Best part of being 'just' a nanny..

I'm not forced to be part of the Mummy Crew whilst waiting for my kid at ballet.

Being 'just' a nanny at times doesn't feel wonderful, but today means I'm exempt from the world of 'so how are you getting him into X school?' ... 'are you doing yoga? I've lost ten pounds'.. 'our next vacation will be Europe.. *gloat brag gloat*

Another stressful weekend..

BNAD watch

BNAD was at school pick up. Again.

I announce it every time and sound shocked.
That he reappears on a daily basis to collect his child from school.
Nothing radical Nicole, nothing at all. 

He was just there, smiling away at his kid. Geez, so pretty.. Anyway, there was a point to this post..

Things are getting a tad ridiculous. 

I glance at his ring finger, his hand is in his pocket. 

Ten minutes later I look again. An unfortunately located bush is blocking my view. ONLY of his HAND. 

Come on now.. 

New day, New dawn

It's 2013. (How did that happen?)

I haven't written in an age, yes, I'm aware.
But for those of you know me well, lets be honest, goldfish attention span here, its a wonder I kept it up as long as I did.
However, I am back.

Here We Go.

U P D A T E S - pay attention people, we are not stopping for breaks..

- I went to Hawaii for Christmas with the family I work for. It. Was. Lush.
- It was kind of hard, first Christmas away from home and all, but guess what, I got over it. I. was. in. Hawaii.
- I got stung by a jellyfish. In. Hawaii.
- Flew home new years eve. Partied the night away in San Francisco with my main girl, M
- Mormon hangover new years day - dragged my pounding head to a joyous brunch with friends (Why is brunch so early, WHY)
- Normal life resumed, which I still adore.
- California is actually capable of getting cold (real, proper cold) and I got sick. Boooo
- I haven't been running since before Hawaii. Disgust. Shock. Horror. (in all seriousness I feel these things, and normal schedule will be resuming tomorrow)
- I went on a Night Hike. What is that, you ask? It is a situation that every city girl has always avoided in life, ever. It went against all natural given instinct to voluntarily walk into the pitch black woods at night. For a casual stroll. Obviously I wasn't alone, I have no death wish. My company was well versed in the Great Outdoors (knows where North is and everything) big, terribly American, handy with a gun. (Precautions must be taken, after all.*) The hike was great, so quiet and chill. City girl likes.
- City girl also went rock climbing. Well 'bouldering'. Had I ever heard this term before the day I did it? Of course not. You want me to walk up to an actual, real boulder. And climb it? I mean, you want to get from East Ham to Bond Street on the tube, in rush hour, in under 30 minutes, I'm your girl.
But a boulder?
Anyway, I did it. And it was pretty dam cool.
- Furthermore, in March, city girl is going on a Tahoe trip for my first SNOWBOARDING lesson, hells yea.
- Realised that Londoners have something in our DNA which makes us feel like utter failures when we miss a train. This occurred the other day, and I had to wait 26 minutes for the next one. TWENTY SIX MINUTES. Couldn't face my reflection in the mirror for days.
- I visited Tom & Tasha (friends from Reading, who now live 30 mins away - surreal doesn't cover it). Such a great time!!
- I continue to stalk beautiful men, unashamedly, on the regular. I saw Beautiful Native American Dad at school pick up, again. I almost dribbled. I then spent a good portion of time ogling his ring finger. Irritatingly, he was carrying things, thus concealing said finger. RING OR NO RING beautiful man?! (BNAD's marital status will be provided as discovered). On the train yesterday, was a second wonder to behold. Caramel skin, DREADLOCKS, GREEN EYES, and, he was reading. An actual book. I hope that you, reader, understand the beauty, value and rarity of the above combination. The mind boggles.

Ultimately, behind all the guff I spout, I'm still having an incredible time, and above all, staying British.
Until next time my loves..
Roll on 2013!



*He did not actually have a gun on him.

Miss Representation.

Met a man at a Christmas party the other night. After talking to him for 2 seconds he said, with the most arrogance I've ever heard..

'You don't need to do anything else, you've already seduced me with your voice, let's go.'

Most certainly popping on my feminist hat right now.

That comment is everything wrong with the world today, specifically male attitudes to women, and media portrayal of women. I recently watched an amazing documentary called Miss Representation, discussing these issues. Their over-sexualisation and objectification in media, the subsequent impact on society, how women are treated as a direct result of media representation.
It's all quite sickening. But knowledge is power, baby.

Back to the party, Mr Charmer (and I am not at all suggesting the view of this loser reflects the entire sphere of male opinion) is obviously under the impression that as a woman, I am present for the sole purpose of looking hot/flirtation/seduction. With the end goal of hanging off his arm, trophy style/him getting some action.

Where does he get the idea, the tiniest shred of notion that not only is it okay to have these ideas, but that it is acceptable to unashamedly mention them in conversation?

In my opinion, the answer is, Media. Women are so openly trashed on tv, books, the Internet and film that I struggle myself to see their portrayed purpose beyond looks, sex, and male affiliation.

It's all well and good for the adult women of the world (though research shows we have a truckload of image issues ourselves) but I worry for the girls and teenagers.
The 8 year old anorexics & 14 year old self harmers immersed in a media world portraying images of women, faces and bodies they could never live up to.
Honestly, I could write about this for a lot longer. I know there's no quick fix, by a long shot. But Jennifer Siebel and her documentary make a hugely positive start.

Get involved in the movement: MissRepresentation.org

Here's the trailer: MissRepresentationTrailer

Twitter: #NotBuyingIt to name & shame sexist/offensive media  MissRepresentationTwitter

This Week I..

was inspired - kids books are my sole form of literature so clearly I'm biased, but that's deep! 

made my first vegan cake - carrot cake for M's birthday 

vegan food is disgusting. this tub literally tasted like car grease 

went to Oaklands Art Murmur/First Friday - a street festival carnival art thing. amazing. 

drove highway 1 and saw the most gorgeous beaches, bays and coves

Great 7 days!

'fat nation'

Running four times a week, swimming twice a week, pilates twice and occasional yoga.

Exhausted, but mega paranoid about getting fat here.

.. That should do it.