BABY

I have always promised the few faithful readers that I would not make this all about baby. But I just have to share. Bess started officially crawling today. I am gobsmacked! She's been taunting us for some time, rocking on all fours and moving backwards. I was sitting here a few minutes ago typing an email when all of a sudden she was heading for the door (why is it they always know where the door is??!!). I pulled her back to start position and she did it again! Result!

Earlier, she discovered our bookshelves. Ironically, she was in the pregnancy and child rearing section.

SUCCESS WITH HORTICULTURE

I was a bit nervous with my second summer of flower boxes. I did manage to successfully maintain some beautiful heather all winter but you'd really have to be an idiot to kill that stuff. So when it came time to plant some summer flowers, I was nervous. Last year, Mom helped. This year, it was all me. I'm proud to report that my petunias are blooming and below is the proof. I owe a shout out to my lovely neighbor Lester who watered them for me last week while I was Stateside!

Just kidding! That's actually a Gold Medal winner from the Chelsea Garden Show I attended last month! Pretty gorgeous eh? It's Downderry Nursery who specialize in lavender.

Seriously, here are my little petunias.

GB vs. USA

After a week in the States, we have to say that the Union Jack looks pretty good in comparison. However, here’s a list of the things we miss most about the good ole US of A.

10. Service with a smile: No, really, we are paying you for service too!
9. The cost of doing business: In the States, a dollar is a dollar - not a dollar eighty.
8. Mexican food: Don’t believe the hype about Taqueria. Time Out must be getting kickbacks. You just can’t find decent Mexican in London. Nothing beats Burritoville!
7. Soft water: Would it really kill you to soften things a bit? Soap is supposed to lather.
6. Wide streets: Broken side mirror = no fun.
5. Gatorade: There is no substitute! Lucozade is really just carbonated p*ss.
4. NY Post: Defines the tabloid newspaper. Rupert, please duplicate here - your UK publications don't match it.
3. Iced Coffee: Message to Starbucks UK – plastic cup plus ice cubes plus hot java makes a terrible iced coffee. Somehow your US stores got the memo.
2. Shoe shines: Come on folks – they already have cobblers here – would it be so tough to add a bit of polish?
1. OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

GRADUATION

Extra, extra, read all about it. OLDS had graduated. As loyal TJ bloggers will recall (and we appreciate your loyalty given our weak posting record this year!), OLDS was given her name to commemorate her drunken sailor look post feed. Well, we are pleased to note that she has indeed outgrown this nickname. I am also pleased to report that she now laughs when her parents burp. But anyhow, on the eve of her 10 month birthday, we’ve renamed her BESS.

PS: Here's a recent picture.