia! Here's the wonderful Rockefeller tree, also taken on my shake phone :)

In the jungles of Indonesia's Papua they have discovered rats as large as a cat. Looks like a regular NYC subway rodent to me :)

an angel

The beautiful little angel Lakshmi, who was named after the 8 limbed Hindu goddess of wealth, has finally gone home from the hospital in Bangalore after a 2 month stay. The 2 year old finally stood on her own, after a 27 hour operation to remove her headless conjoined twin. I followed this story from the start, and thought there was no chance she would stand, perhaps not even make it through the massive operation. It's stories like this that make my, and should make everyone else's troubles, seem small. Every picture I've ever seen of her showed a smiling gorgeous girl who was full of life and free spirit. Congratulations to her parents and I wish her all the success in the world to her.

2 lbs 2 oz

Measuring in at 29 weeks, here is my latest pic, all is well, so I'm cleared to fly Wednesday :)

When the clouds...

..take on the shape of reindeer - you know Christmas is just around the corner! This amazing shot was taken by amateur photographer Alan Blacklock on the North Island of New Zealand.

Ma

Just thought I would share an excellent photograph my Mum took this week of the beach where I grew up. It reminds me so much of home, and makes me get butterflies about our trip being so close :)

Steven Soderbergh rocks my world! I just watched Oceans 13 (yeah I'm behind on my viewing of late).. The Ocean films are for me the epitomy of good cinema. Excellent camera work, spot on lighting, and a killer cast. Eddie Izzard was amazing, simply perfect. Clooney and Pitt - awesome. Damon - as dry as ever. The heists above and beyond expectation - just fantastic. Love Love Love it - bring on Oceans 14!

just because

Motherly love Humpback style.

I need a nurse

Or a personal assistant, or something. I've had an awful cold all week, dizzyness, constant nosebleeds, all the good stuff. Both my toddlers came down with 104 fevers on Thursday, now my husbands out for the count. On top of that I have swelling, that means I can take off my jeans and within an hour not be able to get them over my knees. My weight goes up and down 5/6 lbs a day, and I feel plain old lousy. We head off to Scotland in a week and a half, so I'm praying now that we are all recovered by then. The last time my daughter had a cold, she ended up in hospital with pneumonia :( The worst thing about being ill and pregnant is that I can't take anything to knock me out at night. So I lay there counting sheep until the daylight comes. I have to sleep with pillows under my legs to keep the fluid from collecting, pillows under the bump to support the baby so my back doesn't ache, and a pillow between my legs to stop my ligaments from pulling. All in all life is not treating me fairly right now.

81 years young

I want to applaud my beautiful Queen who smiled exquisitely when she met comedian Russell Brand, even though he had just joked to the audience at the 79th Royal Variety Performance that he wanted to "shag" her granddaughter. I thought the Queen looked totally fabulous in a winter wonderland style outfit. She reminds me of my Grandmother so much, so for me she can do no wrong :)

tis the season

The kindness of strangers always delights and amazes me. Tonight I was standing waiting for the light to change, when an elderly lady asked me if I was cold. I told her I was freezing but my hood kept blowing down. She took a bobby pin from her own hat covered head, pulled my hood up and stuck the pin into my hood attaching it using my hair. My hood stayed up and I was warm. In a town as big as New York City you meet angels in the most unexpected places.

pregnancy blues

I feel like a big lump. I'm 6 months pregnant now, but feel about 9! It brought me some joy to see the fabulous Jennifer Lopez, rumored to be in her fifth month, looking so big and beautiful. I don't usually like to read about celebrities, but it's comforting to see pictures of Christine Aguilera, Mama Lopez and Halle Berry taking the weight gain in their stride. I'm doing a pregnancy shoot the end of January. Instead of a typical nekkid one, we're going for pin-up 40s/Hollywood Glamour. I can't wait for some flattering light to make me feel better again :)

RIP Marina

I was saddened to hear of the death of the lovely Beluga Whale from Coney Islands New York Aquarium. When my parents were over last year I dragged them along to the Aquarium to see my beloved white whale, only to find it had been transferred to another aquarium for a breeding program. The cause of death remains unknown.

Snow fell during the night. As I look out of my window I see around an inch has accumulated in my garden. They're predicting more snow and freezing rain this afternoon. This would usually make me very happy, however in 30 minutes we have to drive in it. Argh. Today is the second day of my show, and due to that fact we left most of my things there last night. So even if I wanted to I can't call it off now! I am still so content knowing it's truly winter at last. Oh and Happy December to all!

Ewe

The employees Swansea Community Farm, in South Wales, UK Must have not believed their eyes when a CCTV camera in place to watch over the sheep, a modern day shepherd if you like, caught Lottie a Llanwennog sheep using her tongue to unbolt the gate. Apparently Lottie, now nicknamed Ewe-dini, and 3 of her sheepy friends would escape every night! Staff have had to put a brick in front of the gate to stop her and her friends from eating all the hay and causing other mayhem.