amazing art

Genius artist Guido Daniele from Milan, paints hands instead of canvas - and to great effect!

almost over

As I enter the final month of my pregnancy, I must say wow - it's flown by! I don't know if it's because I'm busy with the other children, or because I still have so much to do, whatever the reason I am grateful. I've gained a respectable 16 lbs to date, so hopefully it won't take too long to get back in shape. I always felt sorry for friends who gained 40+lbs and then felt miserable about themselves post baby. They lost so much happiness stressing over what they looked like, instead of feeling the pure relief that comes from not being pregnant anymore. Oh and enjoying the beautiful baby as well! This pregnancy has gone fairly smoothly, in comparison to my previous traumas. It feels comforting being at the stage that if something happens and delivery is needed, all will be well. I'm looking forward to watching how my toddlers interact with the baby, and how the house suddenly becomes more love-filled and brighter following the new arrival. I can't wait to be able to take a full breath again and eat without getting heartburn. To be able to clean and tidy without feeling out of breath and dizzy. All in all in 4 weeks I will be one happy bunny.

bears

For starters let me say, I am usually against human and bear or any other wild animal interaction, so you'll never see me at a circus. That being said I just had to write something about this, partly because it's about a bear, one of my favorite animals and partly because that bear spent the last years of his colorful life in Scotland. Recruited by the Second Polish Transport Company during the Second World War Voytek was a bear like no other. Having lost his mother at an early age he was found wandering in the hills of Iran by the Polish. The men fed him condensed milk and let him sleep in one of their washing up bowls. He would cry when left alone and cover his eyes when they told him off. When he got older they trained him to carry mortar shells. After being deployed to Italy in 1944 to supply Allied troops with food and ammunition, the only way to take their bear with them was to officially enlist him - so he was given a name, rank and number. Voytek travelled in the munitions trucks, his head hanging out of the window, ignoring almost constant shellfire. His job was to deliver 25lb boxes of shells down the line. In his spare time he would wrestle with the men, and was said to enjoy the occasional beer! When the war ended he and his fellow troops were sent to Scotland and he lived the rest of his life in Edinburgh Zoo, dying in 1963. There's now a campaign under way to erect a permanent memorialfor the wonderful Voytek and I for one am all for it!

a warning for men...

I am not alone in my views. I know many women who are just like me, and will follow the same paths I do. It's who we are. It's what we are. You see, I believe in love. Not just love for the sake of love, but the pure, undying kind of love you see in the movies, and read about in history books. For this reason I will never have an affair. Don't get me wrong - lust is my life. But it can't be on it's own - there has to be love behind it. The true love-lust gives you butterflies every time you kiss that "one" special person. I know friends who married because they'd been together so long that it felt like the next step - the only step they could take. That isn't me. This is, remember, my second marriage - for very good reasons. I won't have affairs to satisfy my need - but I will jump, faster than you can say "bags packed?" I am not afraid of thunder. No one has dumped me since high school. I have been the dumper. And always, because I need the best of the best. I will not settle. You see we are the women who fly like eagles until we meet our fellow swans.

My new car

Lord have mercy on my bank account... hey what's a couple of million when you have a Bugatti parked in your garage!

a sight for sore eyes

Wow, is all I can really say! Imagine looking up at all the pretty normal looking balloons and BAM a big 156 foot high Scotsman flees past haha... that's so cool. This weekend is the International Balloon Festival in Switzerland, so Muir Moffat decided as he's quote 110% Scottish that this would be his ideal balloon! It's perfect.

Diamonds are a girls best friend

The massive Cullinan diamond, found on this day in 1905, weighing in at over 3100 carats, was the largest gem quality diamond ever found. The largest polished stone cut from the diamond is known as the Great Star of Africa which held the record until 1985 for being the largest cut diamond weighing in at over 530 carats. Bada bling for sure!

to all my fellow Scots

Have a great Robbie Burns Day! Have some Haggis for me, as sadly the only stuff I can get my hands on is the canned variety and it doesn't quite have the same ingredients due to the food laws here - enough said!

the end of a sad week

I wanted to post this excerpt from the death notice Heath Ledgers Father published in the West Australian Newspaper, because when I read it I cried.

"My beautiful boy, so loving, so talented, so independent, so caring, so young . . . no more chess games mate . . . this is it, couldn't beat you anyway! My body aches for the sound of your voice, our chats, our laughs and our life and times together."

I can't imagine losing my son. His due date was the 22nd January, the same day Ledger died, 3 years on. You aren't meant to bury your children. My heart goes out to the families of all who have lost sons and daughters. Family for me is the most important thing. As I get older, and slightly wiser, I realize this more and more. Every time I leave Scotland it gets harder to say goodbye to my family, my Mother and especially my Grandmother. I am so close to my 3 brothers, we can read each other without speaking. Maybe Heath Ledgers death is harsher for me because my cousin hung himself just a few years ago. He was around the same age, and had a daughter around the same age as Ledgers. He lived much of his life in Perth where Heath was born and raised, and he died there. Please God I wish the damned media would back the hell away from Ledgers. Seeing the funeral parlor on the news tonight surrounded by paparazzi was soul destroying. Even more so was seeing pictures of his body being taken from the apartment and watching his ex-fiancee arrival back to her Brooklyn home carrying their 2 yr old child. We, should never witness things like that. It's not our news. It's their personal and very private business. Let them grieve in peace for heavens sake.

June 21st 2008

That's my D-day re getting the baby weight off and my body back looking fabulous! I'm doing the mermaid parade in Coney Island. This will be my first year and could be the last parade until the renovations are complete, so it'll be a special occasion for all - I'm busy searching for tails as I type :-D

babies make everything better

In an attempt to now lower my blood pressure I have to post cute pictures, hah

Are you serious?

I mean are you fucking kidding me here?! Another one heading straight to hell - British man John Hogan has just been cleared - cleared I tell you - of murdering his son. Honest to goodness - put me in that judges wig. Apparently the fact that he has - oh you know mental problems, means that he in the words of the judge was "incapable of murdering his son and he needs to be in a psychiatric unit for therapy". The freaking idiot threw his 6 year old son from a balcony and then grabbed his 2 year old and jumped, saying he was "walking them to heaven".

the devil wears a Baptist shirt...

I just read that lunatic Fred Phelps is to protest at Heath Ledgers funeral as God hates the gays don't you know. And of course Brokeback Mountain was real and Heath was not acting in it. I guess his daughter was conceived immaculately. Idiotic Phelps will get the shock of his life when the one who opens the gates on his demise is wearing horns and a red tail. I once supplied 50 American flags to a group of bikers who ride at the side of soldiers funerals to keep this man and his like at bay. Maybe I can call on Christopher Streets finest and see if they'd like to form a rainbow and sparkles wall around his house so he never leaves it again.

from here to maternity

8 months in.... not long now (thank goodness) hah

RIP

They just found Australian actor Heath Ledger dead in his apartment in Manhattan. It would appear he died of a drug overdose. I feel sick. Not because I knew him personally, and not because he was of Scottish decent, but because he was young. And in my eyes it's always more tragic when a young life ends. One with a promising career, one with a young child. One with hope, and now hope is gone.

RIP 1979 - 2008

a beautiful life

All of these wonderfully colorful letters come from the patterns on the wings of moths and butterflies.

isn't it ironic? Don't you think?...

I discovered yesterday that J.M. Barrie's play Peter Pan opened in 1904 - on my Birthday! This is close to my heart because James Barrie spent his teenage years in Dumfriesshire on the banks of the very river I grew up around. He played pirate games with his friends, later going on to write Peter Pan based on these times.

wired..

So my MRI and MRA both showed no major problems, however my doc still wants me to get wired up next week to look for any sign of brain seizures. I'm hoping I won't need as many of them as this little angel. The 5 month old had 128 probes attached to her scalp to monitor electromagnetic brain activity, which scientists will use to gather information they hope could lead to a breakthrough in the understanding of autism.

what the hell

So I used to think the UK was the Nanny state, now the USA seems to be catching up! What with smoking and trans fats bans, alongside the genius idea to ban cold meds for the under 6s - what the hell guys?! So now every time my almost 3 under 6s have colds I have to trek off to the doctor with them to get a cough suppressant or decongestant? Oy Vey!

update

I have to go for an MRI and MRA on Friday then next week have electrodes strapped to my head to monitor brain activity :( My blood pressure spiked again tonight. The neurologist mentioned brain seizures here's hoping next week they say the magical words a la Schwarzenegger - it's not a tumor :)

the end of an era

Rent the musical ends on Broadway in June. I loved that show, so this news saddens me. They say all good things must come to an end, but I really think they could have gone on with it for years to come. I'm off out shortly for an appointment with a Neurologist. Although I can't have MRIs or Cat Scans hopefully they'll be able to come to some conclusion about the blurred vision and headaches I've been suffering from since my blood pressure spiked last week.

Captain Jack

As if I needed another reason to adore him, haha - not likely. I read this morning that Johnny Depp has donated £1 million to Great Ormond St Children's Hospital. Very honorable, especially after they saved his daughters life when her kidneys failed after contracting E.Coli last year. But that isn't why my love for this great man grew a little more this morning. It was on reading that last year he secretly visited the children in hospital dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow and read stories to them for four hours - how magical! The best part was this was done in private with no media circus. He is a true inspiration.

Where's the snow?

After reading for 3 days that NYC was to be hit with the first major snowstorm of 2008 I was quite looking forward to building snowmen with my son and taking some icy pictures. However it was not to be, as it turned to rain instead. It's January, I want my snow. The pictures I took in Central Park in a previous post were taken in April. The weather is crazy these days. Although more impressive than my snowmen here is a glorious sculpture currently on display at the Ice and Snow Festival in China. Standing at 115 feet high and 656 feet long, I bet it looks awesome to these tourists.

RIP Fish II

So tonight Fish the second passed away. We had him 4 days. To some people a fish is, well a fish. To me when any heart stops beating the world should stand still - even if just for a second. So as I scooped him up in an old Winnie the Pooh beaker, I sang a sad goodbye song, and flushed him back from whence he came. Now I have a Coldplay song running through my head, especially the lyrics "the light will guide you home". You see Fish IIs death makes me think of death in general. While resting my weary legs I watched some evening fodder. Runs House was on. It brought me to thinking about their baby, who died shortly after birth when she was born with her vital organs on the outside. I wonder how people can ever come to terms with tragedy like that. And more so, to have Rev. Run go on to be the strong inspirational man he is. I think with loss comes reasoning, if that makes sense. I think it brings you to look at things differently. Things are put in perspective. I hope I never have to deal with the same level of pain they endured, but if I do I hope I can grow from it and be wiser in the end.

who is Joe?

I can't live without my morning cup of coffee, or my 4 o'clock cup for that matter. But out of all the names there are for the brown gold just why the heck call it Joe? Turns out there's no clear explanation. The term goes back to the mid 19th century, and although there are many theories on it's origin it could just be that Americans at that time misheard the French word chaud, which when said correctly sounds kind of like Joe.

Sunset

Here's another beautiful photograph my Mum took of the sunset from her garden....

2 years ago today

Happy Birthday to my magical little girl Angelina :)

a 10 minute nap

...just turned into a 2 hour deep snooze, but boy did it feel good :)

one of those days

It's been a while since I had one of those days where everything seemed to go right. My bus arrived just as I got to the stop, the crosswalk lights changed to walk just as I went to cross the road. I had a good feeling, like I could tackle anything. Luckily this mornings ultrasound showed everything is well with the baby, except for her being upside down! I've spent the past few hours reading up on how best to position myself to give her room to turn, so I'm hoping I will avoid the horrible C word. She will probably be making an appearance in 6 weeks, which should give me just enough time to complete my to do list, which seems to get longer every day! Her current weight is 3 lbs 3oz.

Post 101

so it calls for a dalmation... and RIP to Fish, my beta who died this week :(

100 posts....

I wish it was a good one, but just an update. I spent yesterday in hospital with 140/97 blood pressure - they let me go when it hit 130/85, which is still super high for me. Today I have to go back to hospital for scans to make sure every thing's ok on the inside. I still haven't unpacked or caught up with the laundry. Feeling a little gloomy today.

Shameless Promotion

I've only been back a day but already I miss my homeland. Dumfriesshire is such a beautiful county, as is Cumbria where this picture was taken, which borders Dumfries & Galloway to the south. Before we left 2 weeks seemed like a long time to be away, but the time just flew by. It seemed more like 2 days. I didn't get to see many of my friends, there just wasn't time. It's my sons 3rd Birthday tomorrow, and as my youngest daughter turns 2 next Friday, we're throwing a big party for them tomorrow. I painted the babies room yesterday, in one day - 2 coats, even though I got up at 5.30am, I'm on overdrive at the moment.

Damn them to hell

If any other reason was needed to boycott the brain washing shows Dora and Diego then here it is. A 4 year old girl was found hanged, after trying to copy one of her favorite cartoons. In the scene Diego had been swinging round with what looked like a rope attached to his neck, and in an attempt to do the same, using her hair band, she killed herself. Rest in peace little angel.

7 months

Not long now until this baby makes her appearance. Here's a slightly more flattering picture of the beach ball. It feels good to be home, but now the heat is on to get the house ready for her arrival. Especially as my two previous children were 3 and 5 weeks early, oh and this one is measuring a month on, so my dates could have been wrong. So yeah, that means she could be here in 3 weeks. Argh.

Happy New Year

...and congratulations to my best friend of 27 years Nadia, who got hitched on New Years Eve. Here's the blushing bride with me and my big egg of a bump, in my not so flattering bridesmaid attire :)

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.

RIP Evel Knievel

October 17th 1938 - November 30th 2007

Have a dram for me

Happy St Andrews Day to all my fellow Scots. My parents are at a ceilidh tonight, and I feel a tad bit jealous not to be there too. And what with being sperminated there's no water of life for me either!