Horton hears a woo woo!!

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross To see a fine lady ride on a white horse. With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes She shall have music wherever she goes.
FROM WIKIPEDIA: Banbury was built at the junction of two ancient roads the Salt Way, still used as a bridle path and Banbury Lane, part of the Jurassic Way which ran from the Humber to the Avon.

I am sure that anybody reading this right now is saying....what???? Play along with me people. It's not easy writing about something so huge. How do you give it the reverence it deserves?? Reverence?? What reverence???? This is me...she who gets uncontrollable fits of the giggles at funerals and cries at sappy family moments but only tv shows. Real life...bah humbug..ok.. maybe there was that one time at the Dr.s with Cath when Sue wanted to have my medical license revoked lol!.... but generally...tough chick. Well yesterday I was brought to my knees and I have a hard time trying to think about how I could possibly write about it. And to think that I am so lucky that I will be going through this again in less than a few weeks. Bring out the smelling salts!
February 27th started out slowly. After being up all night, first from the earthquake and then from the flowing waters, Kirsten and Lee headed to the hospital around 7 in the morning. Upon hearing some updates I knew that there was no need to be at the hospital anytime soon. BoB was determined to prove his West Indian background from start to finish (kudos to Auntie Sue for the idea) and he just wasnt moving quickly for anyone. You knew his attitude was...just be happy I am coming at all!

Yes it looks like a Canadian public school but the midwives are absolutely amazing!

We arrived around 4 o clock in the afternoon to find everyone in a relaxed mood. The future Mommy was doing great. After doing a full 12 hours of labour on nothing more than 2 Paracetamol (Advil) she had finally submitted to having an epidural (I may have only needed it one time, but in my opinion the person who invented this procedure should be knighted!!!)

IT 4.30 P.M.
AND MOMMY IS STILL SMILING

The hours ticked by slowly....and BoB was still taking his own sweet time. The midwife that had been on for most of the day said that she expected a birth around midnight. But she didnt know BoB! This was a baby that was already over a week late for his own debut! lol
I, having the luxury of not being needed yet and to pass the time,decided that a quick walk around the surrounding area was in order.

The weather was cool but spring was definitely in the air. Daffodils and crocuses were blooming profusely and the cherry trees were in blossom. The architecture was decidedly old British...

What??? You arent here to read about Banbury, England??

Ok, ok... back to the delivery ward....Well, what can I say..?? By 10 o'clock that night...I can say that the Daddy was still smiling and the midwives were still smiling...not so much the mommy.

DADDY CAN STILL SMILE!

About 6 months ago, Kirsten entered a pool at her work determining, weight, sex and day of arrival for BoB. She had chosen Feb 27th, boy, 9 lbs. 3 oz. About By 11 o'clock we knew that BoB was not going to go along with his Mommy's date prediction.. He would be determining his own date..thank you very much!!!

By this time Kirsty's body had decided that 22 hours without sleep and with all of the hard work of the day, it had just had enough and was going to sleep.

Of course, this is when Lee and I had the most fun.We had to entertain ourselves someway and our usual source was sleeping! lol Cruel people that we are...(forgive him Kirsty..it was my idea, he just laughed at it lol!) we used the disposable barf bowls, which also doubled as fans to cool Kirsty down when needed.. to make a hat for her! lol! I know!!! I t is not the most flattering picture but I promised her at the time that she would laugh someday. And she will...she is my child with the same sense of humour and with the same inner strength, as she later proved.

Around 2 am BoB decided that he was finally ready to start his grand entrance. Even then, with Kirsty doing super human work, he took his time. We would soon find out why. My little girl was a champ though. Or as the midwife kept saying... you are brilliant, Poppet!! and she was. She really, really was. Ok. I may sound like Sally Fields but it is soooooo true!

One hour and thirteen minutes later, the biggest baby that I personally have ever seen arrived. Introducing....

NOAH ALEXANDER JAMES BROTHERSTON
BORN 28th February, 2008
Banbury, England

9 lbs. 10 oz.

OUR NEW BIG BOY

WHAT YOU TALKIN' ABOUT WILLIS?

ONE DAY OLD

It wasn't all fun but Noah is a beautiful big healthy strong baby and you cant ask for anything more than that. Well maybe Kirsty would have asked for a little less resistance! And as Auntie Stacy in New Hampshire said.. I knew it was a boy especially how long it took. My God boys just never are easy, in any situation! And she is right...but we need them and oh how we love them...none more so than this one. And then I cried.

Editors Note

I have to tell you that I found the following blog very hard to write for lots of different reasons. One of the happiest moments of my entire life and I couldnt write about it! lol But I think it is because... although their whole "world" is absolutely thrilled for the parents...the birth of a child...and a first one to boot... is also very personal time and a learning together time.....so I didnt want to say too much out of respect. Also, anybody that reads Kirsty's blog knows that she is a much funnier writer than I am, and so is it really my story to tell? Then the formating problems set in and I was pulling my hair out before it was over.

So I apologize for anything that may or may not have said or printed as well as the late posting. :-)

This is more like it...

Everybody knows that Kirsty could not go into labour on a good weather day (even if a sunny day in England might qualify as abnormal! lol) and although an earthquake isnt technically weather related..the fact that we experienced one at 1.00 am this morning makes me believe that today is BoB's day!

Plan a bridal shower for her and we get one of the biggest snow storms for 2005. Make a wedding date for Jan 2006 and plan it almost a year in advance and you get one of the biggest wind and rain storms St. Kitts has ever had (short of an hurricane- not even Kirsty's luck is that bad!) Move ahead a couple of years and plan a baby shower for this weather magnet, and of course it snows so much that all but one guest cancels!

So today with England experiencing its first earthquake in 24 years, the conditions are right. Kirsty's water broke at 4 this morning and a trip to the hospital has told them that today is probably the day! The illusive BoB is in sight with plenty of time to make the February calendar page! Of course poor BoB will always have to live with the story of how his/her mother ate hot dogs and a jacket potato (baked) stuffed with tuna salad from Costco the night before his birth! lol .....Go Kirsty go!!!

BoB!!!!!!!! Updated

BoB is definitely showing signs of wanting to be released!! Stay tuned!

Some days are better than others. Yesterday was a frustrating one for 2 people who want to be parents so badly. Right now...Today!!! The good news is that tomorrow is another day and the baby will definitely come soon.

Pregnancy, labour and birth is one of the most miraculous events known to man, but if you are a "not to posh to push" person and a control freak to boot (who me??? lol)....add a grain of first time ignorance..or second or third, now that I think about all the ones born in cars or at home or even bathroom floors... and it can also be the most mind wracking. The problem is that no two people are the same. Everyone has their own story... as unique as the new little person that eventually emerges. At the same time, we all recognize bits and pieces in other parent's journeys. But that doesn't make it the same.

You will remember details of the day so vividly...like what you had for dinner...Chinese Food with Jamie, turkey with Kirsty...although to this day I cant figure out why I would have possibly been having turkey on a Monday night a week after Easter?? lol and hamburgers with Scott... and you will remember almost every single thing that happened in that delivery room (albeit in a rose coloured haze :-)) and you will become an absolute expert.... but only about your own experience. And anybody that tells you differently.... is wrong. Even me!

Yes, not even your own...all knowing Mother can tell the real time from the pretend times!! Oh she may fall into the trap....thinking that, "yes...I recognize that symptom..this must be it" ..but she too will come out smelling like dog poop (sorry Lee) and be unceremoniously be put in her place. It is just the nature of the event.

We cant control it. We cant do anything to make it better, faster, shorter, longer. You have heard the stories...no amount of taking mineral oil, doing squats with an old fashioned heavy typewriter, chasing after 2 hyper older siblings, eating spicy foods...absolutely nothing..could make a baby due the 3rd week of March arrive before the second week of April. But the important part was that he finally did arrive...maybe not in the month I wanted or the dated I wanted and maybe with very little warning and maybe a little overdone...but in the end...with nothing I would have changed.

So it isn't a test that you can pass or fail...there is nothing you can do. But wait. And for the you and I's of the world that patience passed over...this is the hardest part. There is one thing that I can tell you with absolute surety...the excitement will be even greater when it really is time.

I know that it is easy for me to say..

Having gone through 3 pregnancies, the final one lasting just short of an elephant's gestation period, I know that the last month is the longest month of your life. The "experts" draw some arbitrary line in the sand and call it a due date. For 9 long months, that is the day you wait for. Then it finally comes and it goes and for most people, the waiting continues. When you are talking about first time parents, so very very excited to meet the little person that they have lovingly created, it is pure torture. The rest of us, knowingly nod our heads and try to reassure that it will eventually happen. No baby stays in forever!

When I arrived last Sunday night..I was the one with the bags under my eyes...the due date was still 3 days away! At that point..Kirsty could still blame her father's genes for hers! lol Nearly a week later and I swear BoB is getting bigger by the day, the bags have been passed on to the parents.










Even the Baby Daddy is getting into the act with the nerves, stomach aches and general tiredness while people from around the world are e-mailing, texting and calling after having dreams that Noah/Mia has been born but this is one stubborn child...hhmmm. ..who's its Mommy?

This is third time I have been here..the first was only for 2 days and I didn't really see too much and the 2ND time was also for a couple of days, passing through to or from London. But this time, I am here for one purpose only and while we wait, I am getting to see much more of the "city that wants to be a city but isn't!" lol and spend time with Kirsty. Milton Keynes is a new "city" built in a country that has revered its historical architecture. The concept is quite amazing. although both of the Brotherston's have expressed doubts about the actual living conditions and are looking to get out,...sooner, rather than later. These pictures dont do it justice... but they even have a complex offering movies, rock climbing, bowling, indoor skiing and sky diving lessons. It is truly amazing.
A trip to the mall brought about the usual sport of people watching...you cant have Barless blood or be married to anyone carrying, even a drop of Barless blood, without getting a degree in being nosey! My Daddy was the king, but I do hear that Kiera McQueen is making huge inroads to usurp the crown! lol

People watching aside, it is grocery stores that seem to be a high 2nd on our list for interest. For example, there is a store in the mall that has a "North American" food section. Of course I had to take a picture of that one.













It seems that Ex-Pats will pay anything to have that taste of home but seriously...2.45 gbp...thats almost $5.50 for a box of Kraft Dinner! Heck...it's cheaper in St. Kitts!!!


Of course (I remember that somebody told me that I say..of course a lot and after rereading this..I have to agree that of course I do! :-)) when we are together, Kirsty and I are still the immature, laughing at the weirdest things type people that we have always been...last night..a trip to Tesco Express (like a Loblaws in Hasty Mart form) brought out the forced leg crossing best in both of us....although lets face it... my bladder may be weak... but BoB has brought about a distinct disadvantage in this competition! anyway...between the "Eat Me" dates, the Tropicana with lots of "bits" and the Benylin for "chesty coughs"... I know, I know...I am excluded from taking this one! ...we were howling.













There is something wonderful about your child having a child...besides the obvious...in some strange way they become your equal. It was never a relationship that I was able to experience with my own mother...first because when I became a parent, I will still very much a child and she herself still had very young children. Then before I really grew up, my mother's illness changed the dynamics dramatically. Today the bags are gone from under my eyes.. ok...maybe yesterday- lol... and besides, I know that if BoB comes quickly, we can just call a firetruck limo that will surely part the traffic and get us to the hospital in time.!!!!!













In the meantime, I consider this a very special time and maybe that is why the waiting is not so frustrating for me. But for everyone else...come on BoB!

Little Did I Know

If you read my last post you will know that when I set off to London to meet BoB, I was wearing a pair of brown tights, a pair of beige knee high stockings, a brown sweater and an "age appropriate" beige long sweat shirt material type sweater thing and a red Scarborough Village PS type red coat. Little did I know that those clothes would become my best friends for the next 3 days!

Saturday night I went to the airport in plenty of time to catch the 11 pm flight. I have traveled a million times before...this was strictly routine....maybe too routine. I swear the agent said.. Gate 171. Anyway, it was gate 171 I sat at from approx. 8.30 At around 10 pm, which is usually when a flight starts boarding, I looked around and nobody was moving...so I continued to sit. Around 10.30 I actually thought of getting up and looking at the board to see how long this flight was delayed but I had my purse, a laptop and a carry on and it was a pain in the ass to drag all the stuff over, so I continued to sit...congratulating myself on my new mature patient attitude! You know that before I got "the look" from the sisters, I would have been up there Dino'ing to anyone who would have listened! lol!!! At about 10.40 I saw a crew of pilots and flight attendants arrive...I thought...oh that is what the delay is. I had experience the same thing when I flew to New Hampshire to see Jamie and Stacy. Besides...still there was nobody moving around me. Finally at 11 pm, I couldnt take it anymore and I got up to look at the board... OH MY GOD!!!! I was at the wrong gate!!!!!!! It was gate 173 and the flight had just left!!!! Now I was sick to my stomach! How could a mature person, going to be a grandmother, miss a flight??? This was impossible!!! I ran up to an Air Canada agent and she took one look at me and said..."I know who you are"....I looked at her for some sort of familiarity and couldnt find anything...I said.."You do?" She said..."You are the woman that missed the London flight...I can tell from your face!" Yes!!! That's me! I had gone from a patient mature grandmotherly type to..The woman that missed the London flight!

They were very nice, considering all the problems I had caused....of course my bags had to be off loaded...security and all. Then she said.."Go down to belt 1 and collect your bags...you will have to recheck them for the flight tomorrow morning." Sure buddy! If only it was that easy.... Down to the baggage area I went, only to be told by the baggage people that there was no way they were going be brought down tonight at that late hour..be back here at 6, they should be here. I even said to the woman...I am not going to see these bags for 3 days am I? She gave me a dirty look and said, "What makes you say that?"

By now it was 1 in the morning...too late to go home and be back for 6... so I took off the coat and the long sweater thing and slept in the rest of the clothes. Needless to say, there were no bags the next morning when I checked. I was assured that either the bags had already gone to London or would definitely be on the flight with me. I waited around for a while but believe me when I say... the priority was getting on the flight and there was no way I was going to miss this one. Do you know what it is like to call your own child, who is 9 months pregnant with your grandchild and say, "Dont come get me..I missed the flight" ??? Everyone of those teenage "irresponsible lectures" came right back in my face!!!
I arrived in London at 9 something that night and Kirsten, Lee and a very very visible BoB met me at the airport and took me to my hotel. Once again, I slept in my now very favourite, but getting tired of it outfit! BTW I did wash out the underwear and socks by hand!!!! The next day, still wearing the outfit I finally got to M&S and bought a change of clothes, while Kirsty provided a pair of pajamas and a razor. That night.. on a trip to Asda (Walmart) I purchased a new set of much needed toiletries. Air Canada in London was absolutely useless...they dont have a live customer service person..."leave a message" and we wont get back to you..type thing!! I was beginning to wonder which would arrive first...BoB or the suitcases! The woman in Toronto was right...it wasnt 3 days...it was 4!!!!

By Wednesday after a washing out in the hotel sink, "the outfit" was ready for rewearing to Banbury to visit BoB's midwife. It was still the most comfortable set of clothes in my possession and I didnt know if we would be staying for BoB's arrival or not. On Wednesday night...word that the wayward luggage had finally landed at Kirsty and Lee's brought great joy! As comfortable and as much as I loved the outfit when I first put it on...enough is enough!!! Today it is my own jeans, a beloved top and a good old hoodie... they might not be granny wear...but Kadie feels great! Now I just need a Noah or a Mia to hold!

The Look has been retired and I am ready!

I now know what happened to Britney...she started to believe her own press. My problem started last summer sometime...ok ok, I know...my problems started way before that...lol...just play along here!

Kirsten & Lee were in the city on their way to Las Vegas and the topic of what my impending grandchildren were going to call me, came up. I was very comfortable with the tried and true Nan or Nana but nooooooo, my beautiful, intelligent daughter said that those names made me sound much older than I was. And who was I to argue with that brilliant logic???

Suggestions started flying like there was no tomorrow. We went through ethnic names for grandmothers, we went through variations of the tried and true...Nancy instead of Nanny..heck we even went through pornographic names...I proudly own a "onesie" that says "I love Poona! " ...Dont ask, we dont want to insult Mr. Harry Poon, deceased...the inspiration for the name..lol! Finally, sister Sue came up with Kadie...Cath may forever think of the name as the nickname for Kraft Dinner but BoB's Mom is happy and I kind of like it...so I will be Noah Alexander James' or Mia Georgia Grace's.. Kadie.

Anyway...allowing the flattery to go to my head...I met Cath, Sue, Dave, Kiera, Adam and Luke at the mall last week for a swap of "stuff" and bon voyage lunch. I was wearing a pair of tights, a pair of shoes that were definitely KB picks (in fact Sue said...if they hurt, they have absolutely no redeeming qualities!) and a sweater which seemed long when I put it on but in retrospect was not long enough for an impending grandmother to be wearing! A dual look that only sisters could give, told me everything I needed to know..."you are not 20 anymore and you look foolish!" I got the message..loud and clear. The next day while was at Sherway picking up some things that Calleigh's mommy had requested, I saw a top that was much longer and more appropriate for my advanced age, went with the same brown tights and would be comfortable to travel in.

I want to thank the 2 of you for showing me the light...even if it was only in your eyes!! I am going to be a grandmother!!!!! and now I am ready!!!

Lets Take This Show on The Road!

Every morning sister Cath has been nagging me about whether or not I had updated by blog and every morning for the past 10 days I have had to say, "no." But then I remembered all of the times that I have nagged her and she listened to me, so it is only right that I give her the same courtesy. I don't know exactly what the problem has been but I guess, in some ways, I have already checked out of "Hotel California", if I ever really checked in. Despite all intentions, there is something about the tenuous ending to this saga that has prevented me from jumping in with both feet. I know, I know!!! I do remember saying sometime near the very beginning, that it wasnt possible to do this, and I was right. LOL Since this blog is supposed to be about St. Kitts and I hadnt really taken the veil off and I was tired of writing about my immediate area and beaches and the south east peninsula, I got writers block. Like a real writer! ha ha. It has also proven to me that someone who can do this on a consistent basis, deserves much more credit than they have been getting!

Oh believe me, the intentions were good...I was going to write about the unique ingenuity of Kittians and their own style of bumper stickers. I was snapping pictures of cars everywhere.
And there are lots more where these came from! I even started writing this one but after I read what was written I was bored and didnt want to foist















it on any one else!

I also wanted to show everybody what "downtown" looks like and I started taking pictures for that one, but I never finished taking them and so that one died on the vine too!


If you get caught stealing from here->
or
<-<-here



Then you will
<--- go here Our version of Business Depot---->

The idea of the absolutely diverse architecture crossed my mind but it seems that I have become totally dependent on the pictorial aspect and I have been so busy (hahaha!) that I only have 3 of those pictures. A beautiful historical Georgian building, a view of The Circus (not a North American circus...an English circus- think Picadilly Circus but waaaaayyyy smaller!) on a soggy day,







and an example of the weird and wonderful that is so St. Kitts! The picture on the right is a close up of the front door...please notice the voodoo warning!












And there is so so much in between these two styles that I think it may of just overwhelmed me!

As you can see, lots of topics ran through my mind in the past 5 weeks and I really did have the best of intentions, but time has run out on this first stage. On Sunday I am going to Canada to get ready to be a grandmother (a subject which definitely deserves a page of its own!) :-)!!! When I come back here on March 16th I will be have at least one and maybe two grandchildren... but you can be sure that I will be sharing that news with lots of pics on here- no writer's block expected on that subject...I will guarantee it!!!

I also promise to write at least once from Toronto but in the meantime...another topic I considered was..Lets Visit The Airport...so this is where I will be first thing tomorrow morning... the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport...
The view from
the outside at the front and the view from the inside looking out.

A blurry inside picture and some blurry eyed travelers with an inside joke box.. that was always a little over my head!












A closed gift shop and a view of the runway.



So this is where I will be on March 16th with a brand new designation. I will be back!

Solving World Problems

It is very serious issues like these that have prevented me posting for a while.. It is very time consuming trying to solve the bigger problems of the world! lol

Background information: My brother Al is a hot pepper sauce fan of the highest degree. When Kirsten and Lee were married 2 years ago they gave out a St. Kitts combo of pepper sauce, local rum and teas. My brother loved the Mrs. Greaux's hot sauce and purchased a couple of bottles from a small duty free store near to their hotel. Last year sometime he asked that anyone going to St. Kitts, to please bring him back some more of the same. He had even e-mailed the company owner (Bernie Greaux) and got all the information on where the product was sold. The response should have raised a flag immediately, but I didnt really give it too much thought. Then for whatever reason, nobody actually brought the hot sauce back.

During an email exchange last month about this blog, Al said, "I am actually reading it for the day that your trip to tour the Mrs. Greaux's factory is there. Then I know that the elusive case of pepper sauce is near."

I responded, "I can only imagine that a tour of Mrs. Greaux's factory would be like going to see the Wizard of Oz! Do we really want to know what's behind the curtain?? lol The topic of your hot sauce request has come up frequently and (how many bottles do you want?) the shipment will be arriving in Canada on Feb 10th"

Al took offense at my attempt at humour and told me so. So as to not prolong his ire, Jamie and I went to the supermarket and searched for the pepper sauce. I fully admit that neither of us really looked at the label, noticed the Greaux label and took the balance remaining on the shelf. To compound the situation, Jamie went to another supermarket downtown to purchase the remaining bottles that Al had requested.

I was so proud! I had to argue a little bit about the previous e-mail (I am a Barless first and foremost! lol) and his offense taken but I sent him an e-mail letting him know that I had purchased his product:
"Please notice from the attached picture that the Cisco's hot sauce, although in a plastic bottle, has a professional tamper proof lid. I also know that Cisco's is aged by different years, in barrels on the his verandah but is the sauce of choice in most homes and restaurants on the island. Nonetheless, the sauce is in the house and one step closer to your table "

Well......if I was sitting on my laurels for 30 seconds before getting knocked off..I was lucky! lol The response was quick.

"This is not the Mrs. Greaux's sauce I am speaking of!!!!!!! It says V. Greaux's????? How do you get from V to Mrs? V could stand for Victor? Even the address is wrong."

I had to run into the kitchen to look at the bottles. Al was right... it wasn't Mrs. Greaux's hot sauce, it did say V. Greaux. We now owned 8 bottles of the stuff..Jamie had bought 2 for himself! Believe me, St. Kitts is not the place to be going back to a supermarket and saying, "I would like to return 8 bottles of hot sauce" What the heck was I going to do now?? Al would never let me live this one down! I started running the issue by everyone I knew... with the most common answer being that they were one and the same sauce. But they didnt actually look the same and Al was quick to point this out,

 "I have to tell you I am making that "tccck" sound to signify my digust

Okay look at the attached picture.  This is what I mean by North American bottles. Cylindrical bodies with a
long neck...if I asked anyone what the bottle contained they would say "hot sauce" .  This is what the
Mrs. Greaux's looked like. Not a bottle as if Scott and Randy decided to get some old water bottles
and fill them with an acid concoction.  I am telling you neither of the two in the picture would I
be dumb enough to think you could sell to Canadians.  The one I have is neat and clean.

The other thing is that Mrs. Greauxs is more solid.  When you pour it, it comes out like the texture of
wet coffee grains. If you look at the picture you see separation.  No separation with Mrs. Greaux's.  "

I started pointing this out to people...because now I was secretly agreeing with Al. Then one morning I was looking in the fridge for something and low and behold we had a bottle of the original Mrs. Greaux's. I poured out a little bit of each and had Jamie do a taste test. He said that there was a slight difference. Oh!! What now??? I was becoming obsessed with the whole issue. Scott would run the other way when I brought it up.

Then last Friday night we went to have pizza at Sean and Robin's house (absolutely amazing pizza btw- !!!) and of course I had to raise the hot sauce dilemma. Immediately Robin said, " I will call Bernie and ask him." "Hi Bernie, its Robin...Can you tell me what is the difference between Mrs. Greaux's pepper sauce and V. Greaux's?" Bernie: "Nothing, just the packaging...one is marketed for the tourists and the other is for locals." Robin: "If there is a difference in the sauce, what is it?" Bernie: "Different batches."

I immediately had to e-mail Al with the news and a picture of the bottle I had. His response:

"yes that is the stuff. I guess I am a sucker. I will take the V Greax's if Bernie is confirming this. Could you taste to make sure since I am not convinced. :)"

Scott was beside himself that I had doubted his knowledge in the first place..but he absolutely lost it when I brought up the subject again, let alone the doubt and even after having spoken to Bernie.... .he still doesnt quite get the Barless mentality!! lol... Of course I will be bringing some of each so that Al can do his own taste test... because....I get it Al!

So now you see what has been occupying my mind and time these days! To make the ending even happier, Kirsten has now requested some hot sauce be brought to England and she doesnt care what kind it is! A couple of bottles of V. Greaux's on the way!!!