Islamabad Blues

I miss Islamabad. When I lived there, I didn't much like it. More because I was in a constant state of rebellion against all things Pakistani. Now, I love it. I have to admit though, when we touched ground and had to go through the hassle of the airport, I did wonder why I had agreed on a trip to Pakistan.

Once we were out though, it was a whole different story. It was good to see the Margallah Hills in the distance, the tree lined avenues and experience the Islamabad rain. It did my heart - and soul - some good. I got to chat with old dear and darling friends; eat in old haunts; shop in my favourite shops in Jinnah and Super Market and discover new ones. Despite it's sleepy reputation, Islamabad is not at all a sleepy city to me. Neighbours were constantly dropping by with plates of food. The Boogster enjoyed himself and for the first time I saw my son's feet get really dirty (as in black soles). I took on Pakistani traffic and drove. The hubby and I ate Afghani burgers (Afghani naan stuffed with chips, sausage, chicken, various chutneys and a sprinkling of Islamabad dust). We discovered Saidpur Village. Ate some more. Found out you couldn't play ball games in F-9 park. Something was always happening.

I have the Islamabad blues.

Travelling with a toddler, Volcanic ash clouds and the long journey home

The hubby and I decided we should visit Pakistan over the Easter holidays as summer gets far too hot and my mother-in-law hadn't met her little grandson yet. I was very apprehensive about travelling with a little toddler - not quite knowing what to expect. I had read night flights were good for little ones as they tended to sleep through it and we were lucky enough that the flight to Islamabad was in the evening. When we boarded the plane the Boogster was asleep much to the envy of the two mothers on either side of me who had to contend with crying children. All I could do was smile in sympathy at them until, that is, he woke up and then would not go back sleep. The smiles of sympathy were then directed my way.

I and the hubby spent the next couple of hours walking up and down the aisle with him. He was so tired but he just would not sleep. Eventually, he was so tired he managed to sleep the rest of way and didn't wake up till we had landed.

We were due back on 16th April but then the volcano in Iceland erupted which went on to show how inept PIA were at prioritising passengers whose flights were cancelled because of it. I refused to bribe, upgrade or do anything that involved an exchange of money and would have still been stuck in Islamabad till at least 10th May if I had not agreed to fly to Manchester instead. And did PIA arrange for transport from Manchester to London? No.

The journey back home involved airport officials openly asking for bribes so our luggage would not be opened; baggage being x-rayed and checked 3 times; my son sleeping lots on the plane trip back (always good); visiting Manchester for the very first time and a very expensive cab journey back to London.

But as they say, all's well that ends well.

7 Teeth, Travelling and other things

It's been such a long time since I've time to blog. Since the last post, the Boogster is now the proud owner of 7 teeth; "winks" by closing both eyes; asks for random people's food and drink (when we're in lifts, in particular) and has started to copy words I say ("yuck" when I was changing his nappy and "crap" when I dropped my phone)!

We're off to visit "the other Lola" - his other grandmother - in Pakistan this April. I am not looking forward to the 8 hour flight. The boy can barely sit in the car for 20 minutes without complaining. So glad the hubby is travlleing with me.

School has kept me so busy and between that and trying to find ways to tire out my son so that he'll sleep through the night, I barely have time for myself. Roll on the holidays. Now I need to make a few phone calls and try to catch up with a few friends.

It's raining fluff...

...as one of my kids said the other day in the playground. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a snow day, meaning no school. That would mean an extra day off. The kids have been going a little crazy lately - it being the end of term and all. And I really need a break.

Having said that, the other day during golden time, one of the Year 3 children who had come to do some Art really made my day. I was going round looking at some of the cards the children had made when the message in one of them caught my eye. It read:

To my wonderfull self

I have made a card to me because I love my chuby face. I agmire my cheeks. When I look in the mirer xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

From B :)

(The spelling is all his).

I couldn't help but laugh. How cute is that?

Found

Places pegs have been found:
1. The bathroom
2. The fireplace
3. Under the sofa
4. Beneath my pillow
5. In the car seat
6. Underneath the tree outside our front door

Toddling, Pegs and Aeroplanes

For the last couple of weeks, the Boogster would only walk if he had
one of our hands tightly gripped in his own. Woe to anyone who would
let go! Stop and you're subjected to a mini tantrum. He loves walking
so much that it doesn't matter to him if he's falling over with
tiredness, he'd still be determined to walk.

We tried a couple of times to gently let go and he wouldn't have any
of it. He'd sit on his bottom, lean over so his head would almost
touch the floor and start pretend crying. That is until last Saturday.
I let go and he walked not one, not two, not even three but four
shakey steps to his grandad - big grin on his face. And now he's even
trying on his own. Today he kept pulling himself up using the edge of
the sofa and then toddle his way across the sitting room, arms out to
maintain his balance. He even stopped mid-step to turn and veer in
another direction. You would think with all this extra exercise he'd
start sleeping through the night but no. Still no sleeping through the
night for me.

The Boogster has also got some strange fascination for pegs. Wooden
ones to be exact. On his journey through the kitchen he always makes a
pit stop at the peg basket where he'll pick up a peg. If a plastic peg
makes it into his hand it's promptly dropped into the floor and he'll
go fishing for another till he gets a wooden one. Then, peg firmly
gripped in his hand, he'll start walking. Like you mustn't stop
walking unless he stops, you must NOT take the peg away. The boy can
have a peg gripped in his hand for half an hour without letting go!
It's become something like a security blanket. Pegs are scattered
everywhere.

Pegs aren't the only current favourites of the Boogster though. We've
found that every morning he likes to sit on the back of the sofa that
looks out onto the street. From this perch he'll survey the street and
more importantly the sky. He hears it before he sees it sometimes.
When he does, he points to the aeroplane and says "Ooooh ooooh". The
joy on his face is priceless.

Five Second Chilli Chocolate

Five Second Chilli Chocolate

On a not-so-recent trip to Lakeside I was enticed into Hotel Chocolat
by its gorgeous window display. The hubby is a chocoholic and also
wanted to have a "look around." We ended up going for the 3 for £7
deal and I thought I might try the 5 Second Chilli. I have to
admit, the sound of chillies in chocolate didn't sound appetising at
all. I'm not even sure what made me buy a pack. I love chillies (I
have 7 different types of chilli sauces) but chillies in chocolate? It
surely had to be horrible.

I have never been so wrong! Chillies and chocolate - pure genius.
There's just enough in it to leave a little heat in your mouth.