The Willimers in America

Titanica

After having spent four straight days in the house in our pyjamas over Christmas and...whatever we're supposed to call Boxing Day here in the U.S....we had to get out of the house. So yesterday we went out for lunch and to see 'National Treasure' which was surprisingly good, interesting and child-friendly, and then today we went to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia to see the Titanic Exhibition, which had been highly recommended by several friends. Linda and I had seen an exhibition several years ago at the Greenwich Maritime Museum, which seemed to have a lot more artifacts and points of interest. And we seemed to understand that in England there is an acceptance that people going to a museum will need to spend a bit of effort to 'get' whatever it is they're looking at. In America there seems to be a readiness to put the learning element on a silver plate for people. That's not necessarily a bad thing - it makes the emotional side very accessible - but it does kind of make museum's very showbizzy - nothing too challenging academically.

Ryan and Amy renew their wedding vows

Tonight we were invited to join some very dear friends, Ryan and Amy Warren, who had chosen their 10th wedding anniversary as an occasion to renew their wedding vows. What could have been a mawkish or saccharin-laden happening was actually one of the warmest, sweetest, most sincere displays of love, affection and friendship I have ever witnessed. Friends and family had travelled from far and wide (both in geography and time) to be there to actually be a part of a simple, beautiful ceremony, masterfully officiated by our english colleague Murray (it's the accent, you know - makes us sound clever AND masterful). Friendship, love, warmth, hospitality (and the most marvellous food).

Ryan and Amy - thank you for letting us be part of it, and may you have another happy 10 years (and beyond).

Thomas' Birthday (4)

And still it goes on. Saturday comes around and Thomas takes his girlfriend Natalie out for lunch to Applebees, on to Build-a-Bear, and then to Doylestown Pa. for a sleepover, as it is loosely described - we discover later that the mischievous pair stay awake chatting till 3am, then wake up at 6.30am.

Linda and I take the opportunity of a Thomas-free night and the invitation to our friend Ryan's birthday dinner to spend a night in Philadelphia. We dine at a real quirky, Italian restaurant called Buca di Beppo's at the remarkably early time of 6pm. After a fun meal and saying our goodbyes we find ourselves care-free and alone in central Philly at 8.30pm with the evening ahead of us and a posh hotel room as our refuge.

But these days the idea of a swinging Saturday night in clubs and bars with the bright young things seems rather unappealing. Instead we spend a satisfying couple of hours browsing round Borders Bookstore, buying an armful of magazines to read whilst eating the room service breakfast next morning, before we retire to the hotel for hot chocolate and a huge comfortable king-size bed and a marvelous, undisturbed night's sleep.

Thomas' Birthday (3)...

...I told you the festivities were protracted ! The real birthday party was on Friday at Laser Park, and I am convinced that next time I have a party with a dozen mates I am going to play Laser Tag too ! Laser guns, loud music, running around, 12 noisy kids, pizza, ice cream cake, fart noises - no complaints.

There is indeed a blessed sense of serenity in letting a dozen 7 and 8 year olds scream their heads off, tell nonsense jokes, blow loud raspberries on the backs of their hands and pretend to belch - and not give a single damn care in the world !

Thomas' Birthday (2)...

...arrived on Wednesday (which was actually only the beginning of some protracted festivities). Today was restricted to opening a few presents in the morning before school - we had plenty of time for this, since Tom woke at 5am and would NOT go back to sleep. At round 6.30am we gave in and tried to doze while Tom lay in bed watching Cartoon Network till a more civilised time - then later in the day we went out for a family meal. Linda and I were dumbstruck when Tom was completely underwhelmed by the big present waiting for him when we returned - a new Dell computer. But as he explained, "it's not the kind of thing you get as a birthday present - not like a toy you can play with".

And he has a point. Linda and I have a pact about Christmas presents - I won't buy her a kitchen appliance, and she won't buy me a power tool. On those terms Tom's computer is really just an appliance, and not really a 'proper' present. We complimented him on using his words, and retreated to lick the wounds of our wounded pride.