Market day

I've had a full, busy day, involved with another Fair Trade market.  At a different church (Methodist) this time, but most of the same vendors from last time. 

The event went well.  Not the huge crowds and big spenders that we attracted in the run-up to Christmas, but still a good turnout, and we ended with the general plan of doing it all again next spring.

One of the best parts of these events for me is getting to talk to people, and watching as people make connections with each other.  Over here, a shopper listens with interest as a vendor explains the origins of a necklace - the Indian village it came from, the artisan's story.  Over there, a local teacher discusses with a Guatemalan fair trader designs for a unique product range to sell at her school.  A couple of longstanding FT advocates sip coffee and strategise on how to keep on growing the movement.  A woman from Kenya explains to a volunteer from Taiwan about the soapstone carvings she's selling, decorated with scenes from African daily life, and they chat about their respective home countries.

Much of what appeals to me about fair trade is the connections that it makes between people: between producers, vendors, purchasers and advocates.  All these different people are brought together, to become part of a friendly revolution.  It's a movement I feel very happy to be involved with.

Princesses and poetry

So, what did you all think of The Wedding then?

I wasn't even sure I was going to watch it, but since the Man and I woke up at 6am anyway we decided we would.  In fact, we'd first been woken up at 4am by the shouting of a roving  BBC World Service reporter, getting wildly over-excited interviewing not very interesting members of the crowd along the Mall - but we'd switched her off and managed to sleep for a couple more hours.

Well it was all very lovely, wasn't it?  Beautiful dress.  Good service.  Liked the indoor trees.  Nice to see the guest list included every British person known to Americans - the CNN live-cam lingered lovingly on Posh 'n' Becks and Sir Elton, and also Helen Mirren in that yellow top hat (what's that?  Not Helen Mirren?  Oh, that was the actual Queen...).  Presumably Ricky Gervais was also lurking around in the background somewhere. 

The Girl and Boy were up in time for the balcony scene, including the kiss(es) - yuk!  The Girl proudly sported a Union Jack on her T-shirt when she set off for school, but the Boy kept a lower profile.  I had genuinely expected that the other parents I usually see on the morning school walk would, I don't know, congratulate me or want to shake my hand or something - but no, despite the massive media build-up over here, no-one seemed the least bit interested.  I guess they don't want us back to reign over them again, after all.

We've noted that the happy couple have opted for the title Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, rather than Albany, which was the other hot favourite, and given that we have connections with both we wonder if we're meant to take that as a sign.

In other news, our own Princess had an achievement today, scooping 2nd prize in the local library's annual poetry contest.  Great work, Girl!

Jersey Notes

The Man writes...

1. It's illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey. The only other State which has this law is Oregon. You might think petrol would be more expensive as a result, but it's actually 10% cheaper than New York.

2. In North America a building has a 1st Floor or a Ground Floor, not both. Except for our hotel in Cape May. This is how by booking a 2nd Floor room we ended up one story/storey higher than we intended.

3. Getting to our 2nd Floor room wasn't as challenging as climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse. The view from the top was worth it though.

4. The view of lighthouse at sunset was particularly special. Living on the East coast it is a rare to see the sun set over water.

5. At several places on the beach, a hurdles race for giants had been set up. Or maybe not. We never found out for sure. Suggestions?
 

The big reveal

Much of my day has been dedicated to working on a new leaflet for Friends of Five Rivers.  This included taking a walk at 5R itself, for inspiration purposes.  I saw plenty of geese, and little birds in their brightest come-hither plumage, signs of much beavering in the Beaver Tree Pond, plus I had an encounter with a tiny, fearless chipmunk. 

After what has seemed like weeks of cold and rain, two days of much warmer weather have brought on the foliage no end.  It's been humid too (my hair is a good humidity gauge - today it's all over the place).

You are no doubt all on tenterhooks about the Girl's mystery animal, so without further ado (drumroll)...

It's a squirrel!  It was in the zoo.  We never said it was a "zoo animal". (Unlike the Mute Swan, which was definitely an exhibit, with a board which described how in Britain most swans belong to the Queen).

Arms, legs and teeth

As chronicled previously in this blog, I am blessed with a small mouth, which has caused me all sorts of dental woes over the years.  Unfortunately I have passed on this wonderful gift to my kids, the Boy in particular.  Today, rather dreading what I was going to hear, I took both children to see an orthodontist.

Orthodontistry is big business in this country, where just about everyone aspires to a perfect smile.  Every other kid you meet has a mouthful of metal.  I just assumed both my children would be prime candidates - so I was surprised and relieved when the Girl was dismissed from the chair with a "Not too bad, maybe braces further down the line, but for now we'll just observe."  Yay!

For the Boy, alas, a different story.  He needs remedial intervention now, possibly multiple kinds, and it ain't gonna come cheap.  But ah well, surely the sacrifice of an arm and leg will seem worth it one day when our son flashes us his knockout Hollywood grin...

You have another day to squint at the Girl's animal challenge.  Though methinks some of you aren't taking it entirely seriously.

Bit of an animal

It wasn't supposed to be a day off school, but the Girl took one anyway - she had to really, as she'd been sick in the night.  She felt fine after the event, as usual, and she happily embarked on a reading marathon as soon as I got back from the library with a stack of new books for her.

A few days ago, at Cape May County Zoo, a healthier Girl snapped this mystery picture as a challenge for you blog-readers.  Can you spot an animal?  She says that if you can you will earn her greatest respect (and let me tell you, that's some prize).

Off to a tee

We spent much of the day at home.  There was an Easter egg hunt in the morning, but although the kids love the treats I fear the whole exercise is more about indulging their mum these days.  Too bad they're in such a hurry to grow up.

The Man did a good job of painting our recently-stripped downstairs loo, and was eager to get out after that.  Library and YMCA were ruled out - closed for Easter Sunday - but the driving range next door to Hoffmans Playland was open for business.  Man and kids had fun bashing golf-balls about while I stood by - tennis elbow and my historically unreliable temperament around golf clubs precluding my participation.

Hoffmans was looking on the sad side, virtually empty in the drizzly late afternoon.  This can't have been much of a holiday week for them.  But at least the Easter Bunny put in a cheerful appearance, waving at passing cars, and eliciting a few beeps in return - even a quick friendly waa-waa from a police car.

No more bank holidays over here for a while - not like you lucky folks in Britain, with a Royal wedding and May Bank coming up, after another day off tomorrow.  Jammy lot.