And a very happy birthday to Akra who is *mumble* 36 *cough* today!

For those interested, he got a camera bag for his birthday – and we went to Beefeater for our celebratory meal instead of McDonalds (phew!).

Ten years have never flown by so quickly. For those who don’t like schmaltz, look away for a second:

Akra, I love you so much, and marrying you was the best thing I ever did. Here’s to at least another five decades together.

Okay, you can look back now.

And what did we get ourselves for our ten year anniversary? We got ourselves a 1991 Conway Cruiser of course! Lots of romantic weekends away in the future… camping… with the kids. Oh well, can’t have everything!

We did find the travel scrabble while tidying up the garage ready for it though, so that’s all right then.

Some conversations you wish you’d never started..

Me (thinking out loud): It must be horrible being a mummy hen. There you are having lots of babies, and some bastard keeps nicking them and eating them.
Akra: Just because hens periods are more visible than other species…
Me: Ew. I so didn’t need that image.
Akra: Hey, it wasn’t me who started a conversation on the reproductive cycle of hens!

I love you, Akra.

… to my lovely husband and the father of my two children. I love you so much Akra…

In a fit of organisation last night, I decided that I’d like to make up a compilation CD of suitable music to play at home to relax me when I go into labour. I started to sort through the tracks on MusicMatch to see which would be appropriate.

I complained to Akra half way through, that I couldn’t find my Deep Forest album anywhere. He gave me that particular look that only a long-term partner can give when he knows you’re being particularly silly.

“I don’t know why you’re bothering,” he said. “You’ll only end up playing Five at top volume. Actually, having Radio 4 on would be just as good. I know, I’ll make a compilation CD of every Blunkett quote and news item – you’ll be so busy yelling at him that you won’t feel a thing…”

Hrmph.

… go to my fantastic hubby, Akra who wrote me a script to do a latest picture thumbnail from my new photo blog in my sidebar. Enjoy.

This time around, Akra yet again demonstrates a complete lack of sensitivity for my pregnant cravings. The conversation went something like this:

Me: I really fancy some chips from the chippy.

Akra: They’re not good for you.

Me: So?

Akra: I don’t feel like going out again now.

Me: Let me get this straight, you’re making me go out in the dark, a pregnant woman alone, to get my own chips?!

Akra: Yes

Me: Look, I’ll blog about this, and you’re so not going to come out looking good in it.

Akra: I never come out looking good on your blog.

Me [trying a different tactic while getting my coat and shoes on]: If I don’t come back, I’m dead in a ditch somewhere.

Akra: Take your phone to ring for help.

Me: Well that’ll be a lot of good … “hi dear, it’s me… I’m dead in a ditch… going to be a little late.”

Akra: [just laughs]

Well, I’m back, and needless to say, I’m not sharing any of my chips.

In just under a week’s time, the Pewari family shall be heading to the sunny lands of Spain.

Akra’s parents own a villa out there, so we shall be staying out there for a week with friends of ours who have a daughter the same age as Akra Jr. We did the same last year and it was very successful with T (the little girl) and Akra Jr being more or less self-entertaining giving the adults chance to relax too. I’m very much looking forward to it, especially as I haven’t seen them for ages and want to catch up on all their news. Also, Akra Jr has missed T very much since we’ve moved house, so it will be good for him too.

Last year, everything was planned to military precision weeks in advance – packing lists, detailed discussions on what toys we should take for the kids, etc. Then we got to Spain and found out that Akra had left the keys to the villa on the dining room table back in Croydon. This year, I’ve barely started thinking about it and I really ought to start planning at some point before the flight time. We’ll probably leave the passports behind this time.

Anyway, Akra Jr being a bit older this year, entertaining on the flight is going to be a little more interesting. He’s got his own seat this year (thank goodness) and I’ve got him a little Bob the Builder rucksack to contain his own “hand luggage” stuff. So far, the ideas I’ve had are: some paper and felt tip pens, a CBeebies magazine, a carton of juice and some nibbles, a book. Any other ideas will be gratefully received.

My stuff? No idea. Will see what I throw in the bag Monday night…

Akra and I were watching the remake of Planet of the Apes last night, when I started complaining that the music was much louder than the talking. I kept having to turn the volume up and down during various parts of the film. Akra is very patient and nice, and fortunately isn’t easily irritated with me (just as well, really).

I then commented that just about every dvd and video released “these days” had disparate volumes between orchestral and speech, which rapidly developed into a major whinge about the recording quality you get now.

Then I stopped.

I realised I sounded exactly like my parents who would always complain about recording quality and how they could never hear the speech properly.

Oh no. I’m turning into them. I’ll be complaining those Americans on film always talk too fast to be understood, next…