My little life

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Celebrations, coronations and a couple of breaks.

A busy fortnight where we have spent time with River, celebrated the coronation of King Charles III, visited family, I’ve visited friends, family, cooked, tidied, watched cricket, rugby and had some tests and scans after my February rib/back injury has not improved.

Lake Meadows goslings

Both our sisters have celebrated wedding anniversaries: one sapphire, one silk. Warmest congratulations to both couples ❤️

Mum enjoyed the Coronation celebrations and had a full weekend of catching up with friends and family. Unfortunately, on Tuesday, she had a fall resulting in a broken femur quite high up. She is now the owner of some medical steel rods, and still in hospital receiving physio and being assessed for the next steps ( no pun intended). Hopefully she will recuperate well and I can confirm that her humour remains intact. Elaine is up in Scotland to facilitate the transitions and support required.

I enjoyed a break with Debbie, where we stayed in a lovely hotel, enjoyed good food, especially the Balti. I caught up with cousins on Friday evening and another on Saturday in Chipping Norton for breakfast. Debbie and I also visited Coughton Court, which was a delightful NT property, with beautiful gardens and two churches on site. Debbie learned about priest holes, which was something she’d never heard of before. ( benefit of a catholic education that I knew about them)

After breakfast Debbie and I travelled to the Stone X stadium to watch Saracens beat Northampton Saints in the Gallagher Premiership semi final. Great for me to Sean Maitland score two tries. Enjoyed the few days away, where we did talk, sing and laugh a lot too.

I brought this book to read, which I found really helpful. I’ve already decluttered but what it highlighted was that it is an ongoing process, so I’ll be refining that over the next few months utilising some of her ideas and tips.

Finally, proud mum moment, as Joe had his third boxing match last night, and whilst I couldn’t attend I was still anxiously awaiting the outcome. He won on points, which I was so pleased and proud of, as despite all his many responsibilities he trained so hard for this. Well done to Joe and his supporters: #Pop, Pop, Bang.

The next couple of weeks are getting ready for some antipodes visitors, with a sojourn to the theatre, and hopefully some test results.

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Four weeks have just flown by

These last four weeks I have travelled to Brighton, Barnsley, Arbroath and back again. Days out with River, Easter and birthday celebrations as well as walking as much as I can.

On Thursday we attended Marion’s ( Kevin’s step mum) funeral, 33 years to the day her beloved John, at the same crematorium.

There were so many people there, colleagues, friends new and old. The extended family, some of which we hadn’t seen for years. It was a privilege to be there and to celebrate her life. Her daughters and sister delivered such beautiful eulogies that left us in no doubt as to how loved and revered she was. A friend read a poem which gave thanks that Marion was in our lives, and will always remain. She was loving, open and had the capacity to go on in the face of much adversity. Marion loved her family with a passion, and that never faltered.

Seeing her coffin, red and sparkly being brought in by one son in law and her grandchildren was so moving. The music chosen had such meaning for those there and the pictures showed the stunning beauty which was both inside as well as out.

She will be sorely missed but she has given us, all who knew her, strength to go on.

On a personal note I first met Marion in June 1981, when I had a baptism of fire to meet family, and cricket chums in one weekend. The table was full of new faces and heaving with food. From this first meeting to Kevin’s proposal was five weeks. She asked me did I like cricket, or would l learn to like it. She said it was Kevin’s life and if I couldn’t learn to love it, then forget him. So I threw myself into the cricket life by learning to do the scoring.

There are many stories that we shared one of which was the phone call a couple of weeks before I got married whereby she told me that she had bought the similar outfit to my ‘going away’ outfit. I loved her glamour, her sense of fun and that she lived life to the fullest, as it should be

❤️⭐️❤️

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Relatively speaking a full week

Tuesday was busy with a trip to Surrey to visit special people, we arrived home and not long after Joe arrived with River and we enjoyed dinner together. Wednesday and it looks like we’ve got a new car, but have to wait until the 24th March… we had some fun in the garden with River, after picking up Nina.

River was picked up by his Nan-Nan and Grandad on Thursday morning, and I drove Nina’s car to get my nails done. After that we watched an interesting play about the flood in 1953 on Canvey Island-it’s plot meandered but it was enjoyable nonetheless

Friday was very busy with Nina packing for her trip to Dubai, us for a trip to Crawley, a visit to the osteopath for me and picking up our hire car. The girls were dropped off at Gatwick and through security etc before we got to Crawley. It was a heart stopping moment to pass the place where we had the accident only a week earlier, but it was good to get that out the way. We enjoyed a convivial evening with a wonderful meal: antipasti, tagine and crumble and trifle. Some bubbles to wash it all down too.

Saturday was a day of rugby and writing. Over the course of the day the six nations concluded with Ireland worthy winners. Jo and I joined a creative writing workshop, which was entertaining and surprising what can be achieved using a random object and a few pertinent questions to then put a short story together. Watch out to see if I use a technique in any future blogs. I will certainly be looking into whether there is anything like this near me. We dined out at the Fox Revived and looked at the itinerary for the cruise later this year, looking at trips and other magical places to frequent.

Sunday morning and a dip in the hot tub was both welcome and restorative, with the warmth and the jets providing relief for my back and side. Jo and I had a lovely chinwag about our mums, memories and motherhood. A scrumptious breakfast followed and I received messages and photos from all three of my children from far and wide.

On our return home Kevin gave me a bag full of goodies from them, put together with thought; a delightful surprise and a card that made me shed a tear or three.

So proud of all the children, doing different things that they enjoy and I can’t wait for us to be together again very soon. It’s certainly been a busy one, and we even booked a little trip away later in the summer to visit somewhere I’ve always wanted to go………

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All roads lead to Rome, but not without a bump

On Wednesday a change in plans for the weekend presented themselves and I was busy arranging accommodation in Rome ( over a 6N weekend). No mean feat, but I did secure some in a religious community near to where my cousin and her husband were staying. This was a huge departure for me staying somewhere on my own during the night: something I haven’t done since 1987, when I was sent to Düsseldorf for a month with work.

The drive early Friday morning was easy until we were almost at my cousin’s house when our car was hit on the driver’s side by another car. Front and side air bags were deployed as, what felt like, everything happened in slow motion. Both Kevin and I were fine, although Kevin has bruising and light lacerations to his hands, and I had a bump to my nose.

The BMW emergency assistance contacted us directly, and all services required. I called my cousin to tell her what had happened. Kevin insisted that I still go to Rome and I was picked up and we travelled to Gatwick by taxi.

Kevin was his usual calm and reassuring self and dealt with the services, the insurance company and was kindly driven home by my cousin’s daughter later in the evening.

We arrived in stone after a slight delay and I’ll let the photos speak for themselves as we travelled around Rome to the Stadio Olympico, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and the Vatican. The weather was superb, company great and the food better than 7 years ago.

After four days, 75k steps and beautiful weather, with a bit of rugger thrown in, it’s been fantastic. Rome is a fabulous place to visit: the history, the sense of being comfortable there. I am now safely home, great to see everyone again, and the search for a car now begins – wish us luck!

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Countdown to 2023

As we approach the last month of 2022, we crammed in a lot to November. A trip to Twickenham was up first with an average game of Rugby from England. View and weather though was good.

We’ve spent time with River visiting parks, Christmas displays and Southend.

I’ve seen Will Young, we’ve dined with family and friends culminating in Georgina and I’s annual London jaunt.

There’s been a fair bit of baking, Christmas prep and planning. A few walks and plans made for 2023, with a trip home for Andrew to look forward to. I’ve completed a small diy project in our bedroom too.

November was supposed to be a quiet month, but I just take things as they come and enjoy. We had news of a family engagement last week, so a wedding to look forward to next year.

I’ve made and posted the majority of my Christmas cards, so now just to put boxes together to send to the antipodes. Christmas tree, decorating and food planning are today’s task in hand.

Thursday will be River’s 2nd birthday which I can’t believe, but I’m sure there will be much fun to be had, with the prospect of so much more.

Two weeks with fancy footwork

What a fortnight of food, football and dancing. And walking too.

Just before I left for Scotland the saddest news that Marion, Kevin’s step Mum, had died. She was a formidable woman who faced so many challenges in her life. She rose to each challenge and was also a great support and comfort to all who knew and loved her. She had a wicked sense of humour, a real zest for life and inspired me to make cards, and gave me the courage to deliver my Dad’s eulogy. Her daughters and the extended family will miss her immensely, the privilege of her in our lives with many fond memories, one of which is the photo of her meeting River, will sustain over the coming weeks.

Paris in the springtime ( not quite)

Friday, an early start to catch Eurostar. The journey was good to St Pancras where we met Elaine and Jane. The weather was clement though chilly. We arrived at Gare du Nord and walked the 25 minutes to our hotel in Montmartre

The staff were wonderful, very friendly and we settled ourselves in our rooms. Armed with a map we walked up to Sacre Coeur taking in some sights a long the way and back.

I’d booked restaurants in advance and first up was Chez Pitou. We had a fabulous meal there, onion soup, steaks ( I had Royan pasta) and delightful desserts, washed down with a bottle of red. We were all stuffed.

Saturday was an early alarm call to walk to Place de Clichy to catch the metro to Invalides. Carnet tickets bought we navigated the tunnels and met Kenneth. From Invalides we made the journey to Versailles and met Humberto our tour guide. It didn’t disappoint at any level. The opulence, the sheer size and the gardens were all a delight to behold. The history of the palace, its occupants and their demise, interesting told from a French perspective.

We walked back to Versailles train station, but I couldn’t resist a picture of a taxidermist shop, looks like the rats were suspended in time. Once back at Place de Clichy we spent an hour or so watching Ireland v Italy, surrounded by convivial company and alcohol. We stopped at a boulangerie to buy some goodies ( they didn’t last long)

Dinner was at La Boite Aux Lettres along Rue Lepic and we had another fantastic meal.

Sunday, and the ‘raison’ for our trip – France v Scotland. A breakfast at Le Pain, and a purchase of sweet treats to take home was a good start. The journey was relatively easy and not too uncomfortable! The sun was shining and we were in the middle tier, with mainly French fans. The match didn’t get off to the best start, but improved, although it wasn’t Scotland’s day. We returned to the hotel for a bath to warm up and to prepare for the short walk to dinner. It was in a quaint pub, but neither food or service matched our two previous evenings.

Paris in the springtime ( not quite)

The staff were wonderful, very friendly and we settled ourselves in our rooms. Armed with a map we walked up to Sacre Coeur taking in some sights a long the way and back.

Dinner was at La Boite Aux Lettres along Rue Lepic and we had another fantastic meal.

Living life with all it has to offer

I started this blog originally to be a chronological edict, but it soon became a written commentary of what I was doing. In part it is so that when I’m no longer here there is something written down for my family to revisit, the other reason is it’s cathartic to write things, especially when times have been tough. The pictorial ride is also a joy to go through, to see what we’ve done, with who, and where.

So please, if you stumble upon my humble account, give it a read, a like, a comment. There’s a lot more to come and enjoy!

Time flies

I can’t believe it’s been eight weeks since my last blog. We’ve been busy with birthdays, trips to London, seeing family, friends, cooking, eating, planning trips: one which is far flung. Exciting times!

January seems to be so much longer than 31 days in some ways, but seeing bulbs popping up in the garden reminds me that spring is around the corner. Lighter mornings and nights also.

Keeping busy

It’s been full on these last few weeks. We have visited Barnsley, Leeds, London, Newcastle, a boat, a castle, theatre four times, eaten out, spent time with loved ones, caught up with dear friends and a work reunion. My cousin, Jo, also reached the dizzy heights of Kilimanjaro- what a fantastic achievement!

It’s been fun and culminated in fireworks at our local park, where we are fortunate to be able to enjoy from our bedroom. Warm and with a glass of wine!

More fun times are to follow for the rest of this year so watch this space