doitnowceciliasmith

Do it now: surprise my mum for her birthday!

To travel on Thanksgiving day is a dream - I recommend it to everyone.  Not only do you get out of all that cooking and eating, you travel with about 25 other people. Check-in was over in seconds,  there was a staff to passenger ratio of perhaps 6:1 at security, and the plane was empty!  I actually felt a bit sorry for the people in first class who paid 3 times as much for their seat than me, because I got to lie down TOO, (three seats to myself in the middle section all the way to Heathrow. Nice!).

So I arrived fresh as a daisy at 6:55am, and when I emerged from the train at Paddington Station, London was waking up.  It was still a little bit dark and that smell hit me. The familiar London smell of diesel and fresh newsprint, or something... I dont really know what creates it, but that smell is very uniquely London.

everything but the kitchen sink.

I was asked by someone recently if I had a suitcase that was 20" wide. I said I would measure mine and let him know.  I was badgered every day about it until finally I went up to the attic with a tape measure and measured the damned thing... It turned out to be just 18" wide.

do it now: being neighborly

Firstly I must apologise to any English readers....I know this isn't how we spell "neighbourly" in England, but I live in America now, so I have adopted some of the spelling, or misspelling, characteristics of this country.

There are 7, no make that 8, fire trucks outside my house right now.  Upon investigation, and correspondence (call it sign language) with my, mostly Brazilian neighbors I discovered that the house right next door to me had an electrical fire tonight ….with, get this, a minor explosion, none the less!  Where the heck was I?  I heard nothing.  There are about 55 people standing in the street from every neighboring household, and twice as many firefighters (they don’t do things by halves around here), and there I am obliviously watching a Ruth Rendell mystery!

I don't want to alarm any of you, but Electrical fires account for more than 67,000 fires in this country.  Take heed everyone, don't over load your outlets and check out the link above for more scary stats.

Do it now: phone your English Mum.

 It's Mothering Sunday today in England, I always forget, because in America it's in May, but this year thanks to Typepads "publish on" facility, I have previously written this and know it will be posted today!

I do feel guilty for not living in England on days such as these, but this year my Mum is well covered as she is spending the weekend with my brother and his family in London.  It will be my sis-in-laws first mother's day, which is exciting - I hope my brother has his act together and has the flowers, cards, chocolates, breakfast-in-bed routine down.... perhaps I should call and go through the drill?

Here's to all the Mummies of England getting thoroughly spoiled today!

Love you Mummy (I'll call you later!) xx

do it now: manners maketh the man

I was just flicking around on Facebook and happened upon my FB friend Alexis Tirado's status update in which she asks the question "are people who eat on subways or buses disgusting or simply hungry?"

It led me to her hilarious piece on bad manners in Time Out New York which I just have to share with whoever is willing to click and read - its short, and I think you will find it funny.

God I miss being in my late 20's and living in London!

do it now: receive a comment from someone you dont already know!

This is meant as absolutely no offense to my wonderful friends and family who I know have been reading this and without whose encouragement I would probably not have made it this far, BUT an exciting thing just happened.  I had a comment from mdc over at your daily cuppa!  HELLO mdc!..... I love that you could see that I was over at your place yesterday and that you took the time to visit me and that I feel like I am now a paid up member of a secret society, (sorry that I didn’t comment, I will!)

I know this happens to most bloggers every day and that perhaps in time the novelty of a new comment will wear off, ('though I dont think so!), but it's like your first kiss - I'm never going to forget mdc - I kind of wish I knew your real name but respect the anonymity, (I have the same trouble with this one as you do with reconnaissance), after all I might be some weirdo who wants to kiss you or something!

So “thank you” from your fellow tea drinking, chocolate munching, procrastinating, Mr. Men loving, non smoking, previous curly perm and bob wearing, Victoria sponge eating new friend, who also happened to have also once had a Saturday job in a newsagents!

do it now: wish you had discovered Aloe Vera

I tell you , that Anita Roddick, (sorry, DAME Anita Roddick – when did they make her a Dame?), from The Body Shop, was onto something when she discovered the healing properties of Aloe Vera.

Here come two Aloe Vera stories from my recent trip to Jamaica.

Aloe Vera Story number 1:

Feb  25th: The past two mornings I have woken up with a rather unsightly rash – first of all on my forearms, forehead and bottom  and then this morning on the backs of my legs and arms again.  Each morning I had everyone’s opinion on what it might be….

"Did I go in the water?"  Yes, went snorkeling on the reef……"then it must have been a jellyfish".

"Did I eat something…?"  Well yes, I’ve eaten a lot of things… "then it must be something you ate".
 
"Are you allergic to anything...?"  Don’t think so….. etc etc…

do it now: make some new friends part 2

And this, dear friends, is Harold Tomlinson.  Met him on the beach one afternoon, he is a friend of Ansell's, (the owner of the place we stay).

Look at that face ....

....go on, guess how old Harold is?...and guess when he last trimmed that beard of his?

From our brief conversation I learned that he is a wood carver and the knitted hat that contains his mass of dreadlocks is made from yarn from Germany.

He is going to Chicago and Wisconsin in June, to get new teeth – he is completely toothless right now.  He was hoping for four gold ones, but is only able to get one this time!  I told him he might be able to melt down one of his rings – he has a large well worn gold band on each wedding ring finger.  He said he “Kaaant do dat” because one is  "di 'usband “ and one is ”di wife”…..clearly far too precious to him to be used for something a trivial as new teeth.

Harold let me take a photo of his hands in exchange for a cigarette.

do it now: go on vacation

I'm heading south to get warm. I am taking my trusty laptop, but not sure about internet connect-ability (another made up word I think?), and most importantly - connection speed - where I am headed.  Hopefully I will be able to post and about my wonderful tan and make you all jealous! 

Check back soon .... or in the meantime  go to previous post which is a very funny video about PROCRASTINATION

Bye for now....

Oh and Happy Valentines Day everyone and Happy Birthday to friends Nicki and Abi today also . Big Kiss.

do it now: visit the Persian kittens

How completely exquisite are these creatures?  Just $1,000 each too.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) the kittens mentioned in yesterdays post are already sold.

Probably not very good "mousers" anyway!