One gift down...

I hear the UK's been enjoying a bit of a heat wave of late. I called my mother yesterday and she and my Dad were relaxing in the garden - illicitly using my sister’s new garden furniture which is being stored at their house until my sister sorts out the purchase of her new place. They had one ear out for her coming through the gate and catching them. Apparently she wouldn’t be happy – after a disastrous attempt at making piña coladas. Piña Coladas?? The way they tell it is that the juice from the fresh pineapple they used curdled the coconut milk. Not surprisingly they also used way too much rum – less is never more when it comes to alcohol with my family - and the result tasted like ‘extremely alcoholic porridge’ so they ditched the cocktails in favour of pear cider.

Sometimes my parents put me in mind of a couple of errant teenagers left behind to mind the house while their parents are away on their summer hols.

All seems to be well with the pair of them anyway, although Dad’s apparently been nattering no end about that Qantas jet which was forced to land in Manila over the weekend when a gaping hole opened up in the fuselage. He’s definitely not a man who’s at peace with air travel, not that his discomfort stops him from flying, but when he does fly he likes to sit by the window and cast a critical eye over every nut and bolt. “That one looks a bit loose” he’ll say pointing to the wing; like he’s in a position to do anything about it. After the Qantas episode he’ll be insisting on inspecting the underbelly of any plane for rust and loose bits before he gets on board. My mother made me laugh when she said to him “What are you worrying about the Qantas plane for? You’re not up there, you’re on the ground y'dozy bugger!!”

Such is the affection between my parents ;-)

Speaking of flights I’m in holiday planning mode at the moment. Melissa and I have decided to forge ahead with the plan to go to Hong Kong - and perhaps Shanghai - despite my plan of going on to Melbourne for a Christmas down under being scuppered by my sister’s inconvenient return to England. I’m quite relieved to be honest; the flight to Australia was on the pricey side, but with my sister and family there I didn't want to turn down the opportunity to visit. My mother was asking this weekend if I’d like some money towards the trip as a Christmas gift or if I’d prefer presents. I opted for presents. “So what would you like for Christmas?” she asked!!

Christmas!!! Seriously mother, it’s JULY, I refuse to send you a list of what I would like for Christmas.

Honestly!!

Ironically I ended up buying Mum a Christmas gift this weekend, this was after the phone call and I think she’d put the idea of Christmas into my head. I was in Williamsburg with a few of the girls, we were planning to see the free concert with MGMT and The Ting Tings at McCarron Park Pool, but as we were in the ohhhh so very long line to get in it started bucketing it down, so we gave up and decided to go for a glass of wine instead. Wine was followed by dinner at this cute little Mexican place, Bonita, and a wander around the Williamsburg boutiques. We went in one store, PEMA where my mum had taken a shine to the Michael Michaud jewellery when she and my father were over for a visit earlier this month. I love his jewellery too, he's an artist who makes really pretty and delicate nature inspired pieces. When she initially mentioned it I decided I would go back and get the piece she liked for a Christmas gift, so since I was there I thought why not. One gift down, about 20 to go :-)