Soft southern ways

Another month has passed without a blog entry. Just been so darned busy. Right after Thanksgiving, (we went to the lighthouse again, I feel a tradition in the making) we were off to Maui. Which was great. We have all become totally soft and just two days of rain is enough to send me into S.A.D. mode. And of course now it feels cold to us in California. When we came here to find a house in February 06 everyone on the beach was in duffle coats and big russian hats. We were in tshirts and jeans and laughing at how soft they all were. Now, I'm the cold rife at work every day and have just gone out and bought 2 pairs of wooly tights!! Saying that though, it is December and wooly tights and a denim jacket would NOT have kept me warm in Aberfoyle in December, for sure!

Anyhow, Maui. I had good intentions and made a list of noteworthy thoughts. As usual the list in itself is more entertaining than my usual ramblings. Explanations where the note still means something to me -(note to self: must make better notes).

MAUI - RAIN?

BURNT MEN/SPF MACHISMO

NAZI IN GOLF CART
A jobsworth security guard insisted we get out of the hot tub because the kids were under 12 years old. (lots of old folk in the complex). I tried to argue since there was no-one else in the pool area. He insisted, calling me 'ma am' in the process (which is always offensive to me for some reason). His reasons were a) its a house rule. I argued that wisdom of that one b) it's bad for their health - its too hot . I argued that the hot tub at home was 5 degrees hotter c) they wee in the tub. - to which I became a grossly offended Princess Ann - alike. ' I can assure you sir that my children DO NOT!'
We still got out though cos he wouldn't go away.

LOST MY BOTTLE
Spent a lot of time wondering why I have become scared of stuff. Scared of snorkelling too deep. Scared of helicopter rides. Scared of big tropical rainstorms. Is it motherhood or old age, I wonder? I'm still wondering.

HOLIDAY DISCOVERIES
All the family quality time pays off. I now know that my daughter can make arm farts and my son likes gambling and trucker hats with snakes on.

BIKINIS ARE FOR FLAT CHESTED GIRLS AND OLD WOMEN
I am neither. But now happy that I will one day wear a bikini again without having to diet, exercise or feel ashamed.

HOW VOLCANOS ARE MADE (AND SPELLED)
I knew neither as my six year old pointed out ( I had an e in there somewhere). I now know both.

HOW SUGAR CANE BECOMES SUGAR
The scottish school system should be ashamed of me.( I do know how to roll my own and smuggle vodka into a school disco for under 15's though.)

HAWAII HAS ONLY 12 LETTERS IN THE LANGUAGE.
Honestly. Not a helpful language for the poorly educated and directionally challenged among us.

DR WHO MEGATHON
My kids love Dr Who. We watched an episode each day, when it was too hot, or in the evening before bed. And replayed the entire series on the flight back. Great ressurection BBC.

MOTHER'S LOVE.
I'm not a great swimmer. The waves in Hawaii are BIG. We got bundled a few times. When I had charge of the little boy, I opened my eyes whilst underneath the rushing surf, grabbed him and pulled him to me even though that ditched me on my head, in the process of being thrown upside down I righted him and placed him on his feet, and covered his eyes when I was balanced on my neck in the surf with a bucketful of sand rushing up my nose. It was not pretty or graceful, and he still accused me of letting him go. But I know better.

SURF RASH HURTS
Especially when you are too hefty and not old enough to be wearing a bikini.