London Mayor Election

Yesterday evening I exercised my democratic right to vote! Boris or Ken?  

New iPad & App

Bear in a crisp white shirt with cufflinks, getting ready for work and brushing his teeth as he is reading The Times.  Sean is watching Peppa Pig on TV, and I am organising the apps on our iPads - just a regular week day morning here at ours :-)

Good morning!


We have just  welcomed the New iPad (3) to our household,  and this one is reserved for adults only – NO kid’s games allowed!

And whilst I'm on that subject, Spotify, the Swedish(!) music streaming platform-company, has after a very lengthy delay finally released an iPad app! As it's got a much bigger touch screen than the iPhone,  I think will will be ideal using it as the home music player. Check it out here!

Last week in pics

 

Surprise!

My darlings

Look who is here!
Guess how shocked I was when I saw my Mum sitting at our local Chipotle on Baker Street, where I thought I was meeting my brother for lunch yesterday. I just realised that it's been one month, to be precise (24th March), since we said good bye at Geneva airport after our ski holiday.
That I am happy is an understatement,  and Sean is over the moon to have his Grandma here :-) 

Denim DIY

I dug out my old denim jacket which is roughly 10 years old if not more.
After a couple of attempt in the washing machine I have now bleached it to the exact bright and summery stonewashed colour that I wanted.
It will look fab above a floaty dress or a pair of short together with wedges. Very pleased with the outcome, and it saved me a few quid as well, not having to purchase a new one :-)

The Mexican boatman

Below is a story that I want to share with you lot.  I first heard if from Bear back in 2007 when we met. He told me that it had quite an impact on him regarding the idea of work-life balance and your personal priorities. It's a beautiful story that really makes you think:

 

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.

Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."

The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish? 

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.

Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery.

You would control the product, processing and distribution

You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then?"

The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions. Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, Maria, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

Nursery

Sean by the nursery entry/exit gates today

Sean's nursery is beautifully situated in Connaught Village, in between gorgeous houses (check out the very pretty glass conservatories and white cherry blossom trees), and only abt two hundred metres from Hyde Park.  

It also has very heavy, tall gates that requires a secret four digit code to enter (provided to all parents), which from a safety and security perspective here in the centre of  London, is very reassuring for us as you can imagine!

Sleeping beauty

There are very few things in life as heart warming and gratifying as watching your child peacefully asleep. I never tire of watching Sean looking so innocent, lost in his own little world of dreams, but  so safe and secure in Mum and Dad's bed ♥

Today...

I started my day off by making myself my first ever cup of coffee made with our new Nespresso machine

 I had my little soldier kitted out in his brand new (Toy Story) arm and knee shield plus helmet that Auntie Keri got him

 .... I read several chapters of my newly bought book, whilst having a yummy but healthy outdoor lunch at the very lovely Coco Maya in Connaught Village

...and I dreamt myself away to warmer climates, as I booked and confirmed a family holiday in mid September, at the same hotel (and same room with a sea view) in Turkey as we stayed at last year :-)

Mandarin & Mari Vanna

On Tuesday night we went for a night out with my brother and Diamandis.  The evening started off with drinkies at The Mandarin Oriental

Erik had told us to arrange for a baby sitter that night, and had booked a table at the brand new Russian restaurant, Mari Vanna in Knightsbridge, as it was my delayed birthday celebration.

I loved it immediately as it was so charming and authentic with all the ornaments and old photographs, and clearly it's a successful concept as they have also one restaurant in St Petersburg as well as one in New York.

 

There were mainly the stereotype wealthy Russians there, but the waiters were very welcoming indeed and showed us their wide selection of Vodkas as we arrived.  We all tried a traditional Russian dish (chicken kiev, beef stroganoff, dill dusted boiled new potatoes and courgette fritters with smoked salmon etc) to get in to the spirit and let me just say, it was our first visit but definitely not our last! 

Emotional freedom

 The Maldives, October 2011

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. 

I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, 

tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, 

and I’m going to be happy in it." 

- Groucho Marx

A snippet of the last few days..

Happy Easter!

 With the long bank holiday weekend approaching, Easter is a time I think, to spend with your family and good friends enjoying yummy foods and eating lots of chocolate eggs!

I have just finished cleaning the windows, tided up, bought gorgeous long stemmed pussy willow twigs that sits beautifully in my tall glass cylinder vase.  I also moved the RL cable knit cushions and blanket from our bed to the sofa. In all honesty I didn't think it will look right as they are not as crisp white as the sofa itself, but I think it looks great, so they will stay.

Now we're just waiting for Bear to come any minute so we can start the celebrations! 

Warm and heartfelt Easter greetings for you and your loved ones

xxx

New and noteworthy

Yesterday I went to Selfridges to check out their home sale, with the intention of buying a new toaster from Dualit.  To be honest I didn't expect the one I had in mind to be reduced, so guess how surprised I was to see that it actually was!

However, it turned out they had none left, so I then proposed to buy the one on display with a discount.  The sales assistant told me she could knock off a further 20%, so in total I saved a whole £70 off the original price!

Sometimes you don't get things if you don't ask for it -  Need I say I left feeling very satisfied :-)

Last week's phone photos

a visit to my favourite London royal park - Regents park

Sean sporting his new red chinos

Visiting daddy at his City office  

Lounging at our country club

Two jolly souls heading for the usual babyccino and cappuccino at Starbucks

Shoe shopping on South Molton Street

Hanover Square Garden, after a visit to the Apple store on Regent Street

Vivien, who recently moved to Prague, blessed us with her company as she visited London for one day (only!)

As the weather was getting warmer I dug out Sean's reversible Spring jacket from last year

Nature's beauty (not me LOL - the pink Magnolia tree!)