Let it snow, let it snow, (don't) let it snow

It started snowing last night and we've got a thin covering everywhere. It's still a little rainy though so it doesn't feel like it's completely taken a hold (yet).

Audrey and I went to our weekly Mums and Tots group, now looking increasingly mis-named as another guy has joined this week - bringing the tally up to 3 - I think we need to get the EU (Diversity Division) to look into our plight ;)

Audrey was her usual nosey/interested self and was fascinated in the other babies/toddlers there. She kept going until she completely flaked out and fell asleep. At this point dad took the opportunity to eat a big slice of delicious cheesecake - the group is called 'bumps' and babies after all.

Mums and Tots is so exhausting!

Dariusz Dziekanowski

I was lucky enough to play 5-a-side last night with Poland's great Dariusz Dziekanowski. Just in case you've never heard of him he got 63 caps for Poland between 1981 and 1990 (playing against England in Mexico '86) as well as playing for both Celtic and Bristol City. At a conservative estimate I would say he was at least 10 times more skillful than me, and, despite being about 6 years my senior I suspect that his knees and back don't ache as much as mine do this morning!

Separated at Birth?

Australia elected a new Prime Minister yesterday and handed outgoing leader John Howard a humiliating defeat. Being connoisseurs of rubbish TV though, we couldn't help but notice that new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd bears more than a passing resemblance to day-time chat show host (and sometime drag-queen Lilly Savage) Paul O'Grady. Are the two in any way related? perhaps we should be told...

Ginger Bread Men

Sarah, from the British Embassy, kindly gave me some black treacle a few weeks ago (an ingredient that is hard to come by in Poland for some reason). Together with some other stuff found at the back of the cupboard, I used it to make 57 ginger bread men (and women) and a ginger bread Christmas tree.

Amy helped me out by eating the broken ones!

Mums and Tots Christmas Bazaar

Today was the hugely anticipated(!) day of the Mums and Tots Christmas Bazaar. It was held in a restaurant in Konstancin (a posh country area that borders Warsaw). I met up with the Mums and Tots who I know from the group which me and Audrey attend every Friday.

It was a really nice event and very Christmas-ey. Lots of decorations, wooden things, jewellery and crafty stuff. I bought several cakes - (yum), but perhaps in hindsight jewellery may have been a more astute purchase.... Afterwards we travelled back into town to meet Amy, for Audrey's lunch.

As usual Audrey got lots of admiring comments. Unfortunately in the excitement of it all she decided against her morning nap, so as a result she's pretty whacked out this afternoon. We've got a doctors appointment this evening and the poor girl has got to have a couple of routine jabs - not a nice way for her to end the week!!

They think it's all over - and they're right - it is.

In six months time thousands of football supporters throughout England will be looking forward to the European Championships with eager anticipation. Bunting will hang from houses, and hoards of fans with red and white painted faces will crowd around TV screens in bars and sing football songs. Unfortunately for the England football team though, the songs will be in Polish and the team being supported will be Poland.

This follows England’s sorry demise last night to the mighty Croatia – a team Amy reminded me, that is basically the Australian ‘B’ side (a number of their players either grew up and/or played in Australia).

England lost a woeful game 3-2. It was a shameful display, having been handed a lifeline by Israel at the weekend. It was poor at so many levels – the players on the pitch, the management, and the FA ‘decision’ makers. Even the shiny new Wembley Stadium pitch was embarrasing.

Once McLaren has been sacked, who will want to take on the reigns? And mores the point who can sort the sorry mess out anyway? The whole system seems rotten to the core. How many ‘years of pain’ is it now? I think I might need a calculator to work it out…

Audrey has 'her' say

Night on the Tiles!

Audrey enjoyed a Saturday night on the tiles when we were invited to Stefan and Agnieska's house, friends we met in baby-class before Audrey was born. They live in the Wlochy area of Warsaw, which is a short taxi ride from our apartment.

They have a baby boy called Franciszek who was a really BIG baby. Even though he's only 3 weeks older than Audrey he is already about 20cm longer than her. Stefan had invited another two couples round who had babies about 6 months old, so we shared 'parenting chat/tips'. It was a really nice evening and the two of them had laid on a load of nice food and nibbles. I especially enjoyed Stefan's German beer - perhaps a little bit tooo much as it made Sunday a fair bit harder for me! Audrey's head being no doubt considerably clearer as she made the wise decision to stick to milk.

The picture is of Audrey, chilling out on a Sunday in her Bonds 'lounge wear'!