Un Dimanche à la campagne...A Sunday in the country

Thank you Mandip for these gorgeous shots!

New Picture

Bhavishya's teacher took this cute one last week. Thought I would share it.

L'institutrice de Bhavishya a pris cette photo la semaine passée. Je voulais la partager.

Mardi, le 25 Septembre...Tuesday, September 25 2007

This is what happened this afternoon after lunch & nap:

Voici ce qui s'est passé cet après-midi après le déjeuné et la sièste:

N.B. Did you notice the name of her bike??? I certainly didn't until Mark pointed it out seconds after Bhavishya unwrapped it on her birthday! It is supposed to be a very good German brand! HA!

Planning your next holiday? Vos prochaines Vacances? bis

Well no one really seemed interested on my last post re "your next holiday"...shame...Let me tell you about it anyhow as I think it is a really cool concept and that if I was younger, a richer than I was when I was younger I would definitively do it...

This company called Ozbus operates a regular overland service for backpackers travelling between London and Sydney. It takes 12 weeks to get to destination and one crosses 20 different countries!!!

• On September 16, 2007 the first bus left London.



• On September 23, 2007, the first bus left Sydney.

This is their route:

Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Transylvania, Gallipoli, Istanbul, Turquoise Coast, Bam, Taj Mahal, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Kathmandu, Mount Everest, Bangkok, Ko Samui, Kuala Lumpur, Sumatra, Komodo, East Timor, Kakadu National park, Ayers Rock, Sydney (hence the pictures from my previous post regarding this subject). If you just click here you will find the detailed itinerary.

Picture of the bus (compliments from Oz-bus.com)

They seem to stop every night and use all kinds of "accomodation" varying from desert camps sites to hostels and guesthouses.

Appart from paying your trip (which is NOT cheap £3750 or AUS$9000) you will also need to assist in various chores such as market shopping for provisions, collecting firewood, washing up the dishes etc.

To be it seems a blast except if you have 1 (only 1) pest to ruin everybody's journey! And usually there is always one on those trips (sigh!)

'cause I wanna remember...parceque je veux me souvenir

Last week in school, Bhavishya was asked the following by her teacher:

Teacher:
"Bhavishya, does Pashmina (our dog) sleeps in your room?"
Bhavishya:
"Noooooooooooooooo"
Teacher:
"Why?"
Bhavishya:
"Pashmina is dirty"
Teacher:
"So where does Pashmina sleeps then?"
Bhavishya:
"In Mama's room"
;-)

La semaine passée, l'institutrice de Bhavishya lui demande si Pashmina (notre chien) dort avec elle.
Bhavishya:
"Noooooooooooooooo"
L'institutrice:
"Pourquoi?"
Bhavishya:
"Pashmina est sale"
L'institutrice:
"Alors elle dort où Pashmina?"
Bhavishya:
"Dans la chambre de Maman"
;-)

A virtual trip around the world...Un voyage virtuelle autour du monde...

Yesterday lunch, a friend of ours told me how his mother would gather pictures of "wonders of the world", monuments etc. into an album so her Grand Children would learn about them.

Hier, l'un de nos ami nous expliquait que sa Mère rassemblait des photos des "Merveilles du Monde" et de Grand monuments dans un album photo afin que ses petits enfants puissent apprendre.

I thought it was a great idea so I am going to start doing so on this blog on a weekly basis with 2 pictures.

Je trouvais que c'était une superbe idée et que j'allais faire de même sur ce blog à raison d'une fois par semaine avec 2 photos.

This week I chose The Jet d'eau in Geneva, my home town.
Cette semaine j'ai choisi une photo du Jet d'eau de Genève, ma ville natale.

Photo compliments of: ahoward

and Mark chose Hong Kong harbour as Hong Kong is the town he grew up in.
et Mark a choisi une photo du port de Hong Kong, la ville oú il a grandit.


Photo compliments of: gingerluk

SLS

Today I thought I'd share these with you:

On Shopping:
Buissonnière: I was told that the person who created this company , a Belgium woman, wanted to dress her kids nicely. She could not find nice and reasonnable clothes so she decided to create this company. When I went into the store for the first time a few weeks ago I was blown away to see shopping baskets and women piling the stuff into them. When I saw some of the prices I started to understand. I bought a few things for Bhavishya and what is nice about them is they all appear to mix and match.

On Gossips:
For those interested in Bollywood Gossip here is a fun site (A bonne entendeur Moushette!)

On Fantastic photography:

...I mean Edward Steichen

On a Dehli B&B:

It is thanxs to Adhipen and Najla website that I got this one! It looks marvelous!

Planning your next holiday? Vos prochaines Vacances?

Can you guess what and where?
Pouvez-vous deviner quoi et oú?

Pictures compliments of Oz-bus.com

Pour les francophones!

La très chère Maraine de Bhavishya, Christina, a passée de magnifiques vacances en Provence. Avant de rentrer à New York elle a passé un peu de temps à Nice et n'a pu s'empêché de prendre une photo du menu dans l'un des restaurants où elle se trouva...

Qu'est-ce qui coûte 12,50?
NO COMMENTS!!!

A Summer afternoon on our terrace...Un dimanche après midi ans le jardin..

Bhavishya's Ultimate favourite music video / Le Clip vidéo préféré de Bhavishya

Suivi post adoption de Bhavishya

Aujourd'hui nous avons reçu une lettre de l'association avec laquelle nous avons adopté Bhavishya.

Ils se réfèrent au document "Guidelines for adoption from india" issu de la CARA.

Il semblerait que nous n'aurons plus qu'à fournir 5 rapports au lieu de 14 au préalable. Soit:

1ere année:

• Rapport d'arrivé
• Après 3 mois - visite de l'Assistante sociale au domicile
• Après 6 mois - rendez-vous fixé au bureau
• Après 1 an - visite de l'Assistante sociale au domicile

2ème et 3ème année:

• visite de l'Assistante sociale au domicile à la date d'anniversaire de l'arrivée

En plus pour les familles ayant accueilli un enfant de l'orphelinat de Madras, ils demandent de leurs communiquer un petit rapport personnel concernant l'évolution de leur enfant un fois par an.

Mimi, tu posais la question sur les rapports... voici la réponse ;-))

On the night stand / Sur la table de chevet

Daughter of the Ganges: A Memoir by Asha Miro

It is an autobiography. The author tells the story of her life in two parts. In the first part, we learn she was adopted in 1974 at the age of six by a Catalan couple. She grows up in Barcelona and wants to return to her roots. She leaves for Bombay to assist the poor. The second part of the book was written after the first bit was published and tells the story when she returns with a television crew to film a documentary retracing her life. There she learns more about her early days...

This is an amazing book. I had goose bumps, I cried...it is definatively a page turner. I strongly recommend you all read it!

Adoption Bloggers Survey

One of our co-blogger, Pam, started this survey on her blog. Thought I would participate. So here it goes:


1. How many blogs are listed under your favorites list that you check EVERY day?

Way too many...

2. How many times a day do you "go to the bathroom" and end up checking blogs?

I don't pretend. I either go to the bathroom or check blogs.

3. Do your kids recognize the other kids from the blogs that follow??

Bhavishya recognises Mimi's kids as she knows them personnally. When she sees the picture of Moushette she calls her "Vanaja" the matron of her orphanage. I guess they both have long dark hair...

4. Do you keep track of how often people update their blogs and get upset when they don't keep to the schedule??

I used to but now that I had pic computer problems I am more indulgent!

5. Favorite time of day to check blogs?

Depends on the day, it varies I don't have a Blogging schedule!

6. Who's blog is your favorite?

No coments! I might hurt feelings and futhermore it is not really a competition it is just fun to see how everybody is doing etc. Also I am following other blogs, on Scuba Diving, travels, food etc. some have amazing photography, other amazing stories or receipes...

7. How many of the blogs that you follow are people that you have never met in person?

Most of them


8 How long have you been married?

14 years but I was a child bride!

9 Fav. food?

NOBU!!!

10Fav. TV show?

LOST

11 Anything that you forbid your kids to watch on TV?

EVERYTHING! We are very old fashioned! Bhavishya watches DVDs (stuff we can monitor) anyhow the TV in Luxembourg is pretty bad. We rarely watch tv. We wait for stuff to come out on DVD to watch like LOST

12. How long was your adoption journey from beginning to end?

Nearly 3 years!

13. How did you decide on the country you adopted from?

Well there isn't that much choice in Luxembourg. It was out of the question to go with Columbia as it would have been necessary to stay there 6 to 8 weeks and it would have been impossible with Mark's job. South Korea would also have been impossible as one of us had to be a Luxembourger National. At that time we had the choice between, South Africa, Peru, South Africa and India. We know India quite well, we both have been there before (Mark more often than I) and we went to Rajastan and Kashmir on our honeymoon. We have some very close friends who are Indian (Bhavishya's God Father for example) and it is a country we love so it was logical to adopt a child from there...it was practically a "No brainer" ;-)


14. What did you imagine your family to be like as a little girl?

Married by 25 kids soon after (2 or 4 kids not 3! I am the middle child and have 2 brothers...I often felt left out as my Mom often put the "boys" together)15. Favorite Momma down time activity? Getting a pedicure.

16. Do you have more online friends than "in person" friends?

No! I am a social animal our house is always full of friends...I sometimes feel this is a hotel / restaurent!

17. Tell us the cartoon character that you are most like:

?

18. What toothpaste do you use?

Elmex or Aronal

19. Stupidest adoption comment/question that you've received?

"How much did she cost you"is one. And the other one is: "You must have chosen the prettiest one"

20. Fav. non-adoption website?

Cannot make my mind...

OK adoption blog buddies....it's time to complete the Adoption Bloggers Anonymous Survey. Copy the questions and paste into your blog and then answer the questions.

SLS

I am dreaming for a relaxing w-e! I came accross this one and looks exactly what the Dr ordered!

www.lafermededivali.com



This is it for tonight! I am pooped!!!

le français suivra chui NAAAAAZZZZZ!

Les Mimis au Luxembourg

Au mois d'août nous avions le plaisir d'acceuillir "Les Mimis" à la maison. C'était super de se revoir. Malheureusement la petite Roma doit avoir de mauvais souvenirs du Luxembourg...La Gastro et Rdv chez le pédiatre! Aïe! Et les parents...ils avaient pas mal d'heures de sommeil en retard!

Pour les 4 ans de Nikita on est allé au Parc Merveilleux. Et pour le goûté...un gateau et en prime toutes les guêpes de la Moselle!!!

Mimi c'était super.

A surfer Dude saves a dog!

AN AMAZING STORY THAT ENDS WELL!


AP - Wed Sep 12, 5:33 PM ET
In a photo provided by Don Dobbin, surfer Joe Riopelle, left, pulls in Matt Smolenski and a rescued dog Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 11, 2007, off the Grand Haven, Mich., pier. Smolenski rode a wave on his stomach to reach and rescue a struggling dog that had been swept off a Lake Michigan pier by a big wave. Smolenski said he grabbed the pooch's collar just as the exhausted, black-and-brown mixed breed stopped dog-paddling on Tuesday afternoon. 'He put the dog up on his surfboard, and the dog . Click here to read more.

Update!

Well I am back!

Indeed, aAfter an extremely busy summer I am back!!! My PCs broke down and I am now writing from my new state of the art laptop! I feeeeeeeeellllllll aaaaaallllliiiiiivvvvveeee! Waow!!!How did I managed???Two whole months without blogging??? :-)))))))))

Well we had a house packed of guest from start to end of the summer. The highlight of it was Bhavishya's baptism which was held on August 18. It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a garden party.

I promise I shall post some pictures soon but in the meanwhile here is one of Mark and Bhavishya on her firt day of nursery school!


Me voici me voila.

Mes pcs étaient FOUTU et je vous écrits aujourd'hui depuis mon nouveau portable! Waou je RE-VIS!!! HA! Comment ai-je survécu? 2 mois sans blogger??? Mystère et boule de gomme!! :-)))

Nous n'avons pas arrêté cet été. Une maison pleine...en commançant par l'arrivée de la maraine de Mark et son Mari et cela s'est terminée par le baptême de Bhavishya ou l'on a eu 17 personnes qui ont dormi à la maison. La cérémonie religieuse était magnifique, la garden party superbe, des invités de rêves et un temps pas trop cochon.

Je promets de poster des photos mais d'ici là en voici une de Mark et Bhavishya le jour de la rentrée scolaire de Bhavishya.

To my Darling Coco

May all your dreams come true. We love you and wish we could give you more support.

P, B & P

Happy 4th of July!

Bhavishya and her New Little Friend...

Question for all/pour tous

How do you store your CD's and where? I find they are so uggly I don't want to display them in our living room. I need some good ideas.

Comment rangez-vous vos CD?

Je les trouves tellement moches et

je ne veux pas les exposer dans

mon salon. J'ai besoin d'idées.

Free hair cut / Coupe gratuite

Yesterday we went to the hair dressers to have Bhavishya hair cut a little as it was going into her eyes. She loves the idea of having pretty hair pins in her hair but they rarely stay on for more that 30 seconds. She hates having them in her face. We we got there she said "Bonjour Madame" and was her charming little self. We were the only ones in the salon and she was the center of everybody's attention. She said please and thank you all the time. She told them that her name is Bhavishya and not "Darlin" that she is 2 1/2 and that she was born in India all in about 20 second flat! She did not move, only when asked. When the Manager finished cutting and blow drying her hair she put a pretty little hair pin which was a present from her and then when I wanted to pay she said no Madame, it was so nice to cut your daughter's hair, she is such a beautiful and darling little one, I would like to make it my treat today!

WAOW! I was blown away!!! And I was very very proud as well!

Now tell me why doesn't that happen to me this kind of stuff???

Hier nous sommes allé couper les cheveux de Bhavishya. Moi chais pas faire ça! Déjà que je n'arrives pas a couper droit sur une feuille de papier je ne veux pas risquer de traumatiser ma fille donc j'ai pris rdv dans un salon de coiffure vu que ses cheveux lui cachait ses yeux. Bhavishya aime l'idée de parter des jolies barettes mais au fait elle ne reste guerre plus que 30 secondes sur sa tête. En arrivant au salon elle dit bonjour Madame, elle fait sa petite Mademoiselle charmante; elle dit svp de merci. Elle déclare que "non c'est BhaViShya son prénom et pas "la Puce" , qu'elle a 2 ans 1/2 et qu'elle est née en Inde tout cela en moins de 20 secondes. Elle ne bouge pas seulement quand on lui demande. Une fois la coupe/brushing finie, la Manager lui met une jolie barette en strass elle dit merci veut lui faire un bisou sans même que j'intervienne et lorsque je veux régler elle me dit qu'elle a adoré coupé les cheveux de ma fille, qu'elle est tellement mignone et adorable que la coupe / brushing nous est offert.

Waow! J'étais bouchebée et naturellement très très fière!

Mais pourquoi que ce genre de truc ne m'arrives jamais??? mdr!

Mark's bday present...

For his birthday I was tempted to get him a Digital SLR can anyone recommend one and if so why?

I hesitate...

• The Sony A100?
• A Canon Digital REbel xti?
• ....?

We are fed up with the small N1 as the delay is far too long.

Pour l'anniversaire de Mark j'étais assez tenté de lui acheter un Digital SLR. Est-ce quelqu'un peut me conseiller si oui pourquoi?

J'hésite entre...

• Le Sony A100?
• Le Canon Digital Rebel xti?
• ...?

Bhavishya The Future

Yes, the name of our daughter is Bhavishya and it means the Future in Hindi or apparently "Bright Future".

But Bhavishya the Future is not only our daughter's name it is the title of a new film...

En effet, le prénom de notre fille est Bhavishya et cela veut dire le "future" en Hindi.

Mais Bhavishya Le Future n'est pas seulement le prénom de notre Princesse mais c'est le titre d'un nouveau film.

For more info please click here. Pour plus d'information, veuillez cliquer ici.

'cause I wanna remember...Parce que je veux me souvenir

Bhavishya said to me this Morning:

"Mama pas oubliez laver derrière colélé" meaning "Mama don't forget to wash behind the ears"...colélé means ears.

She learned her lesson well! ;-)


Bhavishya m'a dit se matin:

"Mama pas oubliez laver derrière Colélé" Colélé voulant dire oreilles! Elle a bien appris sa leçon! ;-)

What is this??? C'est quoi ça??? II

Ma 1ere commande de Moo cards est arrivée vendredi! Je suis très heureuse!

Je vais les joindre aux cartons d'invitations du baptême de Bhavishya...
I am going to include them to the invitations to Bhavishya's Christening...

Voici le texte en Français:

Here is the French text:

Unfortunately there isn't enough space for an English Text and a French one, so I made a first set as a trial and I have just re-ordered a new one with the English Text.

Malheureusement il n'y avait pas suffisement de place pour un texte en anglais et un en français. Donc cette première commande était un test et puisque je suis heureuse j'en ai recommandé avec le text en anglais.

N.B. To avoid any misunderstandings we are not going to send the proceeds of the collection directly to India. We will donate it to the organisation that helped us adopt Bhavishya telling them we would like them to make the donation towards the orphanage Bhavishya comes from.

N.B. Afin d'éviter tout malentendus, nous n'allons pas envoyer les fonds récoltés directement in Inde. Nous les donneront à l'organisme qui nous a aidé a adopter Bhavishya en leur demandant de faire le don auprès de l'orphelinat d'où elle vient.

Sunday Link Sharing (SLS)

Le résultat du concours du SPD (le Speed Demon Photography) à savoir la photo à très grande vitesse. C'est remarquable!

The result of a photo contest which is called the Speed Demon Photograph. Truely amazing photography!

Since Sophie mentioned "Grand-design" after my SLS of last week-end I am giving you the Channel 4 link of also a fun program I enjoy watching on DVD as we don't get British TV here.

Puisque Sophie a mentionné "Grand-design" après mon poste de la semaine passé, je l'inclus dans celui de cette semaine...J'ai quelques DVD que j'ai bien aimé regardé puisque nous ne captons pas la chaîne de tv anglaise "Channel 4" ici.

From Luxembourg, with Love

C'est quoi ça? What is this?

...and who is preparing breakfast? Et qui est-ce qui prépare le 'tit déj?

Sunday Link Sharing (SLS)

I guess I am not 1/2 Dutch for nothing...
Je crois que je ne suis pas à 1/2 Néerlandaise pour rien...

Here are some of my favourites...
Voici quelqe uns de mes préférés...


Magazine & website:

Landleven. Thank you Dolly & Yvonne for my monthly subscription you gave me for my birthday! I just looooooooove it!

TV program & website:

"Eigen huis en tuijn" which means "own house and garden"I am always bumbed when I miss it and forget to record it as I was last night!
Ce qui veut dire "Sa propre maison et son propre jardin" je suis toujours déçue lorsque je loupe un épisode et que j'oublie de l'enregistrer.

"My Child's incredible story" contest

I found a web site that has nearly the same name as mine. It is a very interesting blog indeed. Ruby has some very good ideas, pertinent ones as well...

Anyhow Ruby is throwing a contest called "My child's incredible story" which I think is a nice idea. Here are the rules...

1. Only parents with adoptive children of Indian origin (In India or outside India) are allowed to participate.
2. Word limit is 750 words.
3. Only one entry per child is allowed.

Here are some more details:

Top four entries will be selected for the publication on the Indi(AA)doption
blog in July.
You must send your entries in Elglish language as an
attachment in Microsoft word file and email to indiahopehouse@gmail.com
Physical
copies of the entries at our physical address will not be accepted.
We
respect your privacy and if you like to send a photo (it is not required but
makes the story compelling when a face can be put to a name) of your child,
send
a high resolution digital photo along with your entry for publication.
Last
date to send your entries is June 15th, 2007
Good luck.

You can read more on his blog by clicking here.

Bhahisya boom a ta tête...

Voilà ce qu'elle raconte depuis hier après-midi...

"Bhahisya tombée paterre, boom a ta tête, Bhahisya vôôôôôômi après pipipital vu doteur vu maname après mal a tatête".

Voilà comment nous avons passé notre lundi de Pentecôte à l'hosto!

Heureusement rien de trop grave...une petite commotion.

The Namesake...

...Has any of you seen it?

I jst got an email from Dolly telling me that she & Yvonne went to see this wonderful film tonight.

Here is the resume of the film I got from our local movie theatre:

"This film tells the poignant tale of a young couple who leave their home in Calcutta, India and move to New York, hoping for a better life. Their children are born in America and due to a series of mix-ups their son ends up with his pet-name, Gogol, being issued as his official name. As Gogol growns from boy to man he suffers an identity crisis due to the differences between the generations..."

I am working for a date with Mark...doesn't that seem pathetic??? Well he is away and not due back until Sunday so you can imagine that next week might be quite busy for him at work!

Lack of professionalism in Luxembourg / Bhavishya's christening

Living in Luxembourg can be so frustrating. By that I mean there is such a lack of customer orientated service it is unbelievable. I have to go back and ask 3, 4, 10 times companies for a quote. People abroad ask me why I don't go somewhere else and ask for a quote. They don't understand it is (nearly) everywhere the same with a few exception.

When we decided to change the horrible grey sad tiles in our hallway and stair case for some lovely off white natural Burgundy stone it was such a headache. Same with the garden. We needed someone to Landscape it and we needed heavy machinery. We had 4 companies do the job as some of them started it and never came back! I don't understand how these people don't run into financial difficulties!?!

We are now in the process of organising Bhavishya's christening. Our good friend Olivier will be baptising her in a chapel here in the village on August 18. As we are going to be between 30 and 50 people, Mark suggests we get a caterer. So I looked around and asked around...there is one that has an excellent reputation in Luxembourg. I speak to the owner, she asks me to send her an email with all the details. It takes her one week to reply! I am not impressed! I write back with some basic questions, it takes her 10 days to reply. At this point I am not at all impressed! I call her and ask if I can taste some of the stuff. She replies only if we order for 6 people minimum (nb the rate would be 180.--Euro). She said some of the salads and some of the deserts can be purchased in their shop directly. So yesterday I go and get some of the salads and deserts for us to try (Mark, my good friend Dolly, Pascal our friend who is supplying the wine and myself) . Do you know what I am told??? "Our customers never ask to taste they just trust us!" Excuse me??? I beg your pardon??? What did you say? Who is the customer here? Who will be paying? There are two things I have learned when I was working as a conference / event organiser is never ever trust anyone but yourself and trust your gut feelings.

Well my gut feeling is Adios Wengé...I am not having you cater our daughter's christening. If you are already so careless now what will it be on the day of the event?

Needless to say that the wine we are going to serve has already been selected and is in our basement! Pascal you are not only the best sommelier of Luxembourg 1993/1994 but to us you are simply The Best!
Merci pour tes précieux conseils et par-dessus tout, ton amitié !

More about the wine later…

Dolly thank you for being who you are! ;-)

Laurence

Nous t'embrassons bien fort

En passant...

I'm so so exited...I've just ordered my first batch of Moo cards!

I made a cool design for Bhavishya's christening.

More later ;-)

Chui super exitée...je viens juste d'effectuer ma 1ere commande de Moo cards!

J'ai fait un design super cool pour le baptême de Bhavishya.

Plus de détails suivront dans un autre poste.

Irresistable/irrésistible

I found some pictures of Pashmina when she was just a small Puppy (She was 11 weeks old!)

J'ai trouvé des photos de Pashmina alors qu'elle (Elle avait 11 semaines!)

Dans les bras de son nouveau Maître / In the arms of her new Master...it was her "Gotcha Day" .

In our Garden...look how small she is! She was weighing nearly 8KG! Today she is nearly 30KG!

Dans notre jardin...regardez comme elle est petite! Elle pesait à peine 8KG! Aujourd'hui elle pèse presque 30KG!

Her 1st Toys / Ses 1ers jouets

On dirait Milou sur le vieux canapé d'étudiante de Maman!

She looks like Snowy on Mama's old student couch!

Avec nos meilleurs voeux!

A l'occasion de ton anniversaire, Chère Mimi, nous souhaitons que tout tes rêves deviennent réalité!

Avec toute notre affection.

Grosses bizzz

M, S, B & P

Stricking a chord...

Tonight as I was reading an article in the new issue of "Adoptive family" magazine to which I subscribe, I kept going back to this one sentence Stacy Clarck wrote in her "How was the bonding?" article.

So I thought I would share it with you guys:

"A biological child is first a part of you, and, from the moment of birth, you and she gradually separate. An adopted child is separte at first , moving toward you until you two become one."

N.B. Her first child is a bio child, her second she adopted.

Sunday Link Sharing (SLS)

A friend of mine was telling me about a wonderful website which is fun activities and crafts to do with kids. I love their printables.

• For the crafts click here
• For the printables click here
  
  Bhavishya is still a little young for most of them but my God Son Louis isn't and it would be a fun activity to do with him!
  
  You all have a great Sunday we are off to Stacey Kent's concert.
  

Those born between 1930 and 1979...

My good friend Stina sent me this one! I love it and thought some of you might as well! Thxs Sweetie - miss ya! When are you coming to visit us?

READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH BY JAY LENO. TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because, WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computer’s, no Internet or chat rooms....... WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good. While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

“Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?! “

Jay Leno

Bhavishya's new pet / Le nouvel animal domestique de Bhavishya

Ça c'est un chien!!! This is a Dog!!!



Non, je rigole ce n'est pas le nouvel animal domestique de Bhavishya...
I was just kidding, he is not Bhavishya's new pet...

Son nom est Hercules, il a gagné la distinction du chien le plus gros. La race est un mastiff anglais, Son cou mesure 38 pouces et il pèse 282 livres (environ 129 Kg). Il n'a que 3 ans...

His name is Hercules. He won the distinction of The Biggest dog. He is an English Mastiff. His neck measures 38 inches and weighs 282 Lb! He's only 3 years old!

This Saturday May 12

It's birthmother's Day. Apparently it was first celebrated 17 years ago in Seattle. This year it is celebrated (mainly in the US) the day before Mother's day. Well the trick is that Mother's day is not Mother's day everywhere in the world. For example Mother's day in Luxembourg is celebrated in Late June and in the UK sometime in March.

Now America has the "Open Adoption" route. Some parents chose this route and one can find a collection of cards for the birthmother on this site.

To read more about birthmother's day you can click here.

I know I will be thinking of K, Bhavishya's birthmother. I shall probably light up a candle in her honour, I shall be praying for her.

Buon Compleano!

Tanti Auguri alla mia Madrina!

A prestissimo Bella!

Tanti Bacci

Bhavishya, Mark, Saskia & Pashmina

Joyeux Anniversaire

On penses à toi...

Meilleurs voeux,

Yoyo & Co

Where did she learn?

I just cannot get over how grown up Bhavishya looks and acts these days...

J'en reviens pas à quel point Bhavishya a grandit dernièrement...

Anyhow where did she learn how to strike a pose like this? Look at her leg!

Où a-t-elle appris à poser comme cela? Regardez sa jambe!!!

My daughter will never cease to amaze me! Ma fille ne cessera jamais de me surprendre...j'étais littéralement scotchée!