A couple of weeks ago poor little Maddie had to make the transition from spending her week days playing with her beloved daddy to becoming a nursery kid again. She is only going to nursery two days a week, but each morning when I drop her off she "clutches her pearls" and screams as though she will never see me again. As soon as we drive into the car park of the nursery she starts gasping for air and squealing for cuddles. By all reports this behaviour is fairly normal, but it is a stark contrast to the little girl who used to leap out of my arms to play with her friends at nursery in London. I guess she is a little older and wiser now and has become pretty attached to her mum and dad. I know she will get used to it, but it is pretty heart breaking to have to leave her when she is in such a state.
The other joyful thing about Maddie returning to nursery is the wonderful germs she manages to bring home. She and I have both been coughing a spluttering in unison for the past couple of weeks. Joy, joy, joy!
Apart from her nursery hysteria, Maddie is in fine form. She loves dancing to the Wiggles (and is particularly keen on Leo Sayer... which is a bit of a concern!) and she can't get enough of; reading, playing in the park, going to the pub (in fact she demands a weekly visit to the pub!), singing and hanging out with her best friend Linus. Her favourite book at the moment is called 'The Lady Who Was Beautiful Inside'. It is quite hysterical. She makes a special request that I read it to her before she goes to bed each night... "beautiful inside, beautiful inside, beautiful inside"
Life in Sydney is pretty great... hectic, but great. My beautiful friend Cherie and her husband came to stay with us last weekend to help celebrate my birthday. Cherie is four months pregnant and expecting a little boy. Very, very exciting. She is such a wonderful person and will make the most amazing mum. I am always inspired by her kindness and sense of calm. She has a wisdom that is very rare to find in this life.
We also had a lovely visit from Simon's parents who came to Sydney for a weekend adventure with Auntie Sue and Uncle Gordon. This was followed by a fly-by visit from Uncle Mikey the B-Grade Celebrity. Maddie absolutely adores spending time with her family... There is nothing quite like being with the people you love.
Maddie's God Father Benny has got himself a wonderful job as a Producer so we have seen a little less of him and Richy lately, but the time we do get together is always full of laughter and madness.
We have had a couple of very special arrivals in the past month. Our dear friends Meagan and Martin welcomed little Edie into the world and Gav and Tracy had a beautiful baby boy called Taj. The innocence of a new born baby is just bliss. I must admit, it has made me very, very clucky....
Simes cooked me the most wonderful dinner for my 36th birthday. He is quite the old romantic when he puts his mind to it. He wrote me a poem, cooked me a meal, thrust a glass of red in my hand and we had a good old heart to heart about life, love and the universe. We both miss London more than we ever imagined we would and we particularly miss our incredible London friends. I guess that is the problem with making wonderful friends and letting them into your heart... it hurts when you have to say good bye.
I hope everyone is happy and well. Sending lots of love to all xxx
