St George’s Day

 April 23 is celebrated as  St. George’s Day in England.  In observation, many places are flying the white flags with this red cross on it, the flag of England.

My favorite radio station did a list of 102 great things that are English.  Which after reading the history about St. George, kind of made me laugh. St. George was Greek and one of the most prominent/important patron military saints.

St. George is the patron saint of England.  His cross forms the national flag of the United Kingdom.  Traces of the cult of Saint George in England pre-date the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. Edward VIII declared him the patron saint of England and protector of the royal family in the 14th century.

Saint George is best known in legend for slaying a dragon.  The legend says that a dragon guarded the water source of the people.  Sacrifices were made to the dragon so that the people could continue to get the water.  The people tried to sacrifice sheep, but if not sheep were found then a maiden was chosen.  The maiden that was chosen in the myth was the daughter of the ruler.  Saint George showed up and saved the proverbial day.  The dragon is said to represent the Roman empire and the water was Christianity.  These tales were brought back by the English Crusaders.

Who Saint George actually was is up for debate.  It has been postulated that it is George of Cappadocia, who was a bishop.  It is also thought that he could be a man that was born to a Greek noble family in Lydda, Palestine.  His parents died when he was a teen and he went into the military like his father.

Saint George is widely accepted though Christianity and is also well known to Muslims.  His history can be found though out the Middle East from Egypt to Asia Minor.  The myths and legends have become some what of a composite of characters with elements from the Biblical Quranic and folklore sources an at times being partially identified with Al-Khidr.  St. George has patronages in 19 different countries.

St George was venerated as a martyr and was made a saint in 494 by Pope Gelasius I.  There is a chapel in Bala Jaita, the Christian quarter of Jerusalem that is visited by Christians and Muslims alike.

Interesting Sites in Paris--Mostly in Pictures

The best of America drifts to Paris. The American in Paris is the best American. It is more fun for an intelligent person to live in an intelligent country. France has the only two things toward which we drift as we grow older – intelligence and good manners. -F. Scott Fitzgerald

I am lucky enough to be one of those Americans.... le sigh!

As you know this trip was not about sightseeing, but more to spend some time getting to know this city that we are going to living in or outside of soon.  I have to admit that I have a terrific love.hate relationship with Paris.  I absolutely love the city, don’t get me wrong.  I just hate entering the shops because I know absolutely zero French (slightly more then zero, but honestly not much)  In desperation I often lapse into Spanish and instantly get scolded by my sons.

We stayed in the 4th Arrondissement on this trip.  We were close to the Republique Metro Station.  Since we did very little sightseeing, we choose instead to soak up some of the city.  Here is some of the things that we saw...

 Right outside out flat was the Canal Saint-Martin.  The picture above is a boat going through the lock system.  Interesting fact, the canal goes underground for a period and it started above ground right in front of our flat.

 We found this absolutely wonderful Boulangerie/Pattissier on the way to the metro station.  They are an "artisan boulanger" which means everything is made from scratch on the premises, no frozen dough here.  Often places will have things delivered from a central location. Note to self, look for the "artisan boulanger" sign when choosing a Pattissier!  We stopped by every morning.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  The kids would order a fondant au chocolat and I would get a pain au raisin.  We also managed to get dessert one night as well.  Chocolate Eclairs, a pistachio macaroon, a cookie and a pistachio brest. It was so good that Liam said he was going to miss it when we left Paris.  I miss it, too!

Good-bye Favorite Pattissier, Aux Peches Normands!  The Bearys will miss you, we hope to visit you again soon or find one just as good in our own neighborhood!  If not, we know how to find you!

 This is the statue near the metro station.  It in the square of the Place de la Republique.  The beautiful building that you see behind it is part of the Crown Plaza Hotel.

 We thought these doors looked a lot like the Tardis!  Dr Who fans will know what I am talking about.  If you have not watched it, let me recommend you to start. We love it!

 I now know where to go to get my hair done when I want to bring back my 80’s style!!!!

 When I first saw this tiger, it was a quick glance and I panicked a bit because I thought it was real.  I stepped back for a closer look and snapped this photo.

 The green truck?  On the side walk is a guy cleaning spraying the walk with water.  Probably trying to clean up all the dog poo all over the ground.  In case you have not heard the horrible rumor, Paris sidewalks are full of dog poo.  We did spend time dodging piles.

 You can play table tennis at the local parks!  This park is actually over the Saint-Martin canal.

 An example of a new building next to an old one.  For the record, I prefer the older looking buildings.

 Paris is filled with Urban Art.  I am afraid that it is going to be an obsession of mine.  Be prepared for lots of pictures in the future.

On Saturday, we spent some time in a little park called Square Du Temple.  While we were there a Mercedes with darkened windows round the corner and laid on the horn.  I noticed photographers standing outside waiting as well, it turned out to be a bride and groom!

I will leave you with this photo... no real explanation needed... Awesomeness, just awesomeness.


A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life. -Thomas Jefferson

Schools In Paris

Last week Sean worked in France.  Since the company can’t seem to get their act together on sending us home or sending us to France to start planning our future, we decided to take matters into our own hands.  I made appointments with two schools and we went for a visit.

The first school we went to was the American School of Paris (ASP).  It was a beautiful school on a gated campus, just outside of Paris.  It is a complete school, offering all the grades.  That said, ASP is beautiful, shiny, new and scream America.  Including that 80% of the kids recently polled own a Mac computer and 20% own a PC.  We could live outside or inside the city because they have an extensive bus service with bus times varying according to scheduled activities after school.  They have a cafeteria that employees a French cook!  I can just send them on to the bus in the morning and then collect them when they are returning home.  Easy button, viola!

Enter International School of Paris (ISP).  They have two different places for the school.  My two older children would on a campus that is across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower.  They would have classes scattered between three beautiful, old buildings.  One of the buildings used to be an art school for women in the 1920’s.  Their work can be seen in the beautifully carved banisters in the stairway.  No catered meals as most kids bring their own.  No need to buy their own laptops though as the school has enough electronic devices (computers, laptops, Ipads etc) in classrooms that there is no need to buy one.   The lower school is two buildings that were once houses.  The school is wonderfully quirky.  It does not have a wonderful bus service.  My gut tells me that my kids will fit in their better here.

Both schools offers the International Baccalaureate Program for Oldest Son. In talking about his education opportunities, he has decided that an IB diploma would be best for his future.  He could go to a British School or even a regular American school.  He has a couple of different options.  I am glad that he is taking an interest in his options.

We left with a lot to think about.  The plan for now is to submit applications and wait and see what happens.

And The Baby Turns 8

Birthdays are joyous things and a little sad as well.  As I watch my boys get older and bigger, I wish that I could slow down time and cherish more time with them.  My baby turned 8 today.  It was a fun day and he was so cute about all of it.

He has been anticipating his birthday since the beginning of April, counting down the days and everything.  He made his birthday list for me and I shared it with my FABULOUS MIL and my SIL whom I shall call Super Gorgeous (she is Super Handsome’s sister!).  My FABULOUS MIL brought the gifts with her when she came.  

So, we started out the day with a trip to Saffron Waldron.  They have two mazes, one is a turf maze.  It is very old, records indicate that in 1699, 15 shillings were paid to have it re-cut.  Here is Youngest Son with the sign that tells about it.

Then we headed over to the hedge maze.  Super Handsome is standing by one of the entrances.  It was a beautiful day!  Sun at last!

As we were leaving I saw the Anglo-American WWII monument and decided to check it out.

 We continued with a nice walk though town.  The birthday boy decided that ice cream sounded really yummy!

We headed home for a late lunch, early dinner.  Super Handsome had to leave and go to France in the evening.  Youngest Son requested our home made Chick Fil A with fries for dinner.

Super Handsome is getting really good at making it!

 Here is the birthday boy with all his presents!

And here he is blowing out the candles from his cake.  Super Handsome missed this part of the evening sadly.  He had to leave to head to Paris for the week.  

He ended his birthday sleeping in the living room in a tent with Kid 3.  They have been sleeping in the living room for over a week now.  This is their last week of freedom before term break is over.  Sigh... it has been great to have them home.

Little Boxes....

“Never give up on anybody.  Miracles happen everyday”-- unknown

“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” – Les Brown

I have always been a believer in giving second, third.... numerous chances in life.  I am always grateful when I make a mistake that someone gives me another chance.  I am not perfect at all, I certainly have made my share is mistakes in life.

I resolved long ago that I would give people chances.  Even though I thought I was making every effort to give people chances, I realized recently that I have not always held true to my promise, as a necessity for my sanity.  Specifically, as I have made changes in my life, I have removed people out of my life that have caused unnecessary drama and conflict.  I have changed my relationship with others that I did not have the luxury remove.  For instance, one of the boys' teachers and I were not communicating well, so I sent Super Handsome in to do the parent/teacher conference.  It simplified her life and mine and it gave Super Handsome a chance to be more involved with the school.  Win/win/win!  That is just one of many examples.

I was crushed when my best friend, refused to give me a second chance.
What I have come to realize is that as painful as it was to loose her friendship, it was for the best.  If she can’t forgive me for what I did and realize that I was sorry and that I have changed, our friendship would never work.

Don’t put someone into a box.  It is one of those reasons that I am a firm believer in giving chances.  It is important to allow for changes and not lock someone into a "self fulfilling prophecy”, which is looking for anything in another person that supports your previous judgement and not be willing to alter those beliefs because it means that your opinion or knowledge will have to change.  Also, don't be a “framer”, "framing", or putting someone in a box and keeping them there, not really looking at the present, but basing all opinions on the past, or even the opinions of someone else. If someone is operating this way, they just can't see change.  

My former friend had put me in a box and would not take the time to see how I had changed.  As sad as it has made me, I understand now more then ever that if you find yourself in that kind of situation, you’re better off not being in that friendship.  They won’t let you be your true self.

It has made me realize that it is ok not to give someone a thousand chances, especially if they go out of their way to alienate you, lie, swear to other that they don’t want a relationship with you while painting you in a bad light to others.  I have not always behaved my best in life, but I have never gone to those extremes with anyone, for any reason.  I won’t ever treat someone that way and I am afraid that there is no room in my life for someone that does that to me either.

Go where you are celebrated – not tolerated. If they can’t see the real value of you, it’s time for a new start.” – Unknown

Samphire

Let’s take a break from our regularly scheduled crazy and talk about food for a minute.  Let me introduce you to one of my new favorite vegetables, it is called Samphire.

What is Samphire?  I found many names for it: Salocornia, Glasswort, Crithmoides, sea asparagus and sea beans.  It is an edible wild plant found in the salt marshes and mud flats around the world.  

Interesting fact, glass makers used to place their shops near where it grew.  It was important in glass making because when burned it becomes soda ash which is an important ingredient  for glass making.

It used to be found most commonly at the fish monger.  It has not always been a popular or fashion able vegetable in the UK, but now can be found at the big chain grocery stores.  I have some sitting in my fridge from Tesco.

It is traditionally served with fish. I usually steam it a bit and toss it with butter.  No need to add salt as it is salty, probably because it lives in brackish tide pools.  It reminds me a bit of asparagus.  It is a simple food with a simple taste!

Carless Wonder

I am carless yet again.  This time it was just how things had to happen.

When the trader that I bought Pepe from had the cambelt changed, it was discovered by the garage that there was an oil leak.  So, I got the car a little later, so they could finish the necessary repairs.  Apparently, it was not all fixed.  The first weekend we had the car we figured out really quickly by the puddle under the car that there was still a leak.  So, in the meantime I drove Super Handsome’s car and had my loverly minor fender bender....  GAH!

Pepe!  You are as crowded into this spot so ‘tightly’, another car your size could almost fit behind you!

Note the park job!  Super Handsome had given me a hard time earlier in the day about my parking, I said fine, you drive!  We all laughed hysterically when we looked at his handy work.  It was while we admiring his skills that we noticed there was a puddle of oil under Pepe!

Yesterday, Pepe went in to get his leak taken car of and in the process of fixing him, the garage broke the ABS senor off!  Oh bummer!  So, the garage needed to keep Pepe.  They had to order the sensor and put it back on.

Today the kids and I just spent the day doing virtually nothing.  They did some required exercise and played some video games.

In other news, the trader that I bought the used Nissan from has agreed to give me a refund.  I went to the garage where it is currently sitting with all the paperwork and keys and asked them to make arrangements for the car to be towed to the trader.  The trader has the right to inspect the car before they refund me the money.  They also asked for the car, keys, and all the paperwork to be returned to them as part of the refund.  So, I think that it should be delivered tomorrow!  Then, if all goes as I expect, the trader will send me a refund in the mail.

Which brings me back around to the point that I desperately need to open a UK bank account still!  Ugh!  That will have to wait until this weekend.  I just realized that Super Handsome left his birth certificate in the US and I am pretty sure he needs it to open a bank account with me, doh!

And The Crazy Strikes Again

The last few months have been a roller coaster for me.  Some of it I have blogged about and some of it I have been writing about in my journals.  I have to admit that I have been tempted to air it all on my blog, but I know in the end that that is not the right thing to do.  It won’t make the situation better.  Instead, I have used my blog and tried to focus on me and things that I have done and been doing to make myself a better person.  I hope that by writing about how I have worked to become a better person, it will be cathartic  for myself and maybe a learning experience for others.

I would like to thank those friends and family that have really counseled me through this difficult time and the hard decisions that I have been faced with.  The support that I have received from those that know me best has been incredible.

"You have a world full of people who love you...and, those of us who love you have come to do so by choice because of who you are".--M. Berkland

The craziness seemed to amp up for me when I had my first accident in December.  Most recently, the last three weeks have been super stressful.  Along with the crazy that was happening here, my sister from my husbands’ mother has had her own crazy to deal with.  Things would wind down with me and wind up with her.  We were stuck in a crazy cycle together and while I am extremely grateful that I had her and Super Handsome’s mother (and Super Handsome as well) to iMessage through the crazy.... I know that she and I are crossing our fingers, hair, toes and anything else possible that things go back to a regular kind of normal.  Yay for sisters from another mother!  I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to become closer to her and my FABULOUS MIL in the last year.  And an added bonus for me, they have really stepped up in my life when I have needed the extra support recently.

Despite my hopes, last week was kind of a downer week.  Super Handsome was in Paris starting his new job.  Personally I was hoping that it would be a good week.  I had a lot to look forward to as my FABULOUS MIL was staying in London with one of her good friends.  I was looking forward to dragging the kids down and doing some touristy things with them.  We ended up in London twice for short visits, the kids were not feeling all that well so we were not able to visit as often as we had hoped.  There has been a nasty tummy bug traveling though our house!

Then, on Tuesday after we returned from London, the crazies struck again.... this time I had a minor fender bender that was my fault.  The girl that I scraped started to get confrontational with me.  I thought to myself, great, she wants to get into a screaming match in the middle of a busy street.  I calmly diffused the situation and handed her all my information.  Sadly, I did not manage to get any of hers.

The accident really drove my anxieties though the roof (I have horrible anxiety sometimes).  Between my anxiety and the tummy bug (that was very persistent) we did not manage to go to London during the day, but we did go in and have dinner at a cool pub called the Sherlock Holmes.

My FABULOUS MIL and her friend left the next day.  The night before we had planned to come down and have lunch with them before they left.  The kids and I were going to do an activity in London after they left. Sadly the crazies struck again, as the tummy bug was still persistently sticking around my house and then things got a little hectic for them when their driver showed up 3 hours early.

I have had my share of the crazies lately, let’s raise our glasses together and hope for some ‘normal’ life!  I need the opportunity to stop dealing with the curve balls that life throws me so I can deal with the all important ‘to do’ list.  The taxes are looming!  Eeek!

Easter

We celebrated another Easter!  It was a different one from what we consider traditional in the US.  In the UK they traditionally hunt for chocolate eggs, prizes or even money. We hunted for chocolate eggs this year.

We could not color eggs again this year so we got creative and stickered and painted on them.  Here is some of out handy work (please note the stickered one have already been ate up, my apologies)

Here is an example of some of our handy work!

We were also lucky enough to have some special visitors to our celebration!  Super Handsome’s mother and her friend were staying in London.  They came to our house to celebrate Easter with us!  They arrived around noon.

We had a nice meal, Kid 3 really wanted to try lamb, so we roasted a lamb and we found a gammon to cook.  The gammon was raw, so we cooked it for reals. (in the US we always just heat it up as it comes precooked)

Super Handsome made the gammon, he covered it with a honey mustard sauce.  I was in charge of the lamb, I made a marinade with garlic, rosemary and olive oil.  They both turned out well.  We served them with Grandma Bearys baked beans and asparagus.  We also enjoyed some hot cross buns with our dinner as well.

Oldest son picked this out for dessert!