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So I went out to grab coffee after training and I swear papparazzi were trailing so I went home instead.
Ces, I know you think it's okay because Leo likes you or something, but you really need to check your stalkery impulses at the door. Seriously. We're not going to invite you to the reception if you keep pulling this shit.

Wasps and English National, I'm buying drinks when our Beater's released later.

Easter break was too short, I want to go back home.
Of course I want to stay home ALL the time but mum said no to homeschooling. I think Angie and Erica'd be pretty mad if I left though so it's okay.
I didn't spend as much time outside as I wanted to. It was kind of m It was warm but not quite warm enough to be out without a jacket and I don't have a good jacket for playing. I can't move in it.
Mum and I cleaned the house also. It was better than reviewing.
Gavin had better stuff to review than I did anyway.
Summer is soon but not soon enough. There are still exams to get through. Then Aunt Hil is getting married. I'm glad she's waiting even if she didn't have to because I want to be there. My mum and Aunt Hannah are planning the wedding for her which I don't know why since they've both been married and I think one of those would be enough for anyone. They're kind of stupid anyway, white will just show all the dirt
Dad was home. At least we had that over Easter. That was FUN.
We had a good Quidditch match last weekend and Angie didn't get to play but her brother did so she was excited like she'd gotten to. I don't really understand her sometimes

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Today was a long day. I don't know what else to add to that.

Honestly. That's all.

Well, it's certainly been a busy few weekends. Week before last I was pulling long hours helping get the Most Beautiful Women issue out to everyone, and it seems to have paid off. It's not exactly hard, it's the same thing we always do, even the list barely changes. Now that most of Britain's male population have something new in their spank bank until the next Harpies calendar comes out, my work is done.

Pierrick also had a busy weekend, he and his teammates had some bonding time in jail with some members of the Wasps. Some had a little more bonding time than others. We all think it's a little funny, because ultimately, it sort of is. Sennett put in a little facetime there too, which, I'm sorry, makes it all the better. I bet we're the only publication in the nation who isn't jumping all over this. If I were some enterprising clerk in the MLE, I might try and auction mugshots off to the highest bidder. (Someone has to profit, it may as well be you, because it certainly isn't going to be anyone who was sitting around that card table.)

Somehow, nobody managed to lose their shirt -- dignity is another matter, but nobody was going to escape from this with their dignity intact.

I managed to come out of it a winner though, and I hope Pierrick thinks so too -- one of the things not lost is this very beautiful engagement ring he gave me.

You can all pick up your jaws off the floor now. That's it.

Wow.

Thanks for everyone who's sent something or visited -- and apologies to the Healers on the Creature Induced Injuries floor, I swear that it was not our intention to swamp the place. We've been a little high maintenance and even with just family visiting it's been a complete zoo, but that's how we do it in this family, unfortunately -- both the MacKenzie/Ashton family and the Puffskein family.

It was exciting! Yesterday morning we welcomed Christopher Callum MacKenzie to the family. We're heading home either tomorrow or Tuesday and I promise if you give us some time to get settled then you can visit as much as you like. He's wonderful, I can already tell.


(He looks like me, by the way.)

Evie, I'm sorry and you know I love you, but as far as I'm concerned, Elise is the most beautiful witch in Britain, especially now.

I haven't DATED dated since forever, why would -- no, forget why, HOW
Never mind about it.

Dad's been hanging around the office a lot more since he's come out of semi-retirement to handle Scarpa's defense. I told him it's one case and that he could work from home, but he's never been a working at home sort of man. Not even when we were little. Work was for work and home was at home. He's been to Switzerland once -- he has a tough job, Italy really wants Sergio Scarpa extradited. I am willing to bet they can taste it.

We have a new reception girl in the office. I think Marcellus is simply pleased to have someone below him on the food chain, and I doubt that Andre has even noticed. (This is why I do the logistics around here. If it were up to him our inkwells would be dry and we wouldn't have any candles.)

I was given express invitation to go meet Owen's new grandson (honestly, I just get a kick out of saying that), which I did. Worth every bit of fuss it took to get him into this world, I think, although since all I did was yell at the Healers once or twice, I maybe shouldn't be so quick to say so. He doesn't talk yet and thank god for that, although considering he is a Curenton I have to wonder if that is considered language delay or not. I heard that Gilly threw the baby shower and you could have knocked me over with a feather, but apparently she was fine, did not require medical attention, and the end of the day neither did anyone else. I was surprised, sue me.

It's been ages since I've gotten out on the weekend. I was going to get one of my brothers to go to a Quidditch match with me but they're all giving me lame excuses. Well, except Nathaniel, he actually has reason to

It's been a pretty decent couple of weeks or so! Danny and I have spent a lot of time with Fern and Rolf in evenings -- well maybe not a lot, but enough. Like it was, you know. We've had fun! Danny's just like a big piece of playground equipment to them, and it frightens me with how proficient they are at finding sweets in his pockets. (REAL sweets, don't even give me that look.)

I've been slow getting going for the last couple of days, I just feel gross in the mornings. Not like sick sick or anything but just BLAH you know. So I think, SamMertonMarcellus that if you want to see me you'll have to come to the house. I should probably stay home for a couple of nights. But you're welcome to come! Just PLEASE don't bring anything with you, the last time we did that somebody left coke in the couch and Fern found "Fairy Dust." Nobody was happy about that.



I'm late, I'm late, I'M LATE WHY IS THIS OKAY?
I'm just fine! Fine.

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Apparently Michelle missed a dinner date with mum or something, because I got an owl making sure I wasn't dead. So Michelle missed dinner with our mother and now we're all in the shit, so thanks much, Shelley.

Nothing new on this end aside from that. I don't even know why I picked this up. I'm home alone at the minute, I think Ashlyn went to do weddingy things with Nicole or something. Can't be too sure with those girls. They can't wait to have Patrick Ashton back in Forensics although I'm pretty sure that's not what all of the continued whispering is about. I swear, nobody ever talked this much before. Probably because we were all scared witless. They might have even started a countdown.

Ashlyn is psyched for four games in four weekends this month (well, three left) but that is a lot of Quidditch for me to sit through. I did go on Saturday, and I'm just glad I'm not a Kestrels fan. It was kind of painful to watch probably for anyone with a heart. Or money on the match.

My birthday was on Monday. I had a decent night. I guess. Okay, truthfully I have never been so drunk in my life and I'm Irish. We have a completely different yardstick for what 'drunk' is. Hooray for exacerbating the stereotype of an oppressed group in their own home country.

Dewi Llewellyn was kind enough to share his birthday party with me. And h I think everyone had a good time, although they were more there to see him. I think most people know him before they know me, hands down. Silly weird homeschool kids.
Oh well. It was an okay party and Max's sister basically baby-sat me all most of the night. It was kind of nice, actually, even if I had to go to work the next morning.

We're also getting the Malecrit ready to perform. Opens the 18th of February, it's going to be hilarious, and Mrs Roper's translation is awesome. Very modern and accessible.

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Christmas and New Year's over, and now we're preparing for Eloise's birthday which is on Saturday. She'll be two this year, so here's hoping that she will get a chance to actually eat her cake instead of Nate and Jacob putting it in her hair while they eat it. That was a disaster and a half. I'm so glad we kept the pictures.

Christmas was fun. It was a pretty quiet holiday all things considered, but more crowded. Thom came! I was impressed, whoever helped him pick out that ring knew what they were doing. Or should I say whatever truck it fell off of?

Rachel brought Jeffrey, and that was pleasant. None of us have ever really had the chance to get to know him since Rachel started seeing him, but this was nice. He was rather quieter than I thought he might be, given that he's kept up with Rachel for this long. But it was nice. We're all glad that Rachel finally brought him.

We also saw Jamie, Shelagh, and their brood. Brendan and the boys are all getting old enough where they can cause mischief together, and they will be in Hogwarts together. I foresee a lot of letters from professors.

Uh. I don't really know what else is going on. Happy New Year, I guess!

So Colin was rummaging around in my drawers when he found the two piece bathing suit I got several years ago when we decided to take the kids to the beach. Worst idea ever. He said he was putting away laundry but that suit was buried pretty deep, so I have my doubts. I'm ashamed to say that it still fits, considering It still fits, although I'm not sure what I was thinking. I think the word 'denial' could come up in all fairness.

Anyway. We were talking, there might be a Grecian beach holiday in our future in the summer. The kids are old enough now that we won't have to keep them on a leash or worry about them getting lost, which is key when you go to a foreign country. I think. We've stayed in the country.

Drew's recovering nicely. I guess we can just add 'crush injuries' to the list of things he's survived and bounced back from. Astrid wrote a big long letter about how he had to be more careful, it was kind of adorable and yet totally badass. She's her father's daughter.

It's two weeks until the kids are home for Christmas, and I can't wait. I've missed them all horribly. Even though we've been having amazing, amazing sex.

I've been trying to get a cake just right since Ramsay's birthday's on Wednesday but whenever I put it in the oven I end up walking away and I don't usually hear the timer going off in other parts of the flat. So I have to stay in the kitchen the entire time otherwise the cake won't work out.

Okay I made the batter again, but it says the pan has to be floured. I've tried to figure that out but the flour just SITS there.
I called my mum and asked. Just so you all know, you grease the pan THEN put the flour in and shake it around so it sticks and the cake doesn't. AWESOME.

It's in the oven now. I'm working on a couple different articles right now but I really should not do that anymore. I keep putting information in the wrong one and going between the two. Not much gets accomplished, well, except for laundry, organizing the bookshelves, rearranging the furniture in the living room, and... okay so stuff gets done, just not my work. Going into the office would really be a good start maybe. I get distracted there and at least at home there's things for me to do when I'm distracted so I get on track faster. At QW I end up sitting in the break room with Dewi Llewellyn and such. That is not good for either of us.

Ooh! Oven preheated!
Now the cake's in.

I just laid my head down and napped on the table.

I wish I remembered what time Ramsay was supposed to come home because now I'm BORED. Cassie could have come over I guess but I don't know what she's doing maybe she has a new boyfriend or something.

FERN CAME BACK!

Last night, a man brought her home and dashed away before any of us had a chance to thank him properly. She's bitten been hurt but now she's home. I don't think Perpetua has let her go for more than a few seconds since, and if she didn't have her Hyperion did, and of course Petra came and brought Macks with her. Panny came too, and she is HUGE. Huge big. She's nearly the full nine months pregnant (due the 17th!) and I swear -- okay I can't say anything that I just thought of, because she'll smack me for all of it. Ballista has to be ready to pop too, but I haven't seen her in ages.

Even though there are a lot of family members of other missing people out there, and I'm sorry, I'm still really glad we got Fern back.

OKAY. NOW I AM READY TO CELEBRATE PROPERLY.

No no no no no no

THEY WANT ME TO COME HOME.
IF I COME HOME THEY WON'T LET ME COME BACK.

I don't want to go home. John is going to be a baby and Lise is going to be an even BIGGER baby and I'll miss Quidditch practise.

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1. Spainish politics escape me, just as Vidal Mendes is going to apparently escape responsibility for carrying off an international kidnapping involving another Spaniard, two Italians, five countries, English diplomats, and a cigarette-smoking parrot. (Well I haven't heard anything about the last one yet, but let me tell you, it would not shock me.) A-mazing. I'm taking bets on what's going to happen with the Italian.

2. I think we should start including diagrams, that would make this a lot less difficult to understand.

3. I think Lucy ate all the ice cream in my pantry, since she was over here last night. DAMN YOU LUCY. That prattish behavior is more befitting of our idiot brother and you know it. And if it was indeed me and I forgot, I apologize. Carry on.

I can't believe that we are almost done with our tour. Going home (and not for just a couple days) will be fun desp, because I get to do things like decorate a nursery. That's exciting.

OH. I woke up this morning to do yoga with Eva, and I stood sideways in the mirror and I have a bump. A little one. But an obvious one. I am so pleased. Rob didn't want to hear it at seven this morning, unfortunately, but I got to jump and be excited at Nic and Eva, so that is good enough for me. My husband just had to wait to see it like everyone else did, and the fact that the bellhop at our hotel knew before he did isn't a sore point or anything. Macks have atrocious sleeping habits, although apparently it's not just mine. Anyone want to speak for Ewan?

John's little daughter finally got here, and safely. I have only seen the pictures and I'm sure they don't do Salacia justice. I thin John's fri

Today we say good bye to Nic and Cam, and although I have seen enough of my brother-in-law to last me for awhile, I would gladly keep Nic. I love my bandmates, but the more estrogen I get now, the better. I'm feeling randy and I hear that means it's a boy, although I don't know if that's true or not.

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We might be gone for a few days. I guess you all know why.

Has anyone seen May?

I love the fall. There's no insane holidays like Valentine's Day or Mothering Sunday, just your run of the mill weddings, birthdays, and funerals. Unfortunately. Well, some of us have to profit. Busy is good, insanity is not.

So I sent off a carnation to Rhys and Alice at Hogwarts, and one to Dan, Becca, Dee, and Anna, because we have a surplus thanks to our supplier havin a surplus. Their bounty is our bounty apparently, damn you Brandon Andrews. The man could sell ice to eskimos, not that I know any eskimos on which to test this theory. If anybody knows any, introduce them to Bran because I'm sure the results would be interesting. And chilly. And maybe result in ice sculptures! Stop Louisa, you're driving yourself crazy with possibilities!

Also, Rhys, I'm sorry for addressing it from a secret admirer, but as someone who can barely walk and has not been on a broomstick since 1963, I just felt the need to tell you how much I secretly admire your ability to fly fast for long periods of time. And Alice, I just think you're awesome. Dan needs more people to whisper about him, Becca got two because it seemed silly to send little Stephanie one, Dee got one just because I thought it would be funny, and Anna... well. Enough said, dear. I think I've done enough damage for one day.

I for one am glad that everyone is getting married, because everyone who gets married needs flowers and if everyone who needs flowers has any brains at all, they come to me for the best arrangements and service the wizarding world has to offer. We finished the Edwards wedding a couple of weeks ago, of course, and everything was beautiful but understated, just like everything else. It was a joy to work on (and believe me, I cannot say that about every wedding I've ever worked on not to name any names, Rob and Elise) and everyone else getting married or thinking about getting married? COME TO ME.

This is the best free advertising I've had in awhile, much better than that weirdo who offered to have it written on his coffin in rose petals at his own funeral. Uh, whatever dude. Creepy.

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Puffskeins are out and about on the planet again, God save the planet. I trust that my good for nothing brother is taking care of his wife, and even if he isn't, Eva will and then Toby and Dargle have permission to beat Rob bloody with his stupid drumsticks.