Bellrock and a Ruby anniversary

Last Sunday Kevin and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. We stayed on the Fingal at Leith in the Bellrock Lighthouse Suite. I chose this as the Bellrock is the oldest existing rock lighthouse in the British Isles that is still an active lighthouse, is the tower on the Bell, or Inchcape, rock. This isContinue reading “Bellrock and a Ruby anniversary”

2021 …..

With 2022 almost upon us, time to reflect on, for me personally and us as a family, what a year 2021 has been. The challenges, as for many others, have been multifarious, each with their own mini challenges within. We have been through a whole gamut of emotions: disbelief, shock, anger, surprise, grief, sadness, helplessness,Continue reading “2021 …..”

Travel and travails

Over the last few weeks there has been much mileage put on the clock. We’ve been to Colchester, Devon, Sussex and London. We’ve gardened, completed financial wizardry and celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. Sadly we’ve lost a couple of dear people in our lives, and that is always a time of reflection, but they bothContinue reading “Travel and travails”

Resilience 2

2021 has been, so far, a year of so many difficult challenges and the last few weeks have provided a few more. I know that this is life, but so many in such a relatively short space of time. We, as a family, and as individuals have been sorely tested and I have to say,Continue reading “Resilience 2”

Almost midway through 2021

It’s the last weekend of June 2021 after a busy fortnight. Mum had her op on the 16th and it was successful. She is recovering well, well enough to travel down south for a bit if R&R. Hopefully she will regain her strength and progress every day. The hurly burly of life is in fullContinue reading “Almost midway through 2021”

A whirlwind week

This is my first experience of arranging a funeral and thanks to Dad and his comprehensive list, a wonderful funeral director and priest it has not been as hard as I had expected on a practical level. Elaine, Mum and myself have broken things down into manageable chunks and each day have achieved something. MyContinue reading “A whirlwind week”

Winning the lottery.

Our beloved Dad was taken into hospital on Wednesday after becoming very poorly and Elaine and I travelled up as soon as we could but Dad succumbed to the many conditions he suffered with and died in the early hours of Thursday morning, as he had lived, with dignity, quietly without fuss. This was howContinue reading “Winning the lottery.”

Remember, remember the 5th of November…..

As we approach the 5th of November will there be Gunpowder, treason and plot, as we, from that date, return to lockdown for at least four weeks? I have spent the last fourteen days with my parents to support them at a time of uncertainty and with a few issues, with the groundwork put inContinue reading “Remember, remember the 5th of November…..”

LD Day 60 ……

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog and it’s been full of twists and turns. Three weeks ago we were given unexpected but wonderful news that our youngest son, Joe and his girlfriend, Nicole, were expecting their first baby. We’ve waited until the 12 week scan to share the news…….. so BabyContinue reading “LD Day 60 ……”

LD 29 and remembering a special someone

Today marks thirty years since my father in law, John, died. I can’t believe that so much time has passed. It’s such a shame that we are social distancing, but a hug is in order, with so many memories of the relatively short time I knew John. He had a real love for life, perhapsContinue reading “LD 29 and remembering a special someone”

LD 14

I didn’t post yesterday as despite the wonderful sunshine on Sunday, I had an overwhelming low day. Not totally sure why, maybe a bit stir crazy, maybe it’s all part of a process, part of realignment of how life and how we live, will be changed for now and the future, or even the realisationContinue reading “LD 14”

LD 8

A return to actually working in school. Financial year end waits for no man or woman, although the deadline has been extended to 17th April, but I’m confident that it will be completed by tomorrow! ( no, not an April Fool) So lots of prep, contacting suppliers for invoices, deleting commitments, making adjustments, whilst remainingContinue reading “LD 8”