When Andrew is away I try and make sure that I have something to do every day that involves me leaving the house and actually talking to people. It's so easy to get caught up in uni work and everything else in our little house (like cozying up on the couch and reading) that sometimes I get to the end of the day and realise that I haven't gone outside.
This week I've made the effort to get out every day, and it's been great (I'm off for lunch, shopping and dinner with the girls in a few hours). 
I also try and make sure that I do things that I would usually do if Andrew was here but can't be bothered to do if it's just me. There's been birthday cheesecake, me-created chicken and potato bake, bundt-pan cakes, and a little clothing reconstruction. 
I've missed Andrew like crazy, but it's been a good week. And I got some couch-cozying in last night and watched the new Hairspray, SO fun!
I know that we're probably going to be moving sometime soon so I should be downsizing the stuff we have to lug about, but I also realise that these may be some of the last chances I have to buy funky stuff in Holland. 
It's hard I tell you, hard. 
So I bought smallish stuff, it mostly fitted into one calico bag so I figured that it was ok! 
I scored brooches, necklaces, a tin (which I smelt before I bought, a good habit to acquire), a wooden thing, a mini bundt pan, a little red suitcase, a few odd pieces of cutlery and a little jewelry box. 
Now the only problem is that I'm heading out kringlooping again with some friends on Friday. 
This is a dangerous, dangerous situation.
This little critter turned 2 yesterday. 
There was a part-ay last night and I went and helped Rebecca set up. We also iced the cake which was a hit with the Birthday Man. It was made using Rebecca's Swedish grandma's recipe. You make a cake, cut it in half, spoon orange juice over the cut sides, spread it with jam, spread again with mashed banana mixed with cream and then sandwich the two halves together. It was good, I even had some for breakfast today!
Nafta also had a lunch date with me a few days ago. We had a great time eating sandwiches and noodles on the floor, playing 'ice-creams' with our mortar and pestle, and Nafta insisted on walking around the house with a photo of Lilly Mama (I'm Lilly so therefore Andrew is Lilly Mama!). I guess the two of us come as a package.
I have flip-flops and sandals galore, little slip on shoes, plenty of fake converse hi-tops, and a few other non-wet weather options. 
Now that the weather is getting colder I'm on the lookout for some boots-practical, waterproof and warm. 
These are two of the options-the ones with the white wool are winning at the moment even if Andrew told me they look like gumboots. They're just warmer and more likely to keep my feet happy, which means a happy Calli.
If I wore gumboots for my wedding shoes surely I can get away with them as everyday shoes?!
Unfortunately we forgot out camera so we have no photos of the event, but it was essentially a shallow pool set up in front of the Olympic Stadium with a lane rope down the middle. We got inside a deflated ball and then it was filled with air. They pushed us into the pool and we had to get to the other end by running/crawling/flinging ourselves about in the ball. 
Andrew and I (the only people over 13 in the line) had a go and it was SO much fun. My only problem was that I couldn't get the ball to move anywhere! Andrew had made it to the end of the pool and was half way back when he looked and realised that I was still rolling about in the same position. 
Eventually I did make it to the end, but I was laughing so hard by then I think it was more by chance than my efforts to make the ball move. If you ever get the chance to do this, you HAVE to give it a try, my abs are still aching from laughing so hard.
