A rare meme

As you must know by now, if you read my blog, that although I'm always incredibly flattered and elated to be selected for one of these blogland features, I'm terrible at replying to meme's. This time, however, as my good blogging friend Wildernesschic knew, I couldn't resist her tag.

Where were you five years ago?

Apart form being five years younger (and not realising how wonderful that was), I'm glad it's not 2005.

This was the year when my boy left home and started university, and I cried my eyes out at the start of every term after I'd dropped him off. The terrible sense of loss was overwhelming, even though at the same time I was incredibly proud of him for having got himself a place at Oxford.

Luckily Daughter was still at home and at school. She was making friends and the gang that more or less has held together until this day was forming. Here they all are having a Halloween party in a bit of our house which is now part of the kitchen.

As for us, we were busy travelling. That year in April we went to New York to celebrate our birthdays. It turned out to be a sunny, unseasonally warm week. But looking at these pictures I can clearly - too clearly - remember the mixed emotions this trip caused. 

This is us having lunch at newly opened Moroccan tearooms in Soho. My fake smile is the result of feeling pretty shabby and jet-lagged. I'd had a facial that morning and my hair was greasy from a head massage, and I was drinking tea. Those of you who read my blog regularly know how I feel about tea....the lack of coffee was making my head spin.

Another fake smile picture; I really don't do very well in photos. Just as well I'm not a model...(yeah like that's the only reason.) This is taken in Battery Park, just after we'd hopped of a boat that had taken us to Ellis Island. You must go if you ever have a chance - to my amazement I found details of distant relatives who in 1928 had emigrated to NYC from Finland.

Yeah, I know this is touristy, but this guy (or gal?) was pretty impressive.

A view from the Ellis Island boat.

A street we passed every day on our way down town from Soho House New York. I can't remember what it was called now but I had to take a picture. To me this is a typical residential street in Manhattan, and where one of my fantasy flats in the world is situated.


Where would you like to be five years from now?


I actually would not mind if I was in New York again in five years time. I think I might enjoy the city a little more now. But more than that I'd like to be in print, with a published novel or two. And living in a city somewhere. And I'd like to be as happy as I am now, and as healthy. I'd like the children to be settled (my mother-in-law always used to say this and until recently I never understood what she meant), happy and healthy -  and of course for my lovely Husband to be happy and healthy too.

What's on your list to do today?

Sort out the car, which I've done.
Pay bills, some of which I have done.
Write - yet to do.
Go to the gym - doubtful this'll happen now...
Reply to an email about a tax return.
Sort out a professional course for myself for the autumn.
Have lunch with husband who's stomach thinks his throat has been cut.
Organise the weekend.

What five snacks do you enjoy?


Chocolate
Coffee
Unsalted nuts
Dried fruits, like cranberries or apricots
Finn Crisp rye crackers

(That list reads like it's me who's crackers.)

What would you do if you were a Billionaire?


Buy a big house on the island in the  Finnish archipelago
Buy a big house in London
Give the rest away to family and friends


And now to to the passing on bit. I completely understand if you, like me, are bad at this, but I would be very interested to hear what the following bloggers were doing five years ago:


Mr London Street
Waiting for John
North West London Girl in the Country
The Divorcee Dares to Dream
Chic Mama


I can't wait to hear your stories!