Friday 29 August 2008

I blinked and August disappeared!..............

.............where did it go? The weather has been mediocre, and that's putting it kindly, but we've had a lovely, and sometimes challenging (very) few weeks. We've managed to do nearly all the things we wanted to at the start of the hols and still squeezed in an awful lot of pyjamas til noon laziness.

















We started with a Mums and children trip to one of our old camping haunts in the Forest of Dean, which was a hoot. I think we may even have converted Andrea and although she insists otherwise I think she secretly loved it!

My sister brought her big and little girls down for a week, so there was much cooing and cuddling going on here and we even managed a couple of shopping trips. We had a great catch up and the house was a much quieter place when they left, how I wish she lived nearby!

Our trip to the Isle of Wight was a great success, although we arrived at our cliff edge site and were met with gale force winds and black skies. Trying to put a large tent up in windy conditions, Ian turned into a bossy school master and I spent a lot of time muttering. We did succeed and spent a very sleepless first night as the wind battered the tent. Fortunately the weather improved and we managed a few beach trips. The last night was one I will keep in my memory forever. We were fortunate enough to have a beach just below the campsite so we all went down, had a barbeque and lit a fire with driftwood collected by the children. Warmed by the fire we sat with our friends, enjoyed a bottle or two of wine and watched the children play cricket at the waters edge - pure bliss!

















Other than that we've mooched around at home, been for long walks, seen friends and visited the local open air pool. We topped it off today with a visit to No.9 the lovely cafe belonging to Anna. Imagine my delight when I found it was only a five minute trip away. Jack and Kitty highly recommend the waffles, they are huge and cooked to perfection! Anna is a joy and it was so lovely to meet a fellow blogger in the flesh. We will be returning very soon!

Tonight will be spent sewing name labels into new school uniforms and trying to come to terms with the fact that in five very short days my baby girl starts school and I will become redundant. I'll leave you with some snapshots of their summer......................

12 comments:

Garden Girl said...

Thankyou lovely lady- fabulous to meet you and the children (and I didn't hear one swear word the whole time...!)Did you drug them before you came?HOW well behaved?!
Glad you liked the waffles, please come back and see us soon! We'll get that knitting/sewing/book club thing organised!x

Ali said...

I hear you on the 'about to be made redundant' thing - it's only just dawning on me what an end of an era it's going to be. Snuffle sniff.

Nicola said...

You will never be redundant. I am just about to wave an 18 year old off to Uni, but know I will still be required in a crisis. So enjoy a bit of you time, in the knowledge that they will always need you to be there.

Anonymous said...

Your kids will need you even more when they are at school. You are their greatest connection to you and your family. Being a mum is the most important job in the world. You officially take on responsibility of MD of your field sales reps now! My littlest one is off to school in Sept. Lots of melancholy moods in Sept. I am just going to try and focus on what it gives me rather than takes from me! Easier said than done!
Love emmax

MelMel said...

I remember my mum crying when she took me and left me atschool for the first time......i feel sad now when i think of all the golden days we had together...and how growing up brings about change...good change...childhood is a special time that soon flies, you clearly make the most of every moment with them....your never redundent.....i still need my mum and dad....even now and i'm 36!!!bless me!!

enjoy the remaining school hols!!!xxxxxxx

No one is you ...& that's your power said...

Hi I love all your pictures they are so sweet.
It will probably feel strange at first not having the little one at home!. I did feel a bit redundant and a bit sad & glad at the same time (hope that makes sense!!). Sad as its a huge milestone but glad for a bit of peace!! . My daughter is off to secondary school and its going to feel strange just picking up one child. I have drilled in road sense so much , but still worry like crazy

xDom

Debbies-English-Treasures said...

I know exactly how you feel!
A bit off me wants them to stay on holidays for a bit longer (so, we can do more family bonding), but another bit, makes me want them to start a.s.a.p, just so I can have a well deserved break!
Kisses
Debbie Moss

By the way... You have a lovely family!

Summer by the sea said...

Love the photo's and I second the opinion that you will never be redundant (although saying that, I dread the day I will have to wave my little 2 year old off to school) - Glad you had such a great summer - Natalie x

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful summer...
My youngest one starts school full time next Jan and already the pressure has started in regard to 'well you'll need to find a job'...don't I still have a job?!! Just getting people to the right places on time often feels like a full-time role :)
Sometimes it's nice to just sit back and absorb the changes for a while (if you get chance :) ) , so I hope the changes you face this Sept will be positive ones you'll look back on with fond memories...
Loved the pics,
Kate in Tassiexx

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

looks like you had a lovely summer it flew by didnt it ?!
I have posted about my youngest starting in reception this coming week as well - they seem so little!!! Mine was only 4 a few days ago so I am dreading it :-S oh well more time for er, hmm, all the other stuff..........
good luck to everyone with the new school year!
Lesley x

prettyshabby said...

oh I nearly missed this post! August has most definately gone in a blink. Lovely,lovely photos of your two..so natural and just being typical lovely kids.It's quite lump-in-throat inducing when you think about them going to school and that they'll then suddenly start calling you 'Miss' by accident! It must be why there is a five year gap between me and each of my four siblings, my mum must have loved us being at home..one off to school and a new one arrives!

Jo said...

it doesn't seem five minutes since my son was starting school, he is 21 next year! my only advice would be don't try and live in a show house (like my mum did)and spend the precious time with the children, the housework will still be there when they've grown up and left the nest.
Josie x