Very Small Feet

Have you seen Moana? Wasn’t it joyous. And all the songs!  So when it was announced that Lin Manuel Miranda is doing another cartoon for Disney I was super excited.  It is great watch it but don’t read further as I might SPOIL it for you …  196 So it’s a story about family with magical gifts that serve their community. I really felt all the Mirabel was feeling as in never being good enough for her abuela. Hit me right in the feels but then we were shown the story of abuela Alma…. And then I thought of people feeling Afghanistan last year …. And tears and tears run down my face…. And that abuala was actually recovering from trauma….  However like that picture of little Afghan girl skipping in airport in Belgium, this film is happy.   Gift is not magic gifts but gifts are family, people who you love. It’s just wonderful!  Music and animation just so good.  I saw some one else doing a review said that it was like “you be you” that’s also true. It’s about ...

Unless you lived under the rock you know that 2020 is pretty much cancelled... some one sneezed, didn’t wash hands and didn’t think that handles are dirty. And well we have it. The world is on standby the world is social distancing and self isolating... that is a responsible thing to do. It’s scary and uncertain.  But it’s spring.  Nature is waking up and it’s beautiful.  It’s worrying that some of us are off work, kids are off school.... but this too shall pass, like everything else.  It is normal to worry and stress but how often you are in the house with either just yourself of the others? The  opportunity and endless and are only limited by tour of creativity.  And with internet there are so many positive things at your finger tips from cats videos and singing people in high rise Italian cites and news that water in Venice is so clear that the fish came back.  Stay strong, stay positive! I will be too... 

Happy what ever holiday it is.  I want to say that I have reflected on life on the day of the dead but I was just tired and a bit sleepy all day long!  We did some Halloween things, like decorated the house, paint our face and carve pumpkins! I don’t know if you seen my post on Instagram. Have to say doing a pumpkin with a kitchen knife or with a tiny chisel thing from the kit (you know the ones) ... chisel thing is so much easier!    We didn’t go trick-or-treating since we live on the main busy street and well not many neighbours decorated their houses... and well some one didn’t want to wear his consume. Maybe next year! Some folks think it ok to start Christmas season.... well you do you but it is too early! Although one lady at work said she is doing her shopping today to avoid all the rush. Good luck to her! I am just happy the half term is over and it was a good one. Apart from 4am start time yesterday, thank you cat for running around like a mad loony and waki...

This has been a very big week for us.  Our little boy started going to school full day. And it’s been so stressful... for me. Everyone else seems to be just fine maybe a little tired!  After we dropped him off I had a little cry outside the school. Because I am emotional like that and Edgar just turned 4 last month.  Not that he isn’t ready for school. I feel very scared for him. He still not really taking...  He is talking a bit more, made great progress over summer. He also now ok with other kids, which is a super great development! But still needs support, speech therapy, and he makes real progress! He now has a one to one teaching assistant, and she is great! And if we started the week with us taking him right into the classroom now he is happy to walk himself!  So neither of us had a lay-in and lazy start to the day. This week has been full on. Work, school, meetings and appointments... and Egg even that school is super tiring he won’t sleep past 6am... But...

Some one told me that apparently the Russians were taught how to smile for the football world cup.... but then when I met some of the higher management of the company I work for I was told I am the smiliest person they have met. I am currently a waitress... so you get the irony, Russians allegedly learning to smile not at their friends and family, but I have been hailed the smiliest person. And when I was in Switzerland, while my Russian friends were happy to hang with each other and have Russian food parties (which actually were pretty fun, I have never craved Russian food), I would wonder off to my Asian classmates or with Brits in the pub. So one my mates once told me that I was a different Russian.  When living abroad most people look for familiar language, food and such. I guess it’s a comfort thing. But, you know I am ok without it. I don’t have any Russian speaking friends, well yeah my doctor is from Russia but we don’t hang socially. And sometimes I don’t get my mothers jo...

This is finally happened. I convinced I think the hubby to get a cat.  And husband being husband really wanted a kitten because he is really worried about he cat not loving him so he will try to convince a kitten to love him.   Meet Buffy the small rodent slayer!  I don’t know of her mouse catching abilities but how cool is her name.  She is about 16 weeks old, super active and loving. But poor thing had a rough start. Her brother and Buffy were rescued from some house in the valleys both in a bad state and their mama was only 6 months old. This is very very irresponsible pet owners.  And it looks like her little tail been broken in few places when she was little. It is still funky but doesn’t affect her in any way.  She is playful cat and insists on sleeping in our bed. And she is ok with Egg carrying her around. That’s also good for him to learn to care about others.  However... this happened while Buffy was sleeping on the sof...

Last two weeks were busy. As you know Egg started preschool and my mother came to visit.  And of course nothing is easy with us... she was meant to get here on Wednesday so I got the phone all at 4am Wednesday morning asking how far was Gatwick from Cardiff. Yes at 4am. And yes this sort of question.  Turns out her plane was delayed by 10hours...  And when she got here on Thursday she didn't ring to say what time she would arrive to Cardiff. Damn I was worried. Even called my step dad but reassured me saying it's probably her phone... and you know it was.  We had lots of fun! We went to street food festival, Egg wasn't a fan at 1st but did enjoy playing with all the fun tuktuks  It's a great place to take your family and friends and even grouchy kiddies. Even in the rain. It is still here for his weekend so if you haven't been go eat something fun and sit in a cool disused transport. We been to the pool twice, drunk beer, shopped pretty much till we dropped and ...

I have made a cheese pie today. According to my hubby it's not a pie it's more of a pasty. I told him it's a Russian cheese pie. And my award winning chef if the hubby is ok with it... it's puff pastry, mature cheddar, mozarealla, butter and egg oh and egg wash.      As I was smelling it backing away in the oven, I was remembering my grand mother. She passed away a while ago, I actually don't remember how long we don't have her with us. But I do remember her. Her soft hangs, kind and nurturing persinalty. Gosh I could have A in maths if she was alive then, she was a maths teacher. And she taught me to saw, embroider and encouraged my crafty nature in any way.  It is nice when you think of family members  when they passed away you just feel all warm and cozy inside. Lots of love to you all xx

Oh summer! I love the hot weather, splashes of water (lake, sea, ocean puddling pool) and I love going to see the family in Russia.  So me and my big guy when for couple of weeks there. After the flight from hell we actually fianlly made it to Chelyabinsk.  Weather was good. Or goodish. Warm and only few days of hot. What did amaze me is that Russian parents seem to freak out and over dress their offspring. Yeah I get it you are worried. But why on earth your kid is wearing a hat and a jacket while you are walking around in shorts?! Oh well nevermind, not my business I guess. Poor sweaty kiddies!  Edgar was allowed to play in the cars in the driver sits... He loved that way too much! And he was also the usual confusing self... Won't do anything fun to start with but then of couse we couldn't stop him. Didn't want to go to sauna ( traditional Russian banya) but then he was in tears when we were taking him away. Same with puddling pool, won't go in...

Second year in the row we moved in December. Worst time ever! I have complicated relationships with December. I always worked in hospitality so for everyone it is most wonderful time of the year for us it the busiest time of the year. It's mad! And by the end of that I really can't be bothered with all the Christmas thing and especially not the new year. I have seen too many drinks on that holidays. If it was in. Russia then yes please let's have New Year's party but here no no and no again. But for me December it is also my birthday. It is hard to get friends to come in due to Christmas parties for they are away so I would rather not celebrate sometimes. I know it is no one's fault but I do feel very needy and very alone when my peeps can't make it. But I understand! So last year we also moved from Brum back to Wales.... It all went terribly wrong with the rental so when I was supposed to plan holidays and enjoy my 4 month old looking at the Christmas l...

I think it has been about two years since I have been home in Chelyabinsk. Oh that's would be south of Ural mountains in Russia. I missed my family dearly.... I was looking forward to this and was anxious about this break too. But it was wonderful after all! Firstly the travel with 10 month old is tricky. But he charmed everyone and been entertain by the entire plane on the way from London. We also discovered that paper cups make excellent tethers! Yes, who would have thought! Weather was excellent, hot for me and Edgar and cool for our daddy. He and Gramy arrived 3 weeks after for one week.  We spend a lot of time with family and friends and Edgar has been centre of attention! And very spoilt...  I actually got to hang out with my cousin,  we left babies with grandparents and run away for a day!  It was nice, we be been to the cinema (doubt films are something else) but I did enjoy my self. Who knew that it is ok to have beer in the cinema at...

Some days are better than others.... and if the sun shines!! Me and Egg went to the baby group, which was more that a toddler group and one mum was actually great to chat to. Think we might be back... Same day we had beautiful sunshine! And his passport has arrived!! This means we can see babushka and dedushka in Russia. And I can just pass Edgar to them and roll back to sleep... also chap massages.... and other pleasantries. And then we had fun in the sun!! Eggy went on the swings for the 1st time ever and seem to really like it to our mutual delight... With baby's soft skin one can never be to careful poor boy had to be covered in sunscreen...  However we cannot travel on Daddy's shoulders just yet. But not long now we think.

Hello! Happy New Year and such. I know its has been absolute ages since I have blogged... well we have moved again! And it was a complicated one. We never had such trouble with renting a place, no offence to anyone but estate agents in Rhondda are s%$t. Actually shocking! But it worked out for the best. Hubby got a new exciting job in Cardiff so we packed our bags and moved. Plan was to move near to Stephen's parents, that fell throw at the very last moment. Amateurs at The Landlords lettings in Talbot Green. Yes, I am naming names! Then I looked at a cute bijoux new build in Pontyclun but the owners had to think about the extra on the bond because of Molly Cat. Then they never rung, so I called back been told that they are showing the house to "some one else just to be fair".... I thought I was renting not buying. Oh well Watts & Morgan estate agent could have that property rented since December but it is still on the market. And we actually got a cute mais...

It's a nice feeling actually... you feel like the centre of the earth sometimes, but sometime I just want to say that "just chill I'm not dying I'm just pregnant".... But it is nice to have a party thrown in the honour of your roundness and be this centre of everything.  So my amazing in laws, and Martin (brother in law) especially,  organised me a baby shower! I was feeling a bit down and such, waddling around just waiting for stuff to happen and being by my self most of the time, so it was a welcome change to go back to Wales, see everyone and have people fuss over me... Feel really grateful and loved! Thank you all so much!! And big thank you for amazing gifts! This baby will look amazing straight after birth... and much needed perks for me:)  We have sampled the baby foods... as per some strange baby shower tradition... Well this made me want to make my own. Don't know how long I will last with that but the idea is in my head. ...

It is hard some times to live away from your family... You do not see each other very often, frankly I do not know what we did before skype and smart phones!? But then I guess I saw them every winter for Christmas and New Year. I haven't seen my mother in the flesh since last October when we all went to Ukraine for my cousin's wedding, but it was literally for 2 days And I had so much planned... She never been to Birmingham before, so I thought we can see the Jewellry Quater museum, Botanical Gardens, Art Gallery, do a canal walk....  But between getting lost in town, drinking Guiness and unpacking our house... we didn't do much of the planned things:( I feel really guilty about this... But I have been told not to be silly do not over do it and brush my hair. Last thing never happened! She also helped us to plant things.... Lots of things.... But garden post is still to come;) Think the botanical gardens was a success... Thin...

I discovered that we were expecting just few days before my birthday and I was shocked I guess... Pleased but still it came as a shock. You hear about people trying to get pregnant for months and maybe years, we were lucky enough to get baby from the very 1st time we had a go at this. Hubby is very proud of his "handywork". Funny right. Well after having a 1st scan it all now is real and I didn't just put on bit of weight. There is a baby growing inside of me. And I am 13 weeks pregnant... I am going to be a mother.... Now that is a title I don't think I will get used to. Things did not change much really... Or have they and I just did not notice? We went ice skating for my birthday and I already had tiny something growing in me. Also got to say restaurants and bars should make more booze free options.  Well I am lucky enough not to have morning sickness, I just was tired most of the time and I find my self being very unmotivated. I was going...

2013 was really eventful for us and a very busy year... we moved 2 times and not just around one city but we moved from Cardiff to Bath and then from Bath to Birmingham. And at the moment we are on the look out for a new place, not in another city thanks god! We had a lovely family Christmas, Steve cooked I provided the entertainment by falling asleep, chasing the pets around and doing dishes.  We actually had a Christmas part II just this week when we went to see the family in Wales. Great time was had:) lots of food and laughs... actually I think I worked my abs coz I was laughing that much!! Wish all the holidays were like this. I have only few goals for this year... Stay healthy, run another half marathon and just be happy. I know that sounds a bit hippy-ish but hey I can do amazing things when I put my head to it! think this picture is an excellent example of "when I put my head to it". This handsome beast now lives with Owen. I wish ...

When I was younger the only thing improving my summers away from the city to Belarus and Ukraine was the Black sea and sandy beaches... I always forgot that I had all the kids to look after and they were all girls... It was a night mare! So I actually have not seen any of that side of the family in years... as long as this dude been around! Last time I saw him he was not born yet he was just a huge belly on his mama! It was one very long trip from Birmingham to London then from London to Moscow and then after 3 hours wait and talking to a really annoying dude, to Odessa.  But then there were delays and mother was really not happy with me:) But hey we got to drink sparking wine in my room and bitching about stuff. Also Ukrainian tv is funny, coz you know it's in Ukrainian.  But I truly love Ukraine.. Always has.  We went for lunch at my aunt's I met the groom, he is charming and super tall. Guess hubby is not the tallest in the clan anymore:) ...