MARCH MOVESDearest Family and Friends
57 Cumberland Street, San Francisco CA 94110
Phone Number: +1 415 738 2112
Nadine 415 595 0023
Colman 415 871 9920
Skype: nadinemellor
March Highlights
Esme
Six MonthsAll the clichés apply to us, doting proud parents. She hugs, slurps, squeaks, burps, writhes, wriggles and rolls – we watch with delight at our little miracle.
Yes, she’s crawling – faster on her back but determinedly moving frontwise too, elbows, toes and knees in action. She doesn’t stay on the baby gym for long, preferring to slide all over the floor, especially keen on tugging lamp cords and sucking the plugs. When we’re in the shower she edges in, flapping the shower curtain; when hungry she follows me around, ankle-biting.
She responds to her name. She laughs louder, cries faster, has discovered annoying whining noises and shrieks. Everything is destined for her mouth – Vanity Fair her favourite publication to taste.
We started with rice cereal – instantly considered a delicacy – at five and a half months, graduating on to sweet potato, apple and pear. It’s fun feeding her in her pink chair (thanks Carol-Ann). She’s now 15lb9oz, long and lean, except for those huge pink chubby cheeks.
She’s charming, engaging, inquisitive, alert, smiling at everybody and reaching out to strangers, friends, toddlers and babies, which are objects of fascination as they, unlike adults, don’t prevent her grabbing and poking faces. I’ve dubbed her “little vampire” for latching onto my face.
My favourite game with her is to balance her on my leg and chest, and perform acrobatic moves and yoga poses; Colman plays “Lift Off” and “Flying Baby”. She loves dancing around the apartment with us, when we sing to her, and when we lock eyes across the room and smile with pleasure at each other.
Baby FunWe had a Babies Brunch here with Esme, Marcus and Ruby and their parents – where we all contributed a course each, thanks John for the YUMMO pork loin.
The babies had a very jolly time – lining up on the sofa for the photo opportunity. Five adults hopped up and down screaming, arms waving, calling and cooing at their beloved babies for their attention. No wonder the kids look somewhat bemused. 
For the head shot, Esme couldn’t be persuaded to stop sliding backwards along the floor for any length of time, but came to a halt when scooting into the other two, just long enough for the shutter to click.
Armani’s parents came over for afternoon tea. Esme and Marcus were entranced by Ron and Louisa’s never ending repertoire of rhymes, lullabies and songs.
Both Colman and I are working hard, and my three day a week arrangement is going well – Lelli loves the kids and they manifestly love her; I feel lucky to have the flexibility of home working and thus spend more time with Esme. My days off are Tuesdays and Fridays, I aim for an expedition on Tuesdays and exercise on Fridays. Although our days of “Mommy and Me” yoga are numbered as she’s such a scooter and wriggler…
One Tuesday, we went with Kristan, Soren and her mother, Karen, to the Bouquets to Art exhibition at the de Young in GG Park. This involved elaborate floral creations inspired by a particular painting or sculpture. One of those occasions which makes one feel positively youthful in comparison to the average visitor.
Esme and I also went to MOMA to see the Lee Friedlander
retrospective with Jason. Excellent pictures as demonstrated by the power of black and white. On another Tuesday we had a power stroll up to children’s Randall Museum which has a charming small menagerie of reptiles, birds and mammals, and fabulous views over the city. A good workout. Much needed as I’m rather bulgy in the middle regions still…Top
Rory and Neal
Visitors of the MonthWe were thrilled to welcome Rory on the first weekend of March, who flew in from a business trip to LA. Luckily the sun shone for his weekend with us – glorious warm weather. On the Saturday we caught up, chewed the fat, put the world to rights, and had a good old gossip.
That night, we had Adam, Armani, Geoff, Tom and Kim round for a very jovial and convivial dinner, which saw puns fly fast and furiously across the table. We ended with a session of poker.
On Sunday we strolled through the Mission taking in the murals, the eclectic fashions, the tramps, the Latinos, the sunshine.
We had lunch in a local taqueria, Esme table-top wriggling fascinated by Rory, pulling at his beard.
We finished up in Dolores Park, thronging with the good folk of SF, sunning and playing, picnicking and dog-walking, strumming and drumming, on the first splendid weekend of the year.
I cried as Rory left – getting sentimental in my old age. – I do, every time a visitor leaves. So wonderful that he met our darling wriggling bright-eyed Esme.
A week later, Neal came here for 10 days for work from Chicago. We hosted dinner here with Rachel and Abby, toasting Tom’s memory; without meeting Tom in Thailand in 1988 I’d not have joined the DLG, so much to be thankful for.
`
The following weekend we took Neal to the Legion of Honor Museum in Lincoln Park on the north-west side of SF to see the Annie Liebowitz retrospective exhibition – powerful, poignant and inspirational images, both personal and professional. Another wonderful balmy spring day, afterwards we strolled along Baker Beach, keeping our eyes averted from the nudists and towards the Golden Gate Bridge and the open seas, watching the waves crash and foam onto the beach. Top
DLG Event of the Month
Jason’s Birthday
Jason is a very special chap. Not only a honeypie, he is also the only privileged male member of the DLG. Many would kill for his position in life! And so we wanted to show him our devotion for his birthday this year. We hosted, Jim kindly arranged a whopping Wonder Woman emblazoned cake; Jen and Laura made a truly scrumptious red velvet cake (still puzzled why its so-called when it wasn’t red nor of velvet but is cake).
We played the Jason Wayne Wong Trivia Quiz, drank copious quantities and Jason looked very fetching in his birthday tiara. In fact worn with more aplomb than any girl there could. Hmm. The evening only marred by the sad news that Abby is to leave San Franciscan shores for New York City. Truly their gain is our loss.
The following week Julie regaled us with terrifying stories of how she escaped with her life and nothing but a big parka as her building was ablaze, the fire out of control for several hours; very luckily, her apartment was one of the few to escape the flames.Top
Easter Weekend
Restaurant of the MonthWe hadn’t spent enough time with Sophia and Gerardo recently and caught up over Easter Weekend. The Yanks for some reason don’t do Easter, so no days off, but we made the most of the weekend, which was graced with glorious weather – again – rather a theme here methinks…
On the Saturday night we went out to RNM in the lower Haight, feasting on trout with lentils, corn chowder, tuna tartare, lamb ragout – classic style dishes simply and beautifully executed. I found myself rather tipsy – oh well, it had been a while…
Adventure of the Month
Sunday saw us drive in convoy to the Audobon Canyon Ranch, just north of Stinson beach over the GG Bridge in Marin. With great presence of mind, I suggested we feed Esme her solid food before the journey so we didn’t have to bring any with us. She lapped up two portions of sweet potato, two helpings of rice cereal and finished off with the breast.
The road to Stinson is spectacular – snaking over the hills and following the contours down to the sea, twisting and turning. I was feeling a little green around the gills at one point but as we reached sea level at Stinson the road straightened and widened. Esme woke up. 
And promptly threw up her entire breakfast – a technicolour yawn! Unfazed, she blinked at me while we panicked, stopped the car, extracted the car seat (drenched), peeled off her now orange clothes and mopped up as best as we could. We had no spare clothes (doh!) apart from a cardigan; fortunately her leggings were mostly untouched, luckily the car itself was unscathed and doubly fortunate it was, (did I already mention this?) a sublimely beautiful day.Bird of the Month
Audubon Canyon Ranch’s great draw is the heronry which features Great Blue Herons along with Great Egrets (Ardea alba) who return every year to nest in the tops of the tall redwood trees in a canyon overlooking Bolinas Lagoon. So Sophia, Gerardo, Ava, and we three climbed up to the lookout over the lagoon to view egrets, many ducks including teal and wigeon, waders including marbled godwits and curlew. And then climbed on through the coastal chaparral woods until we reached the balcony above the nesting egrets. 
Great Egrets are about a metre tall and their speciality is fabulous white plumes grown in the breeding season. It was breathtaking watching these long-necked, graceful birds alighting in the swaying tree-tops, plumage at maximum extension, displaying to their mates. All five of us (and Esme) were entranced. Egrets were hunted nearly to extinction 100 years ago; their plumes were used in millinery – and bird conservation charities sprang into existence in the US to protect the species, now well and truly back from the brink.
Esme’s First Beach ExpeditionAfter a leisurely lunch in Stinson, we headed for the beach.
Packed with revellers, we soaked up the rays. Esme sat on the rug, fascinated by the activity around her – particularly the dripping hunky surfer who stripped out of his wetsuit beside us (or was her mother? Ed). 
Colman and Ava went paddling in the sea before playing Frisbee with Gerardo. We marked Esme’s first proper beach outing by dipping her toes into the water - yes its official, it’s a cold current – much to her vocal displeasure. But soon cheered up, blew bubbles and played with her parrot. And on the journey home slept like, well, a baby.
A perfect day out.
Top
Dancing
Dolores ParkSpring in San Francisco is signalled by skimpier tops, tighter trousers, flourishing sunglasses, picnics, and that old standard, dancing in the sunshine.
Those famed hippie roots are never too far buried beneath the dot com swagger. On Easter Sunday we got back from Stinson too late for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Easter Fair (see March entry last year) but happy remnants, including neighbour Tom, were dancing around a bicycle sound system so Esme and I joined in; she particularly enjoyed Prince’s Raspberry Beret.
Last weekend Esme and I drove Adam and Jen over the Bridge to Novato, Marin, to the first of the season’s Sunset parties, which, as the name suggests, are afternoon parties that roll on until sunset. Every sybarite under the Bay Area sun was represented:
New Romantic lacquered hair and heavy eyeliner; silver capes; face-painted children; feather headdresses; Edwardian bathing costumes; studded low-slung belts on skinny jeans; slinky Eighties T-shirts; top hats; faux leopardskin – oh wait, that was me! Another sunshining day, with old Skool classics, funky disco and light electronica on the decks, we had a chilled afternoon hanging with Jason, Gene, Gerardo and Ava. Esme’s First Rave!
Top
Wilma
Our dear friend, Wilma Sherliker, passed away on Thursday 20th March in Bondi, Sydney. She was surrounded by family and friends in her last days. We remember her with great affection – so generous, lively, funny, brave, forthright, jolly, hugely social. We last saw her in August when she and Howie treated us to the Beastie Boys; she sent Esme a pair of socks from New Zealand in the autumn. Thank you darling Wilma for the great gift of friendship you bestowed on us and so many.
Our thoughts are with Howie, Tas and Dex.
Mural of the Month
Bumper Sticker of the Month
Noone Died When Clinton Lied
Stencil of the Month
Love and hugs
Nadine and Colman xxx
PS Still availability in our social calendar for visitors!
Top
