This was one of the many pressing questions Morayo-Hope needed to have answered. "Yes", her dad teased, to which she said "Can I still learn Shona?"(Zimbabwean native language).

She was our biggest concern when it came to this move. She's so settled in her school and has a good group of friends whom she loves so dearly & one in particular that she has such a strong bond with. Many a week was spent trying to introduce the idea of moving and each conversation was greeted with a resounding "No! I need to see which class I'll be in at senior school!" Well then. But when the moment finally came, it went smoothly and her enthusiasm has been infectious.


For me, it's been a mixed bag. Naturally I am excited and nevous at the prospect of a new start. I love meeting new people and I have nomadic habits. But on the other hand, the idea of moving away from my nearest and dearest friends is not easy. They are practically family. We have family in the UK who will be missed. Morayo-Hope and Judah's cousins that we had envisioned them growing up with. The fact that neither set of our parents are in the UK has perhaps made this a bit easier.

Breaking the news has been difficult - you are excited for yourself but are also conscious that for those to whom your presence matters a great deal, it is not the happiest news. In some instances I did feel like one who was delivering news of my own death. In those instances it hit me that we live life as though we have all the time in the world when in fact none of us knows when our last breath shall be taken.


I have spent the weeks in the run up to this trip thinking of missed opportunities. I've thought of all the "yes, we must's" and "I'll call you later" that never materialised. Funny how when the choice is taken away you feel you might do things differently given half the chance.

So America here we come. Massachusetts (or Rhode Island) to be exact. The land where dreams are made. The land of opportunity, where - we're told - if you're willing to work hard anything is possible. "Welcome to America! What's your dream? Everyone that comes to America has a dream! What's your dream?" (The funny man from the movie "Pretty Woman", paraphrased ;) )

We're ready to learn American.

**images are of the kids as we arrived into Boston on Monday. Judah was trying to make a run for it as usual!**

There's nothing like the beginning of a new year to have you feeling energised and full of optimism. I find it has the same effect that moving to a new location does. The opportunity of a fresh start.  The chance to meeting new people and build new relationships. A blank page on which to write new memories.

Now imagine the possibility of starting a new year in a New  location. What chance 'eh? Such opportunities are rare and so when they come along one finds themselves unwilling to believe it could be so. Until a freezing cold morning - one of those odd days between Christmas and  new year when you don't quite know what day it is -  a surly man with a thick accent looks at you from behind a glass and says "Your visas have been approved. Passports will be with you within a week." 

You look at your husband with a mixture of love and intense pride. He did it. You look at your daughter who you just told about all this last night and  whose little head is brimming with questions. These spill freely out of her mouth as she bounces out of the building. "Are we going to the airport now mummy?".  "Not quite darling", you reply - determined to sound controlled and dignified as you push the pram, even though inside you feel like climbing the buggy board and scooting the pram down the stairs! You pass the police holding guns and smile nervously. One can never get used to seeing guns.

Then you pass through security where you just had to chuck away a nail clipper on the way in. Finally you're out and all you can think is - it's happening.

A little over a week later you're sitting on a plane, realising there is no dignified way to remove a pomegranate seed that has decided to become one with your tooth. The first page of your new beginnings is just starting. You imagine your arrival at the terminal. You wonder if they'll be as glum as the last time you were there. Or maybe this time they'll smile a little after thoroughly examining the visas. After all their counterparts in London happily issued  you.

Maybe they'll even go as far as to say "Welcome to America".  

To be Continued....

Today is the last day of June.

This year, as always, I pray you continue to live up to your name - Morayo-Hope Anashe { I have seen Joy, Hope, Has God by her side}. I pray that all your dreams come true - well, maybe except the Ayla-Rose one! I'm not quite ready to be a mum of three just yet!

I am determined to make the most of every single day with you in this next season of your life. You have taught me so much in the last year & being with you makes me want to be a better person. You've made me more patient, and helped me see the beauty in the small things. You've reflected back to me the less desirable parts of my personality and I am endeavouring to change them.  I love you so much and can't believe the next time I'll be writing you another one of these letters you'll be turning 6! 

Remember to always be yourself, the world needs you as you. Keep laughing. Keep singing. Keep loving ballet. And watch tennis with me.  oh yes, and thank you for making me love Pointless...you're kind of a weird kid!

Happy 5th birthday my darling. I'm so proud and honoured to be your mother.

I've often heard my mummy telling her friends how difficult she finds it to say "no" to people. At such times my jaw literally hits the floor and drool flows freely from my mouth as I try to count on the few digits God gave me, the number of "no's" I endure on a daily basis. Climbing up the stair gate to jump over? No Judah! Emptying the cutlery drawer onto the kitchen floor to make music with the awaiting pots and pans? No Judah! Eating a mushroom I've found in the grass? No Judah! Ok fine, just let me clean the loo with your toothbrush...that's a no then. Humph. Seems to come easy by my reckoning!

But this week I was witness to an event unlike any other in my 2 short years. There we were relaxing in the house after mummy completed her chores (she's on a new daily cleaning fad - let's see how long it lasts...) when mummy spotted a ladder leaning against the wall next door. Ladder...hmm..she thought. Next thing she jumped up. "It's the window cleaner! We need to get dressed and outta here Judah!" 

You see, mummy had all but blown her remaining budget for the month after failing to amend her online groceries shop and getting two of everything.  Window cleaning was a luxury she wasn't eager to stretch herself for now. Not when it was raining anyway...

She didn't want to tell the guy no though. She felt bad. So she decided to do a runner. That way he wouldn't clean the windows because she wasn't home. I've never seen her dress so efficiently and clothe me with such military timing. We flew out of the front door undetected and mummy felt triumphant. She drove to my sisters school. we killed time listening to some classical music to calm mum down as she searched for a comb or anything resembling such in the car. Yes her hair was a tangled mess. She found an Afro comb which was a godsend under the circumstances. She found a way to make it work. We picked MH and drove home confident the window man was gone. And indeed he was, not a ladder in sight. 

Mummy opened the front door triumphantly only to spot a white envelope on the floor. She hoped in vain it was a winning cheque from postcode lottery, but ofcourse it wasn't. A lovely stamp across the front emblazoned with the cleaning company's name confirmed her worst fears. Inside was a lovely invoice for the window cleaning letting her know that payment would be gratefully received.  

Moral of the story: just say no. Mummy is now training herself to say no by picturing me standing atop my high chair about to perform a stunt each time she needs to say no. She's calling it picture-your-toddler-doing-something-dumb-and-just-say-no therapy. We are working on a patent and courses should be available online and hopefully we'll be able to whittle down the competing publishers by using the method and have a book out in time for Christmas. 

Right, I'm off to try something new. Gotta give mummy fresh material & all that.

Ciao,

Judah