May 2009

May 09

Ok so it’s been a while since our last post…thanks to all those who have been chasing me for news, it’s nice to know that at least three of you read it! (**,)

So what have we been up too? Well it’s been all about the Relly’s recently…meaning relatives of course! My sister Danya, her hubby Marcus & my gorgeous niece Roxanne all came to visit…Marcus & Roxy went to Ohio to visit some of his relly’s out there, leaving my sis & I to entertain ourselves & entertain we did! We packed a fair bit in to our time which was very precious as we very rarely have time to spend alone just doing what we want just the two of us & it was great! They arrived one afternoon at STL airport & managed to give us the slip or so I thought at the arrivals hall…little did we know that STL airport has two arrivals halls & they of course came in at the one that we were NOT waiting for them at which as a bit surreal! But at least now we know. We only just made the flight as there was torrential rain (did I mention the rain followed them here?!) & the traffic was crazy mad but luckily their plane was delayed & we all made it in the end. The morning after they arrived was dull & grey…I couldn’t believe it after I’d been telling them it’s never grey, two days in a row here but of course it was grey, damp & chilly yikes! On the Saturday morning we went to ‘The Donut Palace’ (because we’re in America & it’s the done thing!) & bought a nice big box of warm, fresh donuts for breakfast…we all felt a little sick after but it was worth it because they were soooo yummy!

We tried to visit The Arch downtown on the Saturday afternoon & it was a lovely sunny day at last but we’d left it a little late so even though they let us through the airport style security we couldn’t actually go up which was a shame but a nice afternoon anyway. On the Sunday we took them to see the historic St Charles & the famous ‘Main St’ which is all olde worlde with cobbled streets & is also close to the River which wherever you see it is sort of all brown & rivery looking (yes I am well aware that rivery isn’t a real word)! It was Easter Sunday so the shops were shut & we were the only ones out as it was cold but we Brits are a hardy bunch aren’t we!? After that we carried on up to Lake St Louis to visit our fellow brits ‘The Clarkes’ for Brownies (hand made by moi) & tea! After M & R left for Ohio we did all sorts of cultural/touristy/shoppy stuff! We went to LOTS of craft stores (for my Sis who is very crafty) & I was very patient…not sure if Danya thought I was as patient as I thought I was being though! On the first day we were alone we were late home & missed the girls coming home from school on the bus (that was a first for me since I’ve been here…(did I tell you she was a bad influence on me!?) luckily we were only two minutes late & they make the kids get back on the bus if there is no one home & they were dropped off on the way back up the street….the girls were VERY cross with us I can tell you!

We went mall shopping to our local mall which has all the ‘usual suspects’ Macy’s, Dillards, Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret…Abercrombie & Fitch where the clothes were so tiny we thought we were in the children’s section a full size fairground carousel (as you do!) & various interesting eateries including The Cheesecake Factory which along with being a really lovely bar/restaurant has the most extensive dessert/cheesecake menu that I’ve ever seen & also had the opportunity to try…if I’m not careful I will look like a huge cheesecake when I return to the UK…but life is waaaaay too short not to at least try some of these places!

We checked out the STL Art Museum which was cool & was our slice of culture for the week! We wandered about being oh so impressed by all the paintings & various artifacts but got a little giggly in the Modern Art section…which was waaaaaay to silly for us…call that art?! I’m sorry some of it was not art…but let’s not get into the “What is art?” debate here eh!? The museum was huge & has three floors; we managed two but felt full of culture but empty on food so left for lunch after a few hours!

We visited a very posh mall…one like I’ve never seen before…a place you dress up to go to & even the bags hanging off the baby buggy handles were designer…it had very nice carpet, valet parking & big comfy sofa’s with matching cushions to rest awhile upon!! It also had a reception in what looked like a very nice hotel lobby complete with a highly polished receptionist & the toilets…or bathrooms as they call them here were huge, like your own mini suite! The shops were a little different also(!) we had Saks 5^th Avenue, Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton & Neiman Marcus where the ladies who help you prey like very made up vultures & outnumber the customers by about 4 to 1! We had fun perusing all things sparkly in Tiffany’s & the designer bags in NM by Marc Jacobs, Armani, Prada, Jimmy Choo etc, it was a very interesting experience… there were lots of very rich looking ladies who were all definitely lunching rather than working…not sure about being looked up & down by an 80 year very well dressed lady in her Chanel pumps whose eyebrows were higher up on her forehead than mine were though! On the way home from the ‘posh’ mall we went to an American farmers market in another quaint little place next door to a train line…it looked a little like a film set & such a contrast to the mall with its fruits & veggies & home cooked produce etc.

We finished off the week with a trip to Silky’s for frozen custard (fabbie!) a visit to meet the American lady who got me into trouble with the law (remember…? Out dog walking?! How could you forget!) As she wanted to meet Danya & see if (her words, not mine) “she was as hilarious as me”….not sure what she meant by that!!? I don’t think I’m particularly funny actually! Also managed to fit in a visit to the spray tan booth (for me & yes my feet were bright orange the following morning & it was worth it for the laugh I got catching sight of myself in a full length mirror totally naked with a shower cap on my head & cotton wool balls stuck up my nose! We went out for girly cocktails with Mrs C & left G in with Mr C looking after the girls with beer (beer for the boys not our girls!) & the Wii! We larrrffffeeed lots over the course of the week over various things & once scared Harley when we were laughing so much we were crying about an innocent remark about Pearly Kings & Queens which still makes me feel like giggling when I think about it now but is sooooo one of those you needed to be there kinda stories & really wouldn’t be funny if I told you so I’m not even going to try!

The time quickly came round for M & R to come back to STL & we crammed in a few last shopping & downtown trips & made it up the Arch finally & the view was just as great 2^nd time around & all too soon it was time to go back to the airport & say our last goodbyes…& it was back to the four of us once more but a great time was had by all! Watch out though…my mothers on her way! (**,)

This month I’m loving… having a lovely clean house when visitors arrive!

This month I’m not loving… cleaning for visitors!