Glass

Glass, originally uploaded by Mrs Flower.

I bought these lovely brightly coloured gel flowers to decorate the playroom window... the girls love it, as do I! Lance even does! The sun was going down and I loved the effect this lighting had on the window.

It's the seemingly little things that make all the difference sometimes!

The postman came....

And with it he brought our passports with Indefinite Leave to Remain!!!!

Woohoo.. only took 6.9 years and ooooodles of money (aaaahh!!) but so glad we finally got it. We can now start preparing for our holiday in August to the States as we have our passports back, and are secure in the knowledge we can live and work in the UK till our dying day should we wish to.

The photos in the passports are sadly absoluuuuuutely gruesome - Lance looks like a serial killer and I look like a rough chav... we were both sick with flu at the time typically

*grin*

*grimace?*

Glad that's another big hurdle we've ticked off!!! Thank you Lord for this answer to prayer!

Chewy loves stuffing her cheeks with food and storing it in her special places.

Chewy loves stuffing her cheeks with food and storing it in her special places., originally uploaded by Mrs Flower.

This lil creature has really become a integral part of the household... she is clearly quite bonkers, madly scurrying around, pushing her little wooden castle over... pushing all her sawdust down her tunnel (thus closing her entrance to the next level in her cage!) etc.

She's mad. And she fits in well because of it. hehe

Where's the bally postman?

Oh ring the buzzer why don't you?

We applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain about 8 weeks ago, and know it can take up to 14 weeks to get your documents and passport back... with the much needed permanent residency inside!

My sister, hubby and I sent in our applications together as we (obviously) use the same ancestral original documents.

She received hers on Friday. Woohoo!!! She excitedly phoned us straight away.

We immediately sat and waited for ours... yes, she lives about 7 minutes from us by road... but maybe, just maybe, we have the same postal sorting office?

Half an hour later there was a knock at the door.
There stood the postman.

No passports!!! No passports??? No passports!!!

So we have different sorting offices - we guessed as much. Sigh.
Ah well, should come soon hey?

So here I sit today. Biting my nails. Looking out the window at the street every 10 minutes. Staying inside and out of the gorgeous sunshine... just in case he comes a knocking! Biding my time...

Postman... where art thou???

They're signing!

I received their all-important email, with my new prospective client wanting to sign contracts, for me to childmind their little baby of 3 months old!!!

It's so difficult sometimes, not being able to read someone. I honestly never knew which way it would go with this couple.

She was warm, chatty and friendly, asking loads of questions with ease.

He was cooler, also asked loads of questions, complimented me on my website and portfolio etc. ... but there wasn't that *connection* made with him, as it was with his wife. I felt he was eyeing me out too much.

I felt on the spot!

Phew. So that's that then.

Goes to show one never knows the impression you've made with someone, when someone is more guarded.

Lord Bingley of Derbyshire

Lord Bingley of Derbyshire, originally uploaded by Mrs Flower.

We brought this little hedgehog home with us when we visited Matlock Bath and Chatsworth in Derbyshire last year... he is gorgeous! His name of course comes from Jane Austen's novel, Pride & Prejuidce... there is a Bingley in the story... plus the Hollywood version of P&P was filmed in Chatsworth House (Mr Darcy's 'Pemberley'!).., so we thought it apt!

In a nutshell!

Here's my story:

I am one of four kids, born in Cape Town, South Africa, brought up by an incredible mum in Johannesburg... she is my rock. Dad was never there... We may not have had a physical daddy but we had a spiritual one.

Jesus!

Life wasn't easy, but wasn't unhappy, growing up, we went without loads materialistically, but spiritually and emotionally and mentally we were fed well... and that has shaped and moulded me into who I am today.

The Bible is actually really simple to understand, it takes so-called *wise* men (preachers/philosophers/theologians/kings & queens etc.) to complicate it, cause wars in the name of it etc.

Jesus' teachings are simple and valid for today.

My Christianity is not a religious one, or one that feels the need for bells and smells on a Sunday morning, it is a living breathing everyday thing for me. It's who I am 24/7, not a cap I wear on Sunday.

Chewy

We have a lil hamster called Chewy who moved in on the 25th April 2009 - She likes to snooze during the day (with the odd snack), and comes out at night... spending hours and hours on her wheel... crawling through tunnels and running up and down the ladder and into her castle.

Her favourite treat is raw carrot.

The kids think she's great ~ and so do we!!!

What does it mean to be 'a professional'?

Why are childcare workers not deemed professionals so often? Do you have to wear a suit to be a professional? Talk a certain lingo? Follow a certain brand?

I am currently doing a diploma in childcare. I have 6 years nursery experience in Johanesburg, and have done LOADS of training courses in London to ensure my service is professional and well informed, and that the kids I mind are looked after very well.

I put my heart and soul into my job. A job I love.

I worked in the publishing industry for many years (was a Senior Graphic Designer in London and had my own design company in Cape Town) and I can tell you that many childminders and the Early Years team I deal with are FAR more professional in their work than the people I worked with in the corporate world.

To be a good professional takes head AND heart. No matter what industry you are in.

Losing 4 kids in 2 weeks...!!!

The 4 mindees are 2 sets of siblings - one is going to school which is far away and I cannot do school run, so they have to get a nanny for him and little sister. The other 2 are moving far away (about an hour from London)!

These kids were my originals so it's going to be tough to say goodbye!

After the initial shock of getting the notice so soon after eachother, I phoned those on my waiting list - and I have already filled the vacancies verbally... just have to get it in writing! The other 2 mindees I have have been wanting to increase their days with me too, which has helped.

Gosh, it never rains, it pours!!! Shows how insecure we actually are when self employed, doesn't it? My income would have gone down to a quarter of what it currently is, overnight!

I just hope these other people sign asap. The one couple are coming on Thursday again - I met the mum, but will now meet dad... and the other couple have been on my waiting list since July last year... and will find out soon what 3 days they actually need.

It's a waiting game...