What I Wore Wednesday

Normally I am the kind of woman who travels in a t-shirt and sweatpants that say Hello Kitty on the ass--classy, I know. I've always put comfort over style on planes but I as we didn't have seats together and I think airline staff tend to be nicer if you look nicer I decided to try and combine comfort and style. Of course this plan was thwarted as I couldn't find my leggings so I threw a bit of a concoction together. I know the pants don't tuck into my boots well but I didn't have any other option.

I hot rolled my hair the night before. We were leaving the house before 6:30am so showering the night before was essential. I took out the rollers and slept on it without picking out the curls. It meant my hair actually had a lot of volume the next day (can't tell from the photo) and when on the plane I twisted it up into a clip which meant when I shook it out  14 hours later my hair still looked surprisingly good.

I'm wearing a maternity top, no I'm not pregnant. I wanted a long, loose t-shirt that was baggy so in a pinch it totally worked. I don't normally wear maternity tops I promise. So here is what I wore!

Apologies for the crap shot in the middle of Frankie and Benny's at Glasgow Airport

Hot Rolled Hair- Spin Daily

Glasses- DKNY

Fearless Tiny Skull Studs- Dogeared

I heart Ohio necklace- Truche

Black T-shirt- Liz Lange

Black Kick Flare Pants- Express

Long Grey Cardigan- The Gap

Black Boots- Sketchers

  

Credit Made Clearer

How many people do you know who don't have a credit card? I will be honest with you-with the exception of an Express Store card (from when I worked there for 2.5 seconds) I didn't have a credit card until I was 27. I got two credit cards to help cover wedding costs like flights, hotels, etc. The big stuff. Credit cards in general scare me. I always pay them on time (unless you count the one time I was late on the Express card but I got out of it because my mail was diverted because of Anthrax) for the fear of late fees.  I've paid off one of the two cards and in a perfect world I would get rid of them both.


This isn't a perfect world though and if you use them responsibly credit cards can be good, especially as an expat. If I needed to fly home at the drop of a hat, chances are I'd need to buy a ticket using a credit card. Not to mention that building up credit in a new country is essential when you want to get a mobile phone contract, overdraft or mortgages.


I met up with some other bloggers and the lovely people from Capital One in London last week and we had some really interesting discussions about credit. It's definitely interesting how people view credit based on their age, nationality and circumstances. We all agreed though that the vast majority of people don't really have a grasp of how to use credit responsibly.


Capital One has produced a series of helpful videos called Credit Made Clearer to help dispel the myths, clear up the jargon and help you make the most of your credit card. Learn all about credit, how to prevent ID Theft and credit card fraud. And if you're having problems repaying, you'll find some helpful information and support.


The videos are easy to understand and even give great travel tips, like always get currency before you head to the airport since you'll get a poorer exchange rate there (I always get my money from Cheque Centre; random but they nearly always have the best rates). 





Obviously if you need genuine financial advice about specific issues you should speak to a qualified financial advisor but the videos are a great place to start and would be excellent for helping a young adult understand credit.


Transatlantic Blonde was compensated for her time but all opinions are her own.

Mamas and Papas Sleep Travel Cot

When we rented the villa in France we knew there wasn't a cot so we jumped at the chance to review Mamas and Papas Sleep Travel Cot. If you've not heard of Mamas & Papas they specialise in a range of stylish, but functional products for mothers and babies including pushchairs, maternity wear, car seats for babies and others that are suitable for up to age 12.


Blondie Boy had slept in a Pack and Play (what Americans call travel cots) when we were in the US last summer but not since he's when walking and climbing so I was a bit worried about if he'd actually stay in it. 


Well my fears were unfounded. If I'm honest I assumed the only reason Blondie Boy doesn't climb out of his cot now is because he wear a sleeping bag at night so he physically can't; well he slept in the Mamas and Papas Sleep Travel Cot without a sleeping bag and stayed put.  Not only did he stay put but he was PASSED OUT.


He's all crammed up in the corner but that's how he sleeps in his cot at home too, weirdo.  It took a wee bit of getting used to but the cot was easy to put up and down and obviously comfortable for a wriggly toddler, too.


My only complaint is the travel bag. The bag itself is quite flimsy, especially when you consider this is a product which is specifically designed for travel. The bag was ripped by the time we landed Barcelona. Perhaps if the bag was better quality or even if both the handles could be secured together (we speculate a baggage handler grabbed by one handle at that's how it ripped) it wouldn't have ripped.

All in all though I would highly recommend it as the cot itself is extremely sturdy and while the bag took quite the battering the cot itself survived intact.  The Mamas and Papas Sleep Travel Cot retails for £90 but is currently on sale for only £69.


Transatlantic Blonde was provided this product for review but the views expressed are my own.

Things I "learned" on Holiday

-I can live without regular internet, but I don't want to live without regular internet access. I like not being on the laptop but I missed talking to my friends and family and knowing what's going on in the world. There has to be a happy medium between too much and none.


-I don't really like wine. Sure it tastes nice sometimes but I'm never going to be that person who tweets about how they can't wait to get home to a glass of wine or who sniffs corks and all that. 


-When it's toddler skull versus adult face, face will always lose. A headbutt to the nose (which left me vaguely concussed) left my nose swollen for two days and then Blondie Boy tripped on NBH and landed noggin first on my cheekbone. Cheek is just now starting to be less tender. I can only foresee more child inflicted injuries in the future since the two of us are both accident prone and he's a wild ass.


-I not as much of a fat ass as I think I am. I'm not skinny but I'm not as big as I think I am in my head.

-I've got an amazing husband. I still can't believe he found sunglasses for my birthday based on me saying I tried on awesome "diamanté Karen Millen shades" at Manchester airport. He got the EXACT ones I wanted and that's just the tip of his awesomeness.


-It must be so frustrating to be Blondie Boy and only have some words and signs to communicate what he is thinking. My French is appalling and while I could ask for baguettes and pastries at the boulangerie and ask if something had egg in it, that was about it. It was really frustrating knowing that I couldn't communicate exactly what I wanted to say.


-I really want to move some place someday with proper summers. When I lived in the US I always wanted to live somewhere with an outdoor pool; I used to sneak into the apartment complex next to mine and layout at their pool. Having our own pool at the villa just reignited my desire to have a pool and to do so we are going to have to move some place warmer. I was a major pool rat growing up and Blondie Boy loves the water as well. Indoor pools are nice, but nothing beats swimming in the sunshine.

-I've got amazing inlaws. NotBlondeHusband and I were able to spend time in the pool together as my mother-in-law would take Blondie Boy when he'd had enough and dry/shower/dress him. Having BB's Grandma, Auntie Katie and John around to help play with or sit in the house while he slept was amazing. I can't imagine what a vacation just the three of us would have been like.

Bon Voyage

Today is Transatlantic Blonde's third anniversary! Thank you all so much for reading all my random ramblings; here is what Blondie Boy has to say:

Yup that's right: Thanks and Bye! We are jetting off to Barcelona today and driving to the South of France tomorrow!  I've got some great guest posts lined up while I'm away so please show them some love!  I've also got Feminist Friday (open theme) scheduled for next Friday so please come by! I'm sure I'll have some interesting posts when I get back including celebrating American Independence Day in France, oooh la la!

We'll not have internet so please be patient if you are trying to reach me via twitter or email since I'll be cut off from the twitterverse and blogosphere. Don't feel too sorry for me though as I'll most likely be sipping a frozen beverage with my feet dipped in the pool :)

(that is the actual pool I will be lounging by!)

Travelling with a Toddler

Tomorrow we are leaving on a proper vacation. What the freak makes it proper you ask? It's a vacation which has the sole purpose of being a vacation. Being an expat means that a lot of your vacations are actually trips to visit friends and family. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing them, but I'm really excited to being going on a proper holiday which for me includes a beach and our very own OUTDOOR pool!


This will be our third trip with Blondie Boy so I thought I'd pull together a list of what I think are must haves for travelling with a toddler. Some of these I haven't tested or tried yet, but like I said it's my opinions, not facts.

Trunki: Unless you've never been in an airport ever you'll have seen a Trunki; I saw at least ten over the past two weeks when I flew to Manchester and London. Not only are they ridiculously cute, but they are functional. Your child can ride on it, you can pull them on it while you use it to schlep their carry-on stuff on the plane. Blondie Boy has been pushing it around the living room all week so I can't wait to see what he does at the airport.


Salter Luggage Scales: I hate packing; I am always overpacking and don't even get me started on how I jam everything into our suitcase when we come home from the US (I may or may not bring an extra bag just for food). On more that one occasion we've had to shuffle items from one bag to another so they were the right weight.  You attach the Salter luggage scales to your bag, lift it by the handle, and wait for the beep to see the total weight. No more embarrassing moments at check-in and no more excess luggage fees!

New toys and books: The tip mentioned to me most often is to bring toys and books your child has never seen before to keep them entertained. I've already broken that by letting Blondie Boy play with his Megasketcher but I love that the pen is attached to the board so he can't drop/throw it away. Luckily my Mother-in-law has gotten him some new books as well.


Change of clothes in your carry-on: I'm not just talking about for your toddler here; pack an extra top for you, too. Do you want to sit in a puked on, peed on or food smeared shirt for an extended period of time? I didn't think so.


Snacks: I don't like airplane food and chances are your toddler won't either. Pack snacks you know they like and are easy to eat. Things like snack bars or fruit pouches which your toddler can slurp. If the pouches are more than 100ml you'll have to taste them but 100ml or smaller and you are good to go.


A baby carrier: If your child is still light enough use a baby carrier. We used one when we flew with Blondie Boy at 5 months and it was amazing. He fell asleep in it and I could carry him while eating a Sausage McMuffin; I call that a win-win situation.

A compact stroller: We are taking our Nuna PEPP with us on the flight. It folds up easily and compactly, but doesn't slack on style or function. I've been happy with how it's worked for travelling around Glasgow and I'm interested to see how it does travelling abroad.


Travel Cot: Blondie Boy still sleeps in his crib so trying to put him to sleep in a regular bed is just not going to work. We're taking a Mamas and Papas Sleep Travel Cot. It is compact and portable, but still very spacious, sturdy and stylish. Hopefully Blondie Boy will like sleeping in it!

Pourty: I've talked about the Pourty before and since we know Blondie Boy likes using it as a potty and it is portable we are taking it with us on our trip. No reason for potty training to stop just because we are going on holiday. It also means we can dispose of everything in the potty easily and without mess.




What are your *must* haves for travelling with a toddler? Am I forgetting anything?


Some, but not all, of these products were provided to Transatlantic Blonde to review but all opinions are my own.

Car Crooning: Adele

I was in the car a lot today driving back to Glasgow from Ayrshire and then picking up the Emma dog from her haircut during rush-hour traffic. When you hear the same song four times in one day, but still belt it out along with radio at the top of your lungs, you know it's a keeper. Try not singing along by the end, I dare you.



Adele, Someone Like You.

Be my Guest, Be my Guest

Today I started a new job, tomorrow my Mom flys in from LA and it is Blondie Boy's first birthday! Needless to say things are going to be a bit crazy for the next week or so! To help keep my blog warm I'm going to have several lovely guest bloggers posting. If you'd like to submit a guest post please get in touch!

My first guest post is from the first friend I made when I moved to Scotland, Julie from Me, Him & Them.



She's married to one of NotBlondeHusband's friends (who was there when NBH and I met) and very kindly brightened my blonde with her hairdressing skills! Julie is Mom to beautiful teenage girl and a handsome wee two year old boy and lives on the west coast of Scotland, but once upon a time she was Chunnel Chick!

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When I agreed to do a guest post for the lovely Transatlantic Blonde I struggled a bit to decide what to write about. Usually I blog about my kids and my general family life. She suggested something a bit different from my usual and so I thought what better than to talk about my past life.......... before motherhood.

For those of you who don't know me personally, pre children I was a bit of a mad impulsive mover. I had numerous different houses/flats and was always up for a change. I left home at 16 and moved into a flat with a friend and went to University. Studying really wasn't for me but I finished my first two years and then went and worked in a friends bar until I decided what I wanted to do. During that time I did a bit of babysitting for some of my parents friends with young kids for extra cash. It was through one of these couples that I met a family who had a daughter in Paris who was looking for a nanny. She had just had a baby boy who was 3 weeks old and her French Husband worked between Paris and London and she wanted some fairly part time help with reasonable pay, free accommodation and obviously no bills. I met the couple once when they came to visit but spent some time with her parents with them obviously vetting me and my family/background. After 3 weeks I decided to take the job on a trial of a month and then reassess. So off I went.

I'd never flown before alone and am a very nervous flyer at the best of times but the excitement of doing something so spur of the moment took over and I managed without creating mass panic on the plane (which isn't unheard of from me).

It was hot July in Paris when I landed at Charles de Gaulle and grabbed a taxi at the airport by myself clutching a piece of paper with the address of the couples apartment. First impressions???? 'ARE YOU ALL NUTS?' These people had no highway code and drove like mad loonies. I was terrified and most relieved when I arrived at the address in one piece. It was slap bang across the road from the Eiffel Tower and I was a happy happy bunny.



The apartment was fabulous and I settled in with a very friendly couple very easily. I loved the whole place and the people.

I only helped out with the baby a few half days a week and the rest of the time wandered around sight seeing. I adored everything about the place, but as I speak absolutely no French whatsoever it made for some interesting shopping trips there. My favourite place to shop was Gallery Lafayette and generally I spent most of my free cash there on cute clothes and presents to send back home to my parents. I was in my element there and adored the hustle and bustle of it and people watching the stylish Parisians.



I did a lot of exploring and loved taking a book and finding a lovely park to lie under a tree reading. My absolutely most memorable trip in those first few weeks though was going to visit the grave yard where Jim Morrison from 'The Doors' is buried. I had been a huge fan for years and even did my Higher English book report on the book 'No One Here Gets Out Alive'. So being in Paris and able to go to one of the graveside vigils was amazing.



People go in their dozens with guitars and candles and pay their respects. Its was popular the Police guarded the graveside to protect it. I took loads of photos but as that was back in the pre digital camera days I don't have them scanned.



After the month I decided to stay on with the couple and worked for the best part of a year with them between Paris and London. Eventually I left them as childcare wasn't in my long term plans (needless to say a year later I was a mum so that was bad planning), but I adore Paris and dearly hope to go back one day.



I'll always have Paris.

Frohe Weihnachten Kleiner Junge

Blondie Boy and I were super lucky to be able to go and visit his Tante Nadine in Köln Sunday-Wednesday two week ago. Nadine was an exchange student who lived with us for a year when I was 12 in Cincinnati and then I went and lived with her family for a month.

This was my fifth trip to Germany, but Blondie Boy's first and I think he really had a good time. Travelling alone with an 11 month old (NBH stayed at home) wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be luckily and the fact that Blondie Boy befriends every security person/flight attendant/fellow passenger he smiles at didn't hurt either!

We visited tons, seriously tons, of Christmas markets and after a surprise dump of snow Monday night, I pushed a stroller through the snow for the first time. I really love Köln and I'm glad I got to share it with Blondie Boy even if we really did miss NotBlondeHusband.

We ate great brötchen and cheese (why is it that bread is SO much better on the continent?) and even had sushi for lunch one day; well Nadine and I had sushi and BB had a ham and cheese sandwich.

I know Blondie Boy probably won't remember our trip so I made sure to take lots and lots of pictures!



Köln 12/2010

Who CARES?

Being a Transatlantic Mom means the inevitably you will take your baby on a transatlantic flight. Andrea, a former expat, has made the trip with her cutie son Finn more than a few times and recently tried out the CARES harness on her latest flight. Blondie Boy is still too small too use the harness so I was interested to see how she, and Finn, liked it.


Traveling with a toddler is never easy. Traveling with a toddler while lugging a car seat through an airport is even worse. So when we found out about the CARES harness, we knew it was the way to go. Who wouldn't choose a 5 point harness that actually folds up and fits in your bag?

We recently took a trip overseas with our 2.5 year old son, and while this is a trip we have made many times it was the first time we have done it without carrying on the car seat. We weren't sure how CARES would work, especially on the overnight flight, but it was fantastic. He feels like a big guy sitting in a regular seat, and his legs aren't long enough to kick the seat in front of him, a huge drawback of the car seat on board. He slept just as soundly as he ever has.

The harness, a 5 point system that works like a car seat in the sense that it gives your child the same safety features of a car seat without the bulk, is perfect for kids who can sit up and are over the age of 1 and 22 pounds. It is the only FAA approved device of this type. After the initial use it takes us less than 3 minutes to 'install', which consists of sliding it over the back of the seat, underneath the tray table of the person behind you, and looping the airline seatbelt through the bottom. It comes with an instructional dvd, as well as a sheet you can bring with you, and it shows it is FAA approved, in case anyone questions that.

I won't say this revolutionizes travel - and as the parent of a toddler on any flight you still get those looks from people who think your child will scream the whole time - but CARES definitely makes the whole process a little bit easier!

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Looking for some new reads? Check out the December BMB Blog Hop!

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Wordless Wednesday

Where oh where has Blondie Boy gone?

Blondie Boy and I have taken our first trip together (without NotBlondeHusband), but can you guess where we are for the next three days? Here are some clues:

-While this is BB's first time in this country, it is my fifth trip.

-I am conversationally fluent in the language.

-EasyJet fly here direct from Scotland.

Can you guess where we are?

Blondie Boy was a star on the plane and made friends with the people sitting behind us. I managed to snag us an extra seat so the two of us had plenty of room.

The only two complaints I have is that while I gate checked the stroller my friend Deb leant us in Scotland, I had to pick it up at baggage claim when I arrived! What's the point in that? Also Blondie Boy's passport didn't get stamped which makes me sad.

I got a few posts set to autopublish and we'll see y'all when we're back!

Smiley Happy People

For those who don't know my sister Alison is a fabulous wedding planner, event coordinator and stylist; if you are getting married or having an event check out Aviva Events--she's the best!

Well in her profession she knows some of the best photographers in the Tri-State area (OH/IN/KY) and for my 30th birthday she gifted me a photo shoot by Kortnee Kate for Blondie Boy! She also got the amazing Nancy from Brideface to make me beautiful before hand; Nancy did my makeup for my wedding and other events and it is one of my favorite treats!

I'm so pleased with the gorgeous shots that Kortnee got of Blondie Boy and of us as a family. It was a really hot day and Blondie Boy was struggling in the heat (and an unfortunate face-plant that won't be mentioned), but she got some amazing shots.

Blondie, Blondie Boy & Auntie Alie

Chillaxing (or as my Mom calls it: Someone left their baby on those steps)


Blondie, Blondie Boy & NotBlondeHusband

We call this one Nature Baby

How does he look cute even when he's crying? LOVE his Bare Knees kilt :)

Happy Family

I love how crisp and clean the shots are and the vibrant, bright colors. There are more pictures up on Kortnee's blog and I can't wait to get these up on our walls and hopefully next time we are in Cincinnati we can get more shots of the boy done. Or if Kortnee fancies a trip to Scotland (come on we're prettier than Ireland!) she's more than welcome in Glasgow!

Thank you Kortnee and thank you Auntie Alie!

Flukeing Fantastic!

Before we left on our transatlantic trip Blondie Boy was lucky enough to be chosen to test out some gorgeous Fluke clothes and products. Fluke are an online children's clothing retailer with classic, but funky clothes made from beautiful fabrics with great attention to detail and subtle styling features.

Blondie Boy was sent the Bill & Ben Baby Blanket, Whirligig Striped Short Sleeve Tee Shirt and Rintintin Long Johns. I was in love before we even opened the package as they were wrapped in adorable cartooned wrapping paper--it felt like I was getting a present from a friend!

I threw them all in the wash (they came out the same as the went in; no fraying, shrinking or discolouration) and then straight into Blondie Boy's carry-on bag for our flight to California.

We used the blanket to line the bassinet on the flight and it was big enough to also fold over on top of Blondie Boy. Now I can't prove it was the cuteness and comfiness of the Bill & Ben blanket than caused Blondie Boy to sleep 8 1/2 hours out of the 11 hour flight, but I know it sure didn't hurt!

We also used the blanket at my Mom's house and normally we wake up to find Blondie Boy with his covers kicked off, but I couldn't help but smile when I walked in to see him like this.

I think he liked cuddling the blanket in part to the different texture of the stitching on the reverse of the blanket.

The clothes were super soft and Blondie Boy looked so cute in them! I'm really picky about what I'll let him wear; I think a lot of baby clothes seem to be cluttered with unnecessary designs or scattered with branded characters. Fluke clothing is simple, but stylish and I'm very proud that Blondie Boy is a Fluke kid!

Right now everything is 50% off! If that's not a good deal, I don't know what is!

Transatlantic Blonde received this product to review.

My chicken's pretty funky

I've started a bunch a post this week but not finished any of them. I could have written about CyberMummy, a belated post on the birth of my faux-nephew, dieting, Blondie Boy turning 6 months or even an easy one a survey post.

Red over at Resourceful Redhead awarded me with the sunshine award, but honestly lately I've been feeling anything but sunny. It's certainly not a lack of ideas that's fueling my writer's block, but I'm pretty sure I know what it is.


I'm homesick. It normally happens at some point after we get back from the States, but this time since we were home so long it has hit me really hard. I can't get back on the same timezone and I'm just sorta in a blah mood in general and it is affecting just about everything I do.

CyberMummy: I totally appreciate the fabulous people at Emma's Diary sponsoring me to attend and I had a great day listening and learning from speakers, liaising with PR folk and meeting other bloggers. However, I didn't come away with that warm fuzzy feeling of sisterhood everyone else has been blogging about. I felt like an outsider looking in; everyone seemed to know everyone else or had just made a new best friend. Between all the back and forth on twitter and blogs popping up on lists just makes me feel like I've failed at Blogger Popularity 101.

Faux-Nephew: My best friend had her baby boy 3 weeks early and I was in the same country as her, but couldn't go and see her. Logistically there was no way I could get to DC from Cincinnati and back with a 5 1/2 month old with all the stuff we had scheduled while I was home, but I still felt ridiculously guilty that my best friend in the entire world was so close, but so far away. Even just writing this right now I feel guilty and teary that I didn't find a way to make that 10 hour drive and meet her new son. I hate that I don't know when our boys will get to meet and I know that's because I live abroad.

6 months: Blondie Boy is half a year old, W-T-F. He's following the same growth curve and now weighs 16lbs, 8oz. We had his customary photo shoot, but I just can't be bothered photoshopping in the number 6 and pulling it all together. Otherwise I love the boy to bits and he constantly makes me smile and there absolutely nothing blah about him. Trust me even his poos are blah, they are more blech to be precise.

Dieting: Ugh. We all know I've done South Beach before and it really works, but I also know that South Beach and fresh food in general is really expensive. Being on extended maternity leave means being on a budget, so South Beach isn't going to be an option. I'm going to try the Special K Diet (2 bowls a day + one healthy meal), so if anyone knows anyone at Kellogg's please hook a girl up. In general I'm not happy with my post-pregnancy body, but let's not go there.

Sunshine Award: I'm supposed to tell you ten things about me and let you know ten other bloggers I like. Honestly I think I've been honest enough in this post and I'd suggest you try any of the people in my blog roll to the right.

This isn't my typical post and I know that; hell there's only one picture and it's not even of Blondie Boy. I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but I am trying to keep it real. Wasn't blogging about stuff whether people like it or not one of the things CyberMummy taught us? So for those of you who hate this post, I'm sorry. I promise to post some fabulous pictures of Blondie Boy, taken by the AMAZING Kortnee Kate, tomorrow for you. See yet another easy thing I could have blogged about, but haven't.

Thank you for bearing with me and if you've ever been in a funk, especially a homesick funk, what do you do to shake it?

Kiss Me and Smile for Me

While Blondie Boy chalked up 15,882 air miles before being born (yes I totally googled it), we are about to embark on his first flight outside the womb. We've got a short flight followed by a long flight and I need all the help I can get.

We've got a few new toys he's never seen before, requested (but aren't guaranteed) a bassinet, plan to give him a pacifier during take off/landing and have a wrap to wear him in to get through security, but what's your best advice?

What are you best tips for flying with a baby?

...and if you have any tips for helping a baby to adjust to an 8 hour time difference those would be most appreciated, too :)

What am I 16?

Rewind to last November; NotBlondeHusband and I were driving down from Glasgow to Ayrshire for his Aunt's wedding and I looked something like this:

Yikes. Anyway, what happens to my poor NBH as he drives his almost 9 month pregnant wife and puppy down the road? He gets in his first accident ever, which results in our car getting written off/totaled. The damage and the accident weren't that bad, but the resulting work needed done was greater than the value of the car.

So why am I telling you this? Well when your car gets totalled, you suspend your car insurance; when NBH called to renew/start the insurance back up we were informed that I would not be insured. Apparently for the past 4 years I have been driving illegally as the insurance company wrongly informed us that I could drive on my US license for a year every time I entered the country. Since I left the UK once a year this worked--well apparently not. If I want to drive in the UK, I have to take the British test.

So fast forward to now and I'm back where I was some 14 years ago studying for my driving test. I've only booked my Theory test so far, but will have to take the Practical test as well.

Some of these questions are really stupid. Apparently some of the things I need to know to drive in the UK include:

-the maximum speed of a motorized wheelchair

-how many breaths per compressions for CPR

-how to reduce my emissions/drive environmentally friendly

So I've read "The Highway Code" front to back and am practicing on a computer program I got for £5 off of Play, but I'm still worried I will fail. Mostly because a pass is 85% (umm that's like a B+, not just passing) and also because I will feel like an absolute ass if after 14 years of driving I fail a test I passed the first time I took it on my 16th birthday.

I'd post a picture of me at 16, but all of my HS pics are in my Dad's attic in Ohio.

All American Boy

Okay, he's actually 50% American boy...

Today we drove to Edinburgh to visit the US Embassy and register Blondie Boy's birth, apply for his US passport and social security number. It was snowing pretty heavily when we left at 9:30am and after some stand-still traffic we almost turned around but decided to keep going.


We waited about an hour, signed the forms we'd already sent in and that was that. Blondie Boy's passport should arrive in about 7-10 days. All in all it cost $150 for his Americanness, plus an additional £30 for the parking ticket we got because all the parking outside the embassy was residential permits only.


Blondie Boy was really good at the embassy, but had a screaming fit in the car as we drove into Edinburgh; I guess he just has similar thoughts about it as his Mom and Dad :) Now we just need to mail off his British passport application and he'll be good to travel where he pleases! (As a dual citizen he has to enter/leave the US on his American passport and enter/leave the UK on his British passport.)

I could *technically* say Blondie Boy had his first trip to the US, since the embassy is American soil, but I think that's crap. I always hated in college when people would say they'd been to Germany or France because they'd been at an embassy. Doesn't count in my book!

Jet Set Bebe

If you could get frequent flyer miles in utero, this baby would probably have a return domestic flight by now! We've done two return flights to London, return flights to Bangkok via Dubai, return flights Bangkok to Koh Samui and today we are going down to Bristol.



This is my last flight for this pregnancy and I had to get a letter from my doctor saying I was "allowed" to fly. I find this slightly patronizing, but I'm flying Easy Jet and with most low cost airlines, they don't make things simple. In this case any woman more than 28 weeks pregnant needs a letter saying they are fit to fly.

I'm just down for one day for a conference and back up Friday night. Nothing exciting; I know some people think travelling for work is glamorous, but when you work for a charity it means cheap flights and even cheaper hotels, so nothing posh. It does mean I will accrue more TOIL (time off in lieu; time back rather than overtime) and have enough to take the day before NBH's aunt's wedding off as well as make my last day the 15th of December, rather than a half day on the 16th.

Koh Samui

Samui is the third largest island in Thailand and located 700 km South of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand. Our flight from Bangkok was around 40 minutes with Bangkok Airways. Even though it was a short flight we got drinks and a sandwich, ooh la la.

We stayed at the Q Signature Samui which is up in the hills of the Samui Peninsula and only a 5 minute drive on their free shuttle to Chaweng beach. There was a beach surrounding the hotel as well.

I'd totally come back to this hotel again as it was secluded enough to be peaceful, but close enough to the "main town." It was also RIDICULOUSLY good value for money.




Koh Samui
(Click to see larger photos and captions)