Renegade writer

One would think a technical writer, of all people, would understand the benefits of reading instructions beforehand. Not this one, apparently. Look what happened when I plugged the money into the photo booth before reading the step-by-step instructions.

Quelle surprise!

It went off without a hitch. And to think the guys thought we'd forgotten or didn't care. Despite all the grumbling that 40 and 70, respectively, deserved a party, my husband and father-in-law finally got their just desserts Friday night. They didn't expect a thing – the trick was throwing the party over a month after both their birthdays!

More official news

We're almost there, folks. We've reached a crucial step in the ongoing saga of our house sale. The sale of our four-bedroom home in the beautiful market town of Nantwich is almost complete. We "exchanged" yesterday and "completion" is set for July 7th.

The house has been on the market nearly a year and "under offer" four months. What a long haul it's been. Here's hoping we make it through to the final stretch.

The champagne is cooling.

It's official...school is out!!

Kassie finished school two days ago. Since then she's been partying it up and making emergency trips to the doctor: first for an unexplained bump on the head which pained her mightily, then for a buzzing in her ears which turned out to be an inner ear infection. I told the doctor yesterday we'd have to be on death's door to return today (however, she may have left behind her cap, necessitating a repeat visit sometime soon).

She has a few day camps set up for July-August but otherwise we intend to try to fit into my schedule time to hang out, swim, go for walks to the park, meet Daddy downtown either after work or for lunch, and amble down to the friendly neighbourhood Dairy Queen for ice cream. In about a week we're making a trek by train to London, Buffalo, Toronto and Kingston. She's psyched! (Me too.)

I've finished half of my current manuscript. It may be some time before I return to it, as we're expecting a busy summer. If our luck holds out—already the British pound has dropped in value once again, so we can't be sure—we may actually move into a new home before the end of August when school resumes once again.

No half-term birthday

For the last four years my daughter has had a day off school on her birthday thanks to the British school system. This year, attending a Canadian school, she must trot off with rucksack strung to her back just like any other day. She finds the idea insupportable. She doesn't care that her classmates and teachers will all have the opportunity to convey good wishes; neither does the idea of bringing treats to school brighten her mood. By golly, she wants a day off school!

She's not getting one. She has but one week of school left, while her British counterparts must suffer through another two months! Who's the lucky one, I ask you.

Look, Kassie, Mommy made you a birthday ecard. Does that help?