tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:17:39 +0000http://lanyons.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)Blogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-6508586886300728298Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +00002009-12-14T07:00:04.164ZPot LuckHolidaysTabby and I were reading/singing her new book The Twelve Days of Christmas when we came upon the fourth day and its four "colly" birds. What?! Isn't it "calling" birds? Was it a misprint?Of course, I turned to Wikipedia for answers and, to my shock/horror, it IS "colly" birds - originally. A colly bird is another name for a blackbird, apparently. But nowadays most people sing the "calling" bird http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/12/4-colly-birds-other-misunderstandings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-8079848371252942642Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:00:00 +00002009-12-13T19:06:33.066ZTabithaFor the past couple of months Tabitha has been simultaneously attending two different ballet classes to determine which one she prefers.Her Monday class has proven to be more popular than her Saturday class - especially for Mommy, who is not a fan of getting up early on the weekend if it can be helped.So it was with a thankful heart today that Edward and I attended her final Saturday ballet classhttp://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/12/ballet-finale.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-5987259599817098639Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:20:00 +00002009-12-11T13:09:53.515ZFavsPot LuckApparently, during the holiday season, sales of premium toilet paper go through the roof as people try to impress their guests with the good stuff.This fact surprised me because, when it comes to toilet paper, I've spent the majority of my life in blissful ignorance. I mean, what kind of geek contemplates TP for more than two seconds?A geek like me, that's who! At least nowadays. But it wasn't http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/12/neurotics-guide-to-tp.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-1237438612429313624Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:57:00 +00002009-12-11T10:39:33.555ZTabithaThis year Tabitha was Angel Gabriel in the kindergarten Nativity Play - just like last year. But she had a lot more lines this time. Luckily, she was allowed to read them. She did a brilliant job! And looked so... angelic!http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/12/school-nativity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-8187218827582566443Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:02:00 +00002009-12-07T21:15:48.948ZBritainFamilyHolidaysToday the kids and I headed over to Rochester for our annual visit to the Dickensian Christmas Festival.Dickensian characters, fake snow, Christmas carols......great music, booths, parades......Santa, shopping and the smell of Christmas in the air. What more could you ask for?I love this festival!But not everyone was in such a festive mood. Dakota was having another "teenage moment" (as Tabs and http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/12/dickens-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-1325860097407124209Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:44:00 +00002009-12-06T17:29:08.404ZWeird SignsTwo words I never thought I'd see together; Sexy and Wigs!I love how this packet of Pickled Onion Monster Munch (don't knock it till you try it!) has "New" in its upper left hand corner crossed out and replaced with "Old"!Trust a schoolboy to find a sign in a museum with the word shag on it! Sorry about the quality of this photo - though it does kinda add to the whole druggy theme on "Cokayne Avehttp://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/12/weird-signage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-7573194365788511634Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:17:00 +00002009-11-29T15:13:37.548ZFamilyFoodHolidaysPros:Grocery stores aren't packed Cons: No days off There's no such thing as pumpkin pie (not even Libby's!) Only had two relatives over (Edward has a severe lack of relations) People look at candied yams with disdain (though not as much as pumpkin pie)Except for "no day off", Edward thinks all my Cons are Pros!All the Lanyons except me hate candied yams, green beans and pumpkin pie, so last yearhttp://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-abroad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-2033134608894945547Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:44:00 +00002009-11-23T09:58:34.681ZFamilyHolidaysWithout Thanksgiving to look forward to, the holiday season gets underway a bit earlier in Britain than in the States. And every year thousands of Brits invade Lapland in Northern Finland to soak up the festive atmosphere of the mythical homeland of Father Christmas. But it's expensive, freezing cold and bad for the environment (since people often just fly out for the day).So, a few years ago, http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/laplanduk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-1252494764105023150Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:39:00 +00002009-11-22T13:49:49.515ZTabithaHolidaysYou know Christmas is on its way when they start handing out the parts for the nativity play. With no separation of church and state in the UK, nativity plays are pretty standard. In fact, all the grocery stores carry their own line of costumes to cope with demand. This year Tabitha landed the part of Angel Gabriel - again. At least we've already got the costume from last year!Today was Children http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/in-festive-mood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-8050879811258465828Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:17:00 +00002009-11-17T14:41:50.234ZPot LuckDakotaSick of always smelling like some kind of flower, herb or girly perfume, Dakota put his foot down last time I was shampoo shopping and insisted that we search for something a bit more manly.But, to my surprise, there was NOTHING! Sure there were studly soaps and macho body washes but EVERYTHING in the shampoo department was girly in one way or another. Feminists rejoice - womyn have most http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/manly-shampoo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-7601758775709110661Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +00002009-11-15T09:21:53.914ZPot LuckWhen you think of those little plastic toys that come from McDonalds, words like tyrant, usurper or dictator probably don't immediately spring to mind. Yet, six months ago, Tabitha reached into her Happy Meal and pulled out a... Napoleon?!The only thing she liked about Napoleon was his horse, which she promptly yanked out from underneath him. The poor guy was left to stand in this permanent, http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/best-mctoy-ever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-1531818053336485389Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:08:00 +00002009-11-13T13:36:05.514ZPot LuckEdwardDaishaEdward and I have never been to a pop concert together... until tonight! And to make up for lost time Edward got us tickets to a mega-concert. It was a veritable smorgasbord of entertainment with 14 different acts, three famous comedians and two celebrity presenters!The whole evening took place at The Royal Albert Hall and was in aid of the British charity Children in Need. Demand for tickets washttp://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/children-in-need-concert.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-6760631848550370569Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:22:00 +00002009-11-16T22:39:03.671ZFavsFoodI LOVE a good cookbook. I'm building up quite a collection - well, enough to merit a kitchen bookcase anyway. But I'm not actually a serious cook, I'm just a wannabe - so it's really all just gastroporn for me. And, though I love my gastroporn, I've just given every, single one of my Italian cookbooks to the charity shop. No, I haven't gone off Italian, it's still my favorite, I've just found thehttp://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/silver-spoon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-3092107926455885139Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:12:00 +00002009-11-08T16:19:32.595ZFamilyHolidaysTonight our village celebrated my favorite British holiday! I love everything about Bonfire Night (aka Guy Fawkes Night); dressing up in hats, scarves and wellies, going to the parade, eating yummy sausages, watching fireworks from the castle and burning the Guy Fawkes effigy on the bonfire. It's all good, clean family fun! Not that I have anything against Catholics, mind you.Tabitha has always http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/bonfire-night.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-6909258286752161023Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:09:00 +00002009-11-08T11:06:13.867ZTabithaTabitha and I just got back from an extremely girly night out at one of those Disneyfied ice shows. Having never been to one before, I had my reservations because, despite the fact that I'm getting girlier as I get older, I'm actually a tomboy at heart. I didn't know how I was going to get through two whole hours of puffy, pink, sappiness... on ice!But, I have to admit, I loved the puff, I loved http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/disney-on-ice-princess-wishes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-1835017198369650501Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:07:00 +00002009-11-05T18:48:51.054ZPot LuckEven one black sock, however small, can have a devastating effect on a load of whites.http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/11/lesson-learned.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-9076635896058420535Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:59:00 +00002009-11-08T14:29:48.556ZBritainFamilyHolidaysWhen I asked Edward what he was going to be for Halloween this year he responded with, "disapproving!"That basically sums up the general British attitude towards Halloween despite the fact that they're the ones who invented the holiday in the first place! I kid you not, a substantial proportion of the population actually believes that Halloween is just another form of begging. They crack me up!http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-5194235954623673826Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:38:00 +00002009-11-11T13:04:04.612ZProjectsMy Mom was the creative inspiration behind this gorgeous trio. She used to whip up great stuff like this all the time. She's the most imaginative person I know. So a few years ago, in an attempt to recreate childhood memories, I asked/forced Edward and Dakota to help me put these frightful figures together - and I loved how they turned out! They're still among my favorite Halloween decorations tohttp://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/witchy-women.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-2327028376617688955Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:23:00 +00002009-11-06T15:44:13.383ZBritainFamilyVacayHalf-term again! Time for the kids and I to go on our annual holiday with Edward's sister, Eleanor. This year's destination was the Peak District - a beautiful National Park in the heart of the UK. Day 1We set out on Saturday morning, after Tabitha's ballet class, and stopped off at Warwick (pronounced War-ick) Castle along the way.Warwick has got to be Britain's most Disneyfied castle. It's fullhttp://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/peak-district.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-5797210465691402395Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:55:00 +00002009-11-03T14:32:52.709ZFavsYou know how Goldilocks goes around trying out all kinds of stuff that doesn't work or keeps breaking down on her? That's how it's been for me from the day I became responsible for buying my own household appliances. The whole experience has been a vicious cycle of disappointing performance, frustrating breakdowns, useless repairmen and more lame products.But fairy tales have happy endings so, http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/few-of-my-favorite-things-household.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-6115813519671791869Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:36:00 +00002009-10-20T21:26:39.632+01:00BritainAs a perma-tourist in Britain I'm always oohing and ahhing over things I find quaint (The Brits hate it when Americans use that word). At the moment I'm finding doorways quaint. So, recently, and at the risk of looking like a stalker, I've been taking stealthy iPhotos of cute doorways in our area. Here's a little sample:I think a Hobbit left the Shire to set up housekeeping here. Even Tabitha http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/local-doorways.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-8270803944416772536Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:19:00 +00002009-11-15T08:35:36.310ZDakotaEdward and I try to keep the kids guessing. We like to think the element of surprise gives us an edge. Punishments are a particularly enjoyable aspect of this parenting style because they give us a chance to get really creative. It's especially fun with our teenager. So much so that it's almost hard to wait until he re-offends!Dakota's misbehavior regularly results in adorable little things like http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/pink-punishment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-2743994441450311542Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:07:00 +00002009-10-05T13:27:45.305+01:00FamilyOn our walk home from lunch at a local pub we stopped by our village park to enjoy the autumn sunshine. We had the place to ourselves so Tabby stayed in the playground while Edward and I tried to kick a football past Dakota in goal.It was all going well until Tabitha announced that she needed the loo - and it was "desperate".With nowhere else to go we had to resort to the bushes on the perimeter http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/wee-incident-at-park.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-3421651212695877469Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:45:00 +00002009-11-03T12:08:28.751ZTabismsTabithaTabby was noticing how she, Daddy and Dakota all have curly hair and gaps in their front teeth but that I don't. She turned to me, sympathetically stroked my cheek and said, "But that's OK, I still love you anyway!"The whole faux "Boy's Team vs. Girl's Team" rivalry we have going on in our house seems to have created an early feminist in Tabs. So much so that she's recently announced that she's http://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/10/tabisms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953856928033002919.post-7958087089678790738Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:31:00 +00002009-11-03T14:33:38.567ZWeird SignsA few more weird signs from my growing collection...The first two photos are really only funny to Americans.Helston, in Cornwall, is the "Home of the Furry dance", apparently. What a furry dance is, I have no idea! I love the "unrestrained" bit. It makes the livestock sound vicious!Hardy Exotic Plants ->Handy Erotic Pants. Someone in Cornwall has a wicked sense of humor.The last two signs are thehttp://lanyons.blogspot.com/2009/09/weird-signage-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Lanyons)5