This week baby is the size of...

When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started looking at baby sites. And believe me there are countless ones out there. But I didn't want to become obsessed with looking at all of them.

I finally settled on The Bump - a fan of its sister site 'The Knot' (a fantastic site for weddings), it seemed a natural progression. When you sign up they send a weekly newsletter filled with different articles that, as a new mom-to-be, you'd like to know.

And the main article in the weekly email is - You're Belly : Week X

It's a great, informative snapshot of what baby is doing as she's growing as well as what's happening to you, the mum. I'm fine with all of this, happy to read them. Except...the comparison to fruit and veg of how big your baby is.

Now maybe I need to take a step back and just accept the news that baby is the size of an onion at week 17. But the cook in me just had to say 'eh? An onion? Are we talking shallot, white, yellow, Spanish?' There are many sizes of onions out there. At week twenty, she's now the size of a banana. Again, we've all seen countless sizes of the potassium filled fruit, so it is a tad difficult to make a comparison. Nonetheless, I should stop being pedantic; it's a lovely little bit of insight and I'm looking forward to the email that says she's the size of a watermelon, but obviously not one that's been grown for the county fair's 'largest watermelon contest'...

Oh and I can share this produce fact with friends and family on Facebook - but I'll spare you that joy and just create a shopping list from all the fruit and veg. And when the little one arrives, as I chop away at a courgette/zucchini, I can tell her 'you know you were once this size...'

Boston Strong

After a winter that didn't seem to end, the sun shone brightly on that April day. As people basked in the warm rays, countless people cheered for those who spent the best part of a year training to run twenty six miles. Whilst others, cheered on the Red Sox all silently praying, 'this will be our year'.

And then the mindless act of two people shattered the lives of so many there at the marathon, even those safely watching the event at home.

How can any individual or organization justify taking the lives of innocent people? People who are consumed with their own little part of the world not religion, who may sympathize but have to get up to go to work, school, college. Questions are still being asked but until the second terrorist makes a full recovery will we ever understand their motives?

I've only lived in Boston for three years, but like to consider myself an honorary Bostonian. It's a great city, brimming with vitality and people from all walks of life. Boston is making its recovery, slowly but surely - and I couldn't feel more proud of a city and it's people who are not going to let this tragic day stop them living their lives. I'm glad we stand 'Boston Strong'.

One Fund - a charitable fund set up for those victims of the bombings.

Times Crossword

I love a good puzzle but always shied away from crosswords often because I'd read the clues and think "what in heavens name are you talking about?" Bizarrely enough, whilst I found crosswords difficult, I'd skip through 'codewords' like Mary and her little lambs on a spring day.(Codeword is a crossword grid with two starter letters and using the alphabet you break the code to find the remaining words).

The nearest I'd get to them would be the Daily Mail's back of the page brain teaser. But as soon as I lifted a pen to fill in a clue, Mother's radar would go off in her brain and she'd yell from whichever room she'd happen to be in with, "you'd better not be doing the crossword!" Reluctantly, I'd put the pen down and hunt for the codeword mumbling that I was just going to fill one in...simply because it was the only clue I got.

Nowadays, I'm a fan of the Times' efforts on this puzzle. At first I'd get about five answers out of the thirty odd clues. But as I got used to their quirky hints my prowess improved and soon I'd be left with three pesky answers that eluded me.

On the days I'd just stare at the black and white squares I'd search the internet for some help. And this is when I came across Crossword Solver, an absolutely brilliant site to help answer those clues that just bug you. And it was here that I came across the Forum.

Most days it's very helpful as often the clues I'm stuck on so is everyone else. But of late it's been bugging me as I'm increasingly seeing, "it's my last clue!" and "oh thanks for that, I'm finished," which is fine except I'm still looking at a lot of blank squares.

It certainly does nothing to alleviate the grumpiness that occasionally rears it's head. So whilst I sound like Mutley as I read, "just need the answer for 23 Across to finish", when I've just started the bloomin' thing, I try take a zen approach and say thank you for at least not leaving me with the final three pesky clues and you've helped me finish in 34 mins or less and not 12 hours. Yeah, whatever...anyone know 1 Across?...

Just call me Grumpy...

Seems like I haven't started this year in as good a mood as I thought I would. Let the ranting begin...

Shock, snow in winter?

As Hubby and I decided to take a quick dinner out, we ambled down to our local restaurant in freezing temperatures. As we rounded a corner, a tall almost lanky man came towards us. Shoulders were hunched over, face pinched in the typical 'wowzers, it's cold people!'. Then I cast an eye to his attire...a zipped up jacket rather on the thin side but perhaps he wore layers followed by peach shorts. Yes SHORTS. Now, these weren't the typical runners Lycra material, nope these were your, "it's a particularly hot and humid summers day, I need some breeze" type shorts and lets not even go there with the color. Seriously? It's minus 6 and you're wearing that? No wonder you're cold mate - did you not look out of the window before you left home? Call me crazy but perhaps a full length pair of pants/trousers would take that frigid look off your face?

Words with Friends

Can anyone say SCRABBLE? Ooh "triple letter, double word...play against a friend, it's a great crossword building game"...yeah it's scrabble and that particular game has been around for quite some time now.

Brock Lesnar

He's a bully and nothing else.

I blame Hubby for getting me into WWE. Every Monday he'd flick it on and whilst he claimed he was watching it, he'd spend the entire two hours (now three!) reading his Twitter feed, doing some research. Me, I'd sit and stare at the sometimes stupid actions of these wrestlers. Before I knew it, I cheered my favorites, booed the baddies...and, yes I'll admit it, join the audience with the actions (Cena's 'you can't see me' hand wave across the face for example).

Then Brock Lesnar made a reappearance and pummeled whoever came into the ring with him. Except, it wasn't 'entertainment'. It was plain old bullying and no matter what, children watch this. They get influenced and seeing this thug of a man being encouraged to act like a complete buffoon just annoyed me. My ranting to Hubby about Brock's behavior and the WWE universe showing it was met with a chuckle and 'I take it you're more into this than me?' plus a 'it's not real', I'd nonchalantly reply, 'pah I can take it or leave it.' But still, it's real to the kids out there and Brock (who doesn't have a good theme song) shouldn't be applauded for his thuggery - go back to the UFC mate where you belong.

Punxsutawney Phil

He should be fired. February 2nd and he didn't see his shadow which meant an early spring. We're now entering our SIXTH winter storm warning this weekend in the NE. Don't get me wrong, I love snow and can even abide the arctic winds, but c'mon, this is silly.

Phil, as cute as you are - you are so wrong and I'm losing faith in you...(shaking my head)

Ranting over...for now...

What a Year...

As the apocalyptic frenzy of 2012 ebbs and I sip my eggnog, sprinkled with freshly grated nutmeg writing my final post for the year, I'm not sure how to feel about what has happened over the last twelve months.

Filled with sad moments - a very much loved family member passing away, innocent children victims of gun crime and devastating storms leaving thousand of families homeless, I should be glad to see the back of it.  But then there's been some really great moments - silly conversations with my sister on Skype, my brother's fantastic work on Skyfall, my BFF's new addition to her family, meeting friends for lunch, chatting with the barista's at Starbucks and the countless hugs from Hubby. Shouldn't that be what I remember and take with me in to new year?

Lord only knows what the coming year will be like, but hopefully not such severe weather, less shootings, a kinder word said to our neighbors (both literal and not) and some genuine peace.

It seems every year I make the same promises - eat less, drink more..no hang on...eat more, drink less?...but in all seriousness I hope I do stick to a couple of resolutions - publish either my short stories or my novel, exercise more, refrain from making comments about the stupid things people do to annoy me...

....but whatever 2013 holds in store, I'm certainly hoping, not just for Hubby and I but you also, that it will be filled with all the good things in life - friends, family, an extra fiver in your back pocket, lots of giggles and if you have pain let it be champagne.

A Simple Hot Chocolate

Liquid Gold

That was all I was after.

Having sauntered around doing my errands in zero degree temps, I thought I'd stop off and indulge in a hot chocolate. Or a tea...as I debated which to get, the sign outside the store said 'Peppermint Hot Chocolate'. No more pondering, I was sold.

I walked in with a simple "I'd like a peppermint hot chocolate please", did I get a "course darlin', that will be threepenny piece  'ave a nice day" (okay I didn't transport myself back to 1800s London, but you get my drift...), no I got a deluge of questions back; "sure madam, large or small?",  was that peppermint?", "dark, milk or white chocolate?", "Is that for here or to go?"

Oh sweet Lord, I just want a hot chocolate to warm me cockles for cryin' out loud. But I said, large, yes, dark and to go please, the slightly theatrical sales staff waved me off to the side of the shop to wait while my drink was created. And I waited for almost five minutes.

As I left the store with drink in hand, muttering about waiting for so long I did wonder why has ordering a hot beverage become so time-consuming? And after all the small, skinny blah, blah was this particular drink worth it? After one sip...oh yes it was. That one slurp transported me back to a small cafe in Verona where their signature beverage was a cup of liquid chocolate, so thick a spoon could stand upright. The velvety, creamy warmth washed my mouth in a peppermint caress.

Definitely, worth the extra questions, the wait and warmed me up good and proper.

Well I never...

Nestling in the pages of the Daily Mail was a catalog. You know the kind, endless pages of products that seem pointless but if you're over 60  they're the best things since sliced bread. Items like 'scare cat' - a metal cat with sparkling eyes to ward off other cats, a revolutionary bird feeder, a soft-foam toilet seat...

Anyway, I picked it up to have a butchers and worried at how many things I looked at seemed to be not bad and actually quite useful. As I turned the page over having read about an indestructible waterproof wallet, a porcelain tea set and an almost invisible hearing aid, I was shocked at what was before me. 

Could these products really be in a magazine like this and be deemed okay? 

What were these products? DVD's...of porn and not just any porn, but S&M porn. All tastefully done mind you. "Meet Tanya. She's looking for romance and excitement..." my mouth actually fell open. Has the world gone that crazy over 'fifty shades' that even catalogs for the old dear next door has to sell it? 

Don't get me wrong, I'm no prude, whatever floats your boat, but I thought it's a bit much. Can you imagine some lady called Doris settling down with a nice cuppa and a slice of battenburg trying to find that miniature water feature her nephew Derek would love and came across that? Cheeks would grow rosy and the tea cup tremble with embarrassment. But whose to say she wouldn't order it?..