Making those tough decisions

It's been a long time since I last wrote, I have no real excuse. I've just been busy, busy, busy....I suppose that would be a good thing right?
The children are back at school again and so far (crossing fingers and toes!) no major traumas or tears although it's still early days yet.
The return to work has been an interesting roller coaster ride, to say the least. After 8 months out (yes, eight months is a LONG time) I managed to find my way back to the office last month and sat down at my desk as if I'd never been away. Happy to see my colleagues and friends, NOT happy to see that all the bad things about my job and about the office had not changed for the better. In fact, amazingly enough, they had somehow gotten worse...and in the worst possible way.
So a tough decision was made a little less tough when I received a great offer outside DHL. On the one hand I had to weigh up 12 years of seniority, being in my comfort zone, in an environment where I knew most of the key players, most of the normal pitfalls...to jump into a different industry, in a small but growing office, with people I don't know, and commuting to the centre of Brussels!!! I struggled with the decision over a few days but it was my husband who asked the right question: would I be happy doing this in the same way in 6 months time? And in my heart I knew the answer was no. So that's how I reached my decision.
Communicating that decision was a bit harder though!!! And of course the shocked reactions of my friends and colleagues hasn't made it easier...and the guilt of leaving my friends behind with the work.
But I'm going to be selfish this once and look after me. It wasn't easy but I'll learn to live with it, I'm sure.

Random Thoughts on a Thursday Night

So it's been awhile since I last blogged, I just wasn't feeling inspired or perhaps worse, I didn't feel there was anything worth writing about.
But then I realised, I can just write. About anything. So here are some random thoughts on a Thursday night.
I adore my children - they are beautiful, amazing and frighteningly a lot like me in many ways.
I'm happy the sun started to shine today. I just hope it will continue to shine.
I am looking forward to seeing my old schoolfriend Yvonne on Saturday - it has been almost 20 years since we last saw each other, and a last minute decision means she will be coming to Brussels for the day, so we will meet up for awhile.
I wonder how long it will take me to wean Alex onto formula. So far out of 9 days we've had 2 successful feeds - let's hope this is the start of the way things are supposed to be.
I hope that the new neighbours are not going to park that bloody lorry outside their house every day. Time will tell.
I really enjoyed that ice cream.
And now it's time to go to bed.

Matroushka pillow

Isn't this just adorable? This is the lovely cushion I "won" at the School Auction. It was made by the 2nd year primary school students and I'm happy I contributed to raising some funds for the school's new gym.

Now the big challenge is to find somewhere for this lovely cushion to live....should it go to Jemma's room? Or should it go to Alex's room? Or better yet, to our room? Can you see the dilemma I'm in and the tough decision I'm going to have to make?

Busy Saturday

Phew! It's nearly the end of the day and I'm just bushed. Hubby is out at the annual Rugby Scrumdown dressed as a gladiator (I kid you not). So I'm home alone with the three children, and I'm hoping they all sleep well and let me have a peaceful evening!



What a day....was up early this morning to get my daughter to school on time for the pre-show preparations. Le Verseau, the school my two older children attend, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The kindergarten children put on an amazing show - the choreography, costumes, set and energy were incredible - I was very impressed. Also very impressed with my little girl who had a wonderful time on stage, even if she had her hand in her mouth most of the time (she was being shy!!). Had no idea after the second performance we were expected to attend an all-school sing-along, we just happened to be in the playground on the swings when I was asked by another parent what time we were expected back!!! Anyway, off we trundled back to the kindergarten area to leave the children with their teachers for the big sing-song.



All in all it has been a good day. My daughter really enjoyed herself. It was also nice to talk to people I don't often have the opportunity to see, and to catch up on their news. It was a shame my older son couldn't be there as his class had worked very hard with their garden and it was really beautiful.



But while we were busy at school, the boys were near Liege at the Belgian National Finals (rugby). By all accounts the boys played well even if they didn't win. I'm sure this evening at the Scrumdown they will be dissecting the games and reliving the glory moments....



Just got a text message from one of the teachers telling me my bid for a cushion won the art auction so I can pay and collect my prize on Monday. I haven't told hubby I made a bid, didn't think I would win!!! But it's all for a good cause - the art that was being auctioned was all created by the children in the primary school, to raise money for the new gym. Can't wait to collect the cushion and bring it home.



Now the question is, where to put it?

End of the week

Yes, it's the end of the week, and in some ways it seems like a short week, in others it seems like a long one. I know, I'm not making much sense. Must have something to do with the amount of sleep I'm getting at the moment.

I'm going to complain about my soon-to-be-new-neighbours across the road. Don't get me wrong, it will be nice to have people finally living in the house after 18 months. But if recent activity (and by recent I mean the last 5-6 weeks) is anything to go by, then the entire street serves as a carpark for their friends and visitors. I know they are doing up the house and completely renovating it from top to bottom, and they are lucky to have friends who are helping them do it. But when I can't even park my car in front of my own house or turn my car around then I get a bit annoyed....and the irritation becomes like an itch that just needs to be scratched when a lorry parks across the road.

The first time it parked there I thought "wow, they are moving stuff in already". The second time I thought "they must have forgotten a few things the first time". Now every day the blasted thing is parked out there, sometimes it's just the cab, othertimes it's the full kit and caboodle!!! I keep looking around thinking maybe our house has been lifted up and dropped down in a service station or something! Now I know I'm being ungracious, but this is a quiet and calm neighbourhood (on the whole) and if he drives the lorry (which he clearly does) then I have a sneaking suspicion (more a dread) that this lorry will be around a lot more....and I don't like it! But what can I do? Suggestions on a postcard please!

Tears at Schooltime

Tuesday mornings are always better than Mondays.
You've already gotten over the shock of the start of another week, and you know you're one day closer to the next weekend.
Try telling your three year old that when she doesn't want to go to school. She doesn't care what day it is, unless it's a weekend when she can excitedly announce that she's " not going to school vandaag" (today in Dutch). We had hoped the tears and unhappiness would have subsided a bit, but every morning when it's time to say goodbye in the classroom, the giant teardrops come rolling out of her bright blue eyes, the lip quivers and the arms come up for me to pick her up. And then the screaming " Mama, mama, mama..." which echoes in my ears for a long time even after I've left the school.
I remember my older son having difficulty settling into the school when he first started in kindergarten all those years ago. Like his sister, he went from a Dutch speaking creche to a French speaking school, where suddenly he didn't understand a word. And within a few months he was speaking French, fully integrated into his class and having fun at school. I keep hoping it will all fall into place very quickly for our little girl. It breaks my heart to see and hear her crying this way.
I guess with every passing day things will get easier. At least this is what I keep telling myself. And her. Let's hope she believes me one of these days.

Saturday morning

The boys headed off a short time ago to their rugby training camp. They're off to Westmalle, to stay near a monastery which makes Trappist beers. The hubby swears they're there to play rugby but I have a feeling some beer will be consumed - after all it would be rude not to right??? Am sure they will have a great time, just hope the team comes back with no broken bones / injuries! It would be a real shame as it's the Belgian National Finals next weekend, which is the reason they're on this training camp to begin with!

I'm at home with my little lad and my 3 year-old daughter. She's busy enjoying the last remants of her Easter egg whilst watching Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel. Very entertaining for me as everytime the Chipettes sing, she leaps off the sofa and dances and sings with them. She really loves to dance and it is very cute the way she wiggles her hips and waves her arms around. She calls it dancing like a ballerina....

On that note, the next show is about to begin.....