My breakfast...

I love breakfast! Can be a croissant and coffee, the full English one with bacon and beans and sausages and mushrooms. It can be an American one with pancakes.

At home, during the week, it's not that fancy... But I need my coffee, that's for sure. Coffee is one of the more expensive things here in Amman. I get mine from the Brazilian Coffee House (there is a shop in Sweifieh mall and one in City mall). I love the smell of freshly ground coffee. A lovely full bodied and yet smooth colombian one, I buy 250g for 3JD.

So this morning I had my coffee, from my old Bodum coffee presser. For the little story, it has made many many coffees in Denmark (from before I was born), then in France and now in Amman. I enjoyed my coffee with some bread I bought yesterday and my homemade strawberry jam. I love making jams it's so easy. 60% strawberries, juice from a small lemon, a dash of grenadine sirop and 40% jam sugar and that's it! Yummy!

Back to blogging... one more try!

Well let's start by saying Happy New Year 2012 cause it's that time of the year. I can not believe that I have been away from my blog for 7 months. Please don't think that I have been doing nothing in these last months!... an extra pair of little feet have joined the family and I should really change the name of my blog to "Bibs, Babs, Bobs and Bobsy in Amman". 2011 blessed us with the arrival of a gorgeous little man. And for those with kids, you know how tired you get at the end of the pregnancy (a lot of sleep when Bibs was napping...) and how much your life changes with a newborn in the house: feeding, sleeping, changing nappies, ah and feeding again and again and again... but there is something very refreshing about having a newborn.

So I haven't really had time to discover much, but a few things have changed in Amman! Like the opening of Taj Mall in Abdoun and the arrival of H&M, Spinneys (and baby food, like Ella's Kitchen) and many other shops. But I will get back to all that.

The other thing new is my IPhone 4 which I absolutely adore! (not the 4s, but one can't have everything in life!)) - so while I might not be able to write as much I would like, I have installed blogger on my phone so will be posting pictures as well! Amazing thing technology... well that is when i have been able to switch my app from Arabic to English... because that's one thing that hasn't changed: my level of Arabic - not that I am particularly proud of it...

Once again Happy New Year, hope it will be a good one!

My Bobsy is 5 months tomorrow! 

2 years ago...

we got married... 

the best day in our life... before the arrival of our princess of course!

She makes me smile

Bibs is growing so fast. 14 months and a bit already! She has just started to walk and is so proud; she giggles all the time. Last week we were in a hotel lobby, she was walking holding my hand and screaming "haaaa" "hooo" all the time. She got all the attention from every single person, and was so happy about it.
Since she has started to toddle a bit around she started to wear shoes - now she always wants them on, well not exactly: we put on socks and shoes - we take off socks and shoes. Dozen of times during the day. Every time she laugh - she thinks it's hilarious.

Since she was a tiny baby, I have been reading for her and she adores books. Her new passion is for my recipe books. She'll sit and look very seriously at a recipe, get my attention and say "hmmm hmmm" pointing at a picture with a dish on. The best books are those with animals though, she listens carefully to all the sounds I can make and then sometimes she tries to repeat what I say.

Bibs loves when I cut her nails, specially the toe nails. She'll find my nail file and come with it, sit down and point on her toes - I know that means "mum get the nail clippers will you!" - and then we need to put a bit of cream on as well. She copies everything she sees us do. Daddy puts hair gel on in the morning and she sees it, at some point during the day she'll grab a tube of cream and pretend she does her hair.

The way she cuddles her soft toys, specially the last one. A true daddy present! She'll sit on him, lay on him, give him cuddles and kisses.

She couldn't stop laughing when she saw her new friend sitting in her stroller.

Her 2 other favorite soft toys: Peter Rabbit and little Rabbit

And then I love... the way she empties all the kitchen cupboards, and sometimes a pack of spaghetti as well; the way she laughs when she knows she is going to take her bath or the way she whinges when I don't quickly understand what it is she wants. The way she "dances" in her car seat or "sings" along to a song.

And I could go on and on...

Suddenly she is not our little baby anymore... she has transformed into this little girl, with so much personality. I love being mum. I love spending my days with her. I feel so fortunate to be able to stay at home and see her grow.

Finally! Some planning to do

Arriving over Mauritius

I cannot tell you how much I look forward to seeing that again! I have been waiting and waiting, done some more waiting and finally I can write this post: our holidays are nearly booked: Mauritius here we come, beginning of November: off we are for a little over 2 weeks of sun (oh we have that here), okay then, the sea at 5 minutes from home, gorgeous food... Creole, Indian, Chinese... Trees, big public gardens where we can take Bibs for a walk, to feed the fish or the deers or sit on the tortoise. And of course the most important the family. My little princess is going to spend time with her 2 sets of grand-parents and that's really something I am looking forward to. My parents have decided to come as well. It is going to be a small family reunion.

don't really think that Bibs can sit on one of them!

but surely she can try to feed the deers

We are so excited about going. We haven't been to Mauritius for 2 years now and we both miss it a lot. Then of course the planning of the holidays... what are we going to do, where are we going to eat, what hotel should we treat ourselves to? The hotels in Mauritius are amazing and generally the service is really good, so we always spend a bit of time in a hotel. The Mauritian people are very nice - and I am not only saying that cause I am married to one of them!

Grand Baie, village in the North of the Island

Very old tree in the Jardin des Pamplemousse

33 days to go!

Eid Mubarak! and some childhood memories

All my best wishes for Eid Al-Fitr!

This week-end Muslims around the world will visit their families to share food and gifts - show their solidarity, respect to their loved ones. It reminds of when I was kid: when my grand parents were still alive we would drive to Denmark every Christmas to celebrate with our family. We were living 2000km away and it was just the way it was. I loved it: packing the car, taking my pillow and getting settled in the back of the car. Before we were out of the village we usually had to drive back to the house to check if the iron was unplugged or because we had forgotten this or that. Then the whole drive through France, Germany, take the boat and arrive in a very cold Denmark, but full of Christmas spirit! We used to live with my grand parents in their apartment. Christmas Eve Day, my grand dad wanted me to come with him and I had to visit all the other "old" people in the building. It was very important for him that I went with him and even though it was boring and that I couldn't really see the point I still went, for him. Years later, after my grand-dad had passed away of course I could see the point - and as I was usually away from the family or my parents friends, for years I wrote Christmas cards and send my wishes: away for me to show my love and respect.

You might wonder why I talk about this: well first of all I believe that all "our religions" are not that different from each other - we might honour our God in different ways but when it comes to festive seasons all the traditions are the same and made for the same reasons: honour God and keep families close together. Then there is an article in the paper today about this Eid tradition of paying visits and the fact that the younger generation are less interested in the traditions, when they are "forced" visits. I think it's a shame that younger generations tend to forget traditions or can't be bothered with them. I don't know if it's education or just our society that changes so much. Maybe it's because we knew that we didn't have a choice and nowadays everything is just open for discussion. Whatever it is I hope that I will be able to transmit to Bibs the importance of traditions.

Well, well. Yesterday we went to do some shopping an apart from food outlets and supermarkets everything was closed to celebrate Eid. The streets were quiet. We saw people nicely dressed going to visit their families and big reunions on the terraces.

Once again, Eid Mubarak!

Ramadan Kareem!

Today is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan and so I wish a very blessed month ahead.

The decision was announced yesterday during a ceremony that took place at the King Hussein Mosque. The start and the end of Ramadan are decided after the sight of the crescent moon, known as Hilal. According to the Jordan Times, the sighting did not take place in Jordan, but the decision has been based on Astronomical calculations, and it is the first time that astronomy decides when the Holy Month is to start, this is despite a local fatwa, a religious edict, which says that the crescent moon must be seen by at least one person, in order for Ramadan to start. The Holy Month lasts for 29 or 30 days until the next new moon. The sighting took place in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Golf, though.

So what does it mean for us? well what have I discovered? I went to do grocery shopping this morning at Cozmo and it was business as usual - Safeways looked closed though - but then I don't really go in the morning so I don't know! Restaurants are closed during the day, only hotel restaurants are open as usual, you can get alcohol. I went to pick up Bobs at the hotel just before Iftar (the meal Muslims eat when they break fast after sunset) - and the roads were very deserted at that time. Some of my friends have told me to stay away from the roads a couple of hours before as drivers are tired, hungry and want to go as fast as possible to wherever they are heading. Tonight our street is very quiet, we usually have kids running around playing outside, couples on an evening walk... One more thing is that all business times are reduced, and that means that Bibs will see her Daddy more during this month. I am sure that I will discover more as time passes.

Where did the water pressure go?

We are back in Amman! And the water pressure I had to leave it in Europe as well as the cold water. These 2 things are really nice, so all you guys in countries with water pressure/cold water, please enjoy it!

We had a fabulous holiday - like all holidays it went far too quick. The first week I had no Internet so no posts, the second week I had some Internet, but the thought of typing on an AZERTY keyboard stopped me from typing anything longer than a couple of lines on an email. Will be preparing my posts slowly, but I think it will get a bit more difficult for me to find time during the day for my blog as Bibs is now standing up, refusing to nap, ... ah she is 1 tomorrow. She has grown so much during the holidays, it's amazing. I cannot believe she'll be one, it's actually scary, scary how fast time flies.

I am very happy to be back in Amman. Yes it is hot, but there is no humidity so it's okay. I am not going to go out just at noon, but I did take Bibs for a walk yesterday and it wasn't as bad as I thought. But then I like the heat, the sun... It's funny before I left the fact of walking around where there are no pavements was really annoying me. As I walked yesterday, I realised that it's just part of being home now. Seriously I don't mind it that much anymore - it's funny what you get use to! Bibs is happy too. She found all her toys, her room and specially her Daddy! They have missed each other a lot, a lot.

On the downside I am still waiting for our luggage and Bibs' car seat, so for the moment we are home-bound! Not really happy about it as I needed to get some presents for my daughter for tomorrow, nothing much I can do about it though - good Daddy has already bought his fair share of pressies.

Away from Amman: A day at London Zoo

At least we had one day with really nice weather while we were in the UK! It happened to be the day we had decided to take Bibs to the zoo. We had a lovely day out and Bibs adored all the animals. London zoo is located in Regent's park, easily accessible by car or by public transport (with a little walk). We parked our car at the zoo car park which was £12.50 and bought the entrance tickets there: £18 +donation per adult - so not exactly a cheap day out... You can also buy your tickets online, not a bad idea if it's busy there can be quite a queue.

It was so nice to see a canal, big very green trees. The canal cuts the zoo in two.

In the center of the park you have this large plaza with restaurants, shops.

The zoo runs a program "keeper for a day" - it costs a small fortune, £270, but for those who love animals it a fab gift. You get to feed some animals (incl. the big cats!). Am sure it is an unbelievable experience.

There is a butterfly garden, where they fly around freely. Very beautiful.

That one is a double butterfly

And this one is enormous. So big it looked unreal!

There is also a monkey garden, where you can walk and the monkeys are in the trees and on the ropes around you! I would just add that they are a bit more afraid that some monkeys I met in Langkawi, Malaysia during our honeymoon.

@ London Zoo

In the mangrove, Langkawi, Malaysia

There is no elephant at the zoo in London, so these are Bibs' top 2 favorites: the Gorilla and the Giraffe!

Unfinished posts & holidays

For the past week I have started several posts and for some reason, I haven't been satisfied or I haven't been able to finish them. I think it has something to do with Bibs' sleep pattern. A few weeks ago she got sick (she is much better now), but it has completely disrupted her sleep and I am up again between 2 or 3 times a night to nurse and it is not what had become the usual 5 minutes but we are back to 15min. So, I am tired. No, I am exhausted. Specially now that the days are over where she would just sit a play a bit in her playpen. She is now crawling all over the place. So a tired mummy I am. Am starting to wonder if my daughter will ever sleep through? Maybe when she is 10?

Anyways.The good news is that we have finally booked our holidays. Bobs can unfortunately only take a week off, so we have decided to go to London and then I will take Bibs to my parents for a couple of weeks. Ah I can't wait, specially because I love to see Bibs & Bobs enjoying eachother, and during the week they don't get that much time together. Bibs loves to play with her daddy, they have their special games and she giggles all the time. When we are going to London we will enjoy the English countryside and live in a small village in Buckinghamshire. I am so excited to see my sister and her 3 kids and our friends that we left behind when we moved to Amman. Then of course we will have some proper Chinese food, and Malaysian, and Italian, oh and Indian as well. Shopping. Am going to shop till I drop! Mamas and Papas for Bibs, it's my favorite baby shop. Selfridges, Harrods, Oxford, Bond or Regent Street for us. Did I mention Westfield, the shopping heaven in South East England!? And Bicester, the outlet village close to Oxford, I nearly forgot that. Walks with Bibs on streets with pavements and in parks with trees and shade and water and animals.

These are some views from Green Park in London.

Am sure Bibs is going to enjoy having a talk with the geese, the ducks and the squirrels!

Then Bibs and I will be off on the plane by ourselves to Nice where a very excited Mormor and Morfar (the grandparents) are already waiting. Ouch, scary, just the 2 of us, I am not the big plane fan already, but I'll just have to be a big girl! Bibs has liked it the other times, so I hope that she'll continue. In south of France we'll enjoy the pool everyday, go for walks in the mountains and see old friends that I only see once a year or even less - maybe a day-trip to the sea.

Some views from South of France - the 2 first ones are on the old road to St Tropez and the last the view from my bedroom in my parents house

27 days to go and we'll take off and be on our way to London Heathrow! Can't wait...

"There is more to life than increasing its speed" - Mahatma Gandhi

How true is that? And that's exactly the reason such places as the Hot Springs in Ma'In and The Six Senses Hotel exist. To forget that we live in a world where everything must always go faster and faster. In a world where we don't take the time to truly appreciate all the things we enjoy. It is the second time we visit and are still as impressed by the tranquility of the place. You feel serene as soon as you enter the resort. Despite having brought my walking shoes and my friend's backpack for Bibs I didn't get to do the walks I wanted - time just goes so fast and it's difficult to plan with a baby isn't it? Well is actually mission impossible! But I keep faith, I will succeed before we leave Jordan to get up at the top of these mountains and see what's up there. I have always liked walked around in the mountains, the village where I grew up in France is surrounded. Anyways back to Ma'In. Never the less I have brought back some pictures of this gorgeous place. You can read about our first visit here.

Like most hotels, in order to save money they propose you to not change your sheets, your towels everyday. At this hotel they are very eco minded and I feel they are going the "extra mile" to preserve the environment.

I like this much more than the boring fliers large hotel chains use!

The information board, outside the hotel. All boards used are in wood.
I know that you wouldn't expect to see wooden boards in a business hotel.

Most of the furniture (maybe all the furniture!) in the hotel is in wood.

The Lobby

The Brown Bar

I just can't get enough of the views

That mountain on the right is the one I want to get up on

As last time we had an amazing dinner. They have a Thai chef staying for 18months, so if you crave for some good Thai food you know where to go.

We had a red duck curry, a green chicken curry and sauteed beef.

Because of Bibs, we always have room service. A part from the Thai main courses we also shared some traditional cold mezze. The red curry was definitely the best, but all were really good. 

We enjoyed some really nice massages and of course a swim in the Hot Spring before leaving the next day. I find the road absolutely amazing as well, so here are some pics! 

It is not only rock mountains you see on the road...

I would guess that this was also a spring, unfortunately there is no water running there now

And then... we saw these camels out for a walk!

Notice the Baby Camel in the middle!

Hope you have all enjoyed your week-end. We certainly did!

My sis-in-law is flying back home. tonight. It is going to be strange not to have her around anymore. It was easy when we were in the UK. My sister and her kids just up the road. Now we are all over the place again. Europe, Middle East... Am not nostalgic at all, but it is a strange feeling when you don't really know when is the next time you will see your loved ones! 

The other place closest to my heart

After Mauritius last week, let me show you a few pictures from the place where I grew up: Callas, "Le coeur du Var". Located on a hill top, in Var, it is a very sleepy village, but I found, a fab place to grow up.

Callas

Foutain where I used to hang out as kid

This leads up in the mountains, I used to love discovering and haven't lost that!

Left: some steps in the village & an old lavoir at the bottom. Right: typical view from the village

I have to pay tribute to my mum's garden! She spends so much time taking care of it...

A few shots of my mum's garden!

Minette, the cat of the house! And also mine...

my parents have been looking after her for the last 13 years

There are quite a few things to talk about, I'll do that next time we visit my parents, but just one thing: some very good friends of mine opened their own "Cave" last year and are selling their wine. If you are in the region you shouldn't miss out on their rose which is fab and so refreshing. La Bastide du Plan. 

La Bastide du Plan - located a little before the entrance of the village

If you ever have the possibility to go to the Cote d'Azur, make sure you also discover the "arriere pays" as we call it, there are so many lovely small villages to discover, with their markets, small restaurants serving loval food, caves or chateaux where you can stop for wine testing... more on that this summer!