Month: April 2017

So its back to school now and routine.  As much as I love the holidays and the adventures they bring I feel somewhat comforted by the order of routine of school weeks.  It is only in school weeks that I have a little me time and I really appreciate this time.  This week has been a perfectly normal week and after reading Suzanne’s blog post below that is just fine with me.

I haven’t read as much as normal this week but there were a number of blog posts which have really stood out.  Suzanne’s post When did Ordinary Become Meaningless

http://insideoutsideandbeyond.com/when-did-ordinary-become-meaningless/

has resonated with me, It was refreshing to read a post which inspires us to look for the little pleasures.  It also led me to one of my listens this week, an interesting TED talk by Brene Brown.

The Simple Things magazine was published this week so I read this too, it’s one of my favourite monthly reads.

Mr S and I caught up this week on Big, Little Lies.  I finished the book just as the series started so its very fresh in the memory and undoubtedly leads to a comparison of the two genres.  I liked the tv series a lot, the actors were outstanding, the music and the whole ambiance created was brilliant but there is so much more in the story not reflected in the tv series.  Whilst I recognise its the difficulty of adapting a book I would highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoyed the tv series.

I also watched a quintessential English event to celebrate St George’s day, the Scouts St George’s day parade in a neighbouring town. I watched Little Man and his Beaver friends march and the parade also featured St George and a very long dragon.  The parade ends at the town church for a service.  Last year it was a bit dry and the Beavers found it difficult in such a formal event, this year they were given the option not to stay, however the dragon and St George had got their attention so they were all keen to stay which meant I sat in it too.   I was so impressed by the service designed and presented this year by the scouts themselves, teenagers get a lot of grief but these had worked so hard to make it a fun, informative and appropriate service for everyone there.

Nope, I’m thinking and thinking and have no original makes this week, sorry.

This weather is so unpredictable, after enjoying some of my spring like clothes, during the Easter holidays I’m back to something a bit warmer as its turned so much colder.  Spring come back please, I miss you!

This week I have listened to Little Miss practice her French, her class were invited to meet some French children who are in our town for a school trip.  She has been so excited and its a delight to hear her saying her little phrases.  Whilst my teaching career turned by chance to SEND I am a MFL teacher and have a passion and love of  languages.

I also enjoyed this talk from Brene Brown which Suzanne quotes in her piece above.  Its well worth a listen on vulnerability and belonging.

I am so excited for this weekend, whilst we have some nice family time planned my excitement is for Saturday night.  I am going to a grown up party …. in a castle ( a proper fairy tale castle with turrets) …with a live swing band … for the 40th birthday of a gorgeous friend.  Sometimes life is very good x

I am linking up with Morgana at http://www.coffeeworksleeprepeat.com for #littleloves

 

Whilst last week’s #littleloves was a bumper edition summing up a few weeks this is a more stream lined version from the past five days. However as it was the school Easter holidays there was plenty going on.  This week was a week of mini adventures in more off beaten tracks, too many tourists in the popular haunts this week.  Our week has included trampolining lessons, a long scooter ride, exploring a nature trail, climbing to the top of a castle, walking along a river and meeting friends for play dates.  We also had more mundane activities like buying summer school uniform but its amazing the promise of having a £1 to spend in the Poundshop can help to make a successful shopping trip!

I read Schtum by Jem Lester following a Kindle recommendation as ‘ a funny and uplifting story of family and love.’  I thought it was a well written and moving story.  As with another recent read it was about a son with severe autism and the effect on the family, although there were other sub-stories too and it made for an emotional read.  There is a fantastic chapter ‘voiced’ by the son at a tribunal and I hope to be able to use this professionally in staff training sessions.  It is a book to make you thankful for your family and a reminder to listen to and to understand each other.

When Mr S is away with work as he was this week, I don’t often switch the television on, I prefer to read, to surf the web or simply potter whilst listening to music in the evenings.  When he has been home this week he has had the snooker on, of all the sports I find snooker sooooo boring so have buried myself in my reading as a distraction.

I have been creative in the kitchen this week, with no work I have had a little more time to experiment.  I’ve been reading around healthier alternatives to common foods and have tried a few new ingredients, almond butter, Algarve syrup etc.. and replenished lots of my herbs and spices.  Two favourite recipes this week were a chick pea and cauliflower curry and ginger flapjacks.  I’ve also made a few picnics to enjoy on our trips out.

One day this week, we needed to be out for the whole day to accommodate some work on our house.  This led to a bit of a magical, mystery trip around our county with various stops which included a brief pause for me in a small town to check their new White Stuff shop which was holding an opening event.  I bought this blouse and love it, its a great fit, that print is just amazing and I got a opening discount, win, win, win. It looked great with my jeans and is the sort of blouse which will look with a bright coloured shorts or trousers in the warmer days.

http://www.whitestuff.com/womens/shirts-blouses/chalk-white-print-faces-shirt/

 

I read about the #30daymusic challenge and started typing up my daily choices this week  https://seasidesparkles.net/2017/04/18/the-30-day-music-challenge/ This has led to lots of research on Spotify and You Tube and really enjoying some brilliant songs.

This Easter holiday seems to be going on forever, the children have Inset on Monday and then its finally back to routines on Tuesday for us all.  When the children are at school and I am doing my part time hours, I do manage a few more hours to myself, sometimes the holidays can feel a little overwhelming as my children find it difficult to occupy themselves and I need a list of ideas to keep us all calm and happy. I hope you have all enjoyed the holidays.

Thank you to Morgana at www.coffeeworksleeprepeat.com for hosting #littleloves and her lovely writers who inspire with their choices.

 

I’m afraid I’ve neglected my blog for a few weeks, its been such a busy time and I’ve been embracing the fun.  Following a quiet few months, April has sprung into life,  the weather has been stunning and so much has been happening.  We’ve hosted family for Granddad’s birthday celebrations, participated in Easter bonnet parades, watched and performed in talent shows, been on a family holiday to Butlins and finally celebrated Easter, not bad for the first 17 days of April.  Thankfully we’ve a few quieter days now until we go back to school a week today.

 

I’m an Amazon Prime subscriber and each month we get a free Kindle book, this month I chose After You Left by Carol Mason.  Its the story of a woman whose husband walks out of the marriage after 3 days and her friendship with an older woman who helps her to recover.  Whilst I’m not sure I would strongly recommend it, it was an easy and pleasant read, the perfect book to dip into as you watched the children doing their different activities at Butlins.  Ooh I’ve been busy this month so far.  I’ve watched a Brownie talent show which was refreshingly good with  impressions, the T-Rex was brilliant, ACDC tribute, the top 10 Man City players, the alphabet recited backwards etc.. Little Miss was due to do a duet with her friend but she was sick on the day and she ended up wowing us all with a solo, I was very proud.  I’ve also watched the primary school’s Easter bonnet parade.  This is a very big deal in the school, a tradition that goes back for more than a century (the school is still in the original building!) and it is one of the highlights of the school year.  The bonnets were lovely and it is just so sweet how the children walk up and down a cat walk to show their hats to the appreciative audience.

At Butlins, I got to watch three new Skyline Gang shows, Little man adores the Skyline Gang so we made sure that we were in the pavilion for each performance.  I also got to watch the children trying out new sports and activities at Butlins, whilst I joined in with rounders and cricket, I watched the fencing.  The instructor was an old acquaintance, my family are always amazed how I can go somewhere and know someone!

Yes, this is the first picture I’ve ever published online of my children, but I think they are suitably disguised not to be recognisable.  I have made an Easter egg hunt for the children, it was a mix of activities and chocolate and for the first time in a couple of years the weather allowed us to do the hunt in the garden! I also made an Easter lunch which was delicious.  More of both of these activities in my (still to be written) Easter post.

The sunshine has definitely brought out the colour in my wardrobe.  Yellow seems to be my go to colour, I have a lovely yellow broderie top and a Lazy Jacks sweatshirt, perfect with jeans or cropped trousers.  Before we had the fun of Butlins, I had Little Man’s Annual Review on the last day of term, he has an EHCP and a full time 1:1 TA with him in the classroom to support him.  We are so proud of what he has achieved, when we were asked to consider adopting him, his future was uncertain, he was a one year old who was unable to crawl and there were many questions on his future development and possible diagnoses.  Now after years of physiotherapy, speech therapy etc.. his future looks positive and he is the most easy going and happy boy, his support is to help his learning. The Annual Review was a really positive meeting, he makes so much progress and we really couldn’t be prouder of him.

At Butlins, I heard lots of laughter and screams at the funfair and Splashworld and of course the Skyline Gang’s songs have catchy tunes which you find yourself humming along!  So the Easter celebrations are over now.  I’m hoping for a quieter few days of holiday visiting local places.  It is very busy here at present, we’re a popular destination for Easter breaks, so we’re heading off to some of the quieter places off the tourist trail.  I have booked some activities at our local sports centre to enjoy.  There are also a few play dates organised to keep us busy.  Mr S is working away this week so I need to be out and about to keep myself sane.

Thank you to Morgana for hosting the linky at http://coffeeworksleeprepeat.com/

So this was the week in which it showed how quickly finely tuned plans can become an unmanageable mess with just one small change to routines.  The change was that I was sick and having 2 days in which I was unable to do much had an impact to our week.  On Monday, not only was Mr S away on business, I was sick, Little Man had a bad chest infection and was off school and then I got a call to pick up Little Miss who was complaining of being ill too (she wasn’t and that was definitely a skive) I’m afraid the day turned into a movie and duvet day.  I am too conscientious for my own good and rather than take a day off sick on Monday, when I normally work a morning, I made up my hours later in the week.  That was madness as by the end of the week we had taken the radical action of putting our house up for sale and putting an offer on what could be a dream house, in context on Monday we had no notions of moving! Needless to say it s not been a week of much relaxing but lets try and show a few #littleloves.

I have read the house particulars of one little house this week many times although I am scared to get too excited.  I also read my beautiful Mothers’ day cards and the lovely acrostic mother created by Little Miss.

Whilst Monday turned into Movie day I was too poorly to watch any properly.  The only notable programme was Prime Suspect 1973, the story is pretty predictable but I love the attention to details in props and costumes.

It was play date time this week and again I did the pick’n’mix baked potatoes (different friends so I got away with it again!) I created more fillings so the table looked a bit like the salad cart at a Harvester but the children loved it and all ate a good tea.

I’ve been needing a new pair of trainers for ages but wanted to wait until I was outside running rather than choosing a pair for the gym.  My new running shoes are so comfortable and supportive and made me realise how worn my old pair were, I’ll need to keep a note of the miles run to ensure that I keep my feet healthy in supportive trainers.

I have heard so many excited girls this week, the giggles have echoed around the house.  We had 2 little friends on Wednesday talking make up and boys and then Little Miss and her friends have been getting so excited about this weekend’s Brownie trip to Legoland where 5000 brownies are taking over the park!  I also played a Hot Hits playlist at tea on Wednesday night, my desperate attempt to look hip to the youngsters!

Whilst we have many things to do now for the possible house sale, I have a weekend of family.  My Father in law has arrived and my sister in law and husband will be joining us tomorrow.  Fortunately we have a lovely lunch out booked so not too much extra for me to do.  Then its time for the last week of term and Easter bonnet parades to prepare for.