Month: July 2025

This has been a reset and refresh week with the end of the school year and a few days to prepare for our Italian adventure. This was the name I gave to my holiday Spotify playlist, I like to have a playlist for our holidays, a mix of songs linked to our holidays and current hits. We have some lovely playlists of past holidays, they’re a great memento. I have also been doing all the research for our trip and have lists and notes in my little notebook, from metro routes for our itineraries to what to see in the different cities we visit.

I was at work for the first two days of the week, as we had two training days. They were good days, some mandatory training but also allocated time to prepare for September. I left work feeling organised and ready for the year ahead. I will still do some work over the holidays but I don’t feel that I’ll be catching up but working on some projects for the upcoming year. I like this part of my job, being creative and curious. It was also very nice to switch off all my alarms on Tuesday, that’s all except Saturday’s parkrun alarm. Over the years I have become a morning person and even without the alarms I was still awake at my normal time most of the week. It’s just nice to potter downstairs, have a cup of tea and just relax into the day.

Although I only had two days at work , I was very focused on finishing the excellent Blue Sisters as an audiobook on my commute. This is such a good book and one to recommend. It’s a story which focuses on the present day but with flashbacks you understand how the sisters’ characters developed. I also really appreciated the epilogue ten years later to tie up the loose ends.

It was another family birthday this week and we had a beach hut for the day. It was a simple celebration, the day on the beach, a lovely paddle and then a chippie supper from our favourite fish and chip shop. Is there anything more seaside than having chips on the beach?

It was great to have a few prep days after term ended and I have had a manicure and pedicure, a new haircut and other treatments. When I had the pedicure I sat in a massage chair which was bliss, I’ve never had a pedicure before but my feet are so smooth and pretty I can’t imagine not having another now.

Everything is now packed and we’re ready for our flight tomorrow. We’re staying near the airport so there’s not a long journey tomorrow. I am so looking forward to dropping off our luggage and heading off to the shops and bar. There’s something very exciting about the anticipation of a flight.

This was always going to be an emotional week as my son left school at the end of Year 11. As he’s attended a special school, there’s been no exams so no early leave and he’s had to go right to the end of term.

Fortunately our son has loved his school and has made some lovely friends. My husband and I have been doing a lot of reflecting this week and despite all the challenges I think we got his education right for him. There’s been so much time spent over the years on getting the correct support for him but I think we did okay, he attended a mainstream primary and then went to special school for his secondary education. Next year he’s doing a more vocational course / supported internship at college.

My son did a residential earlier this term and the next rites of passage was a Prom at a local country house. He was a little nervous about the formality of the occasion but as soon as he saw his friends all dressed up, the nerves dissipated and they all had an amazing time. Parents were allowed to wait and take photos in the gardens and on the red carpet and I have some beautiful images of him and his friends ready to print out and pin up on his corkboard. I really appreciate these friendships , I think they will last, they are lovely young people.

As if prom wasn’t emotional enough, we then had the leavers assembly on Friday. My first job of the day was to take the final day of school photo on the doorstep. I then compared it with his first day of school, a tiny little boy compared to the strong, tall young man and felt so proud. Fortunately I work at a school whom are family friendly and despite it being a very busy day for our school too I was allowed the time off to attend the leavers assembly. These little gestures are so important to me as an employee. I do work hard and to be allowed the time made me feel appreciated. The assembly was just gorgeous, each leaver had their special time, sitting on a chair on stage and the Head read a speech about them all, so personal and highlighting all their characteristics, strengths and what they brought to the school, a wonderful mix of emotion and humour. Then there was a PowerPoint with all the students over the years at the school, it’s so easy to forget how small they all were and what brilliant young adults they have become. Whilst there was refreshments after, I only stopped to personally thank the head and some of my son’s old teachers before returning to school and participating in our family picnic, awards, good byes and choir. It’s fair to say I did feel emotionally spent on Friday night.

As it was the last day for students on Friday, I was treated to some lovely gifts, so many beautiful flowers and heartwarming cards. There’s tough days in teaching but the good days are the absolute best and after 29 (!) years I still can’t imagine doing any other job, teaching SEN is the most rewarding and fulfilling job I’ve ever had.

I was very spoilt on Friday as I also received some early birthday presents from my work friends. I was so touched that they know me so well, the parkrun candle is brilliant and I also got a ‘in my runner era’ socks.

After all the emotion of last week, it is back into school this week for 2 training days, a day of nail, hair and other beauty appointments , packing and then holiday! This weekend we’ve been doing the final checks and all we can before the last day or so. Oh and there’s also another birthday and anniversary to celebrate. This time of year is crazy busy but also some of the best weeks of the year, I thrive on happy busyness.

Time for a catch up in what is always a busy period of birthdays, school and life. This year has been no different and with our son leaving school there are extras too with prom and a leavers’ assembly.

During the first week of this catch up, it was our daughter’s birthday. Her birthday treat was a session on the SUP boards at a local lake. Although the photo looks a little cloudy it was so hot that we were relieved by the clouds to protect us from the sun. The temperature board was reading 26*. Heatwaves are definitely en vogue at present, this weekend sees the 3rd heatwave in a matter of weeks. I did the SUP with the children and loved it and am keen to go again. However I feel it would need to be on a lake, the sea is more unpredictable. I did ache for days after but felt very satisfied. Our daughter chose Thai for a birthday meal and we found a lovely restaurant. It had a great open window, much needed in the heat, our photos look like we’re in the med, with the open window onto a tree lined terrace. It was situated in the area I grew up in and what had been my local record shop when I was her age was now the restaurant. I felt very nostalgic passing all my old haunts, all looking very different now.

This weekend we have been at my parents celebrating my son’s birthday early as there’s lots going on later this month. We had a great birthday barbecue and for dessert I prepared a birthday sweet platter. I did this last year and it went done so well that I shared it with my parents too. Again the response has been great and I feel that this may be a new tradition. With regard to traditions, the platter did include top hats, an essential ingredient of our childhood birthdays, a marshmallow dipped in chocolate and topped with a smartie.

Given the extreme weather this weekend we simply stayed close to my parents home, the children spent a few hours on the pier and then chilled in the garden. I did take my son for a prom haircut and hot towel shave, it seemed all very grown up. Earlier in the day, my daughter and I did an incredibly hot parkrun at Ashton Court on Saturday morning. She is just returning to running so we took it easy with a mix of running and walking but with no shade it was tough. We stopped off at Costa to get iced drinks on the way home and as it was next to the Bristol city stadium we posed for a photo next to the Atyeo statue. When I lived in Bristol I was a season ticket holder at BCFC in the Atyeo stand so it was a special photo for me (and one to wind up my husband who is Rovers)

Away from the birthday weekends, we’ve been preparing and shopping for holidays and prom. I randomly found some Neom dupe oils in Aldi and am enjoying the new aromas. Vinted continues to be my go to for purchases. I have a stunning new black broderie dress for work and get so many compliments for a dress which cost £4. When in big town, we have also popped into the cinema, we finally used up a Odeon gift card, and saw Formula One. It wasn’t as bad as I expected although I did prefer Rush and Gran Turismo, I may not be a fan but my son loves these types of films.

With the heatwaves I’ve really been enjoying and appreciating my evening walks along the beach in the cool breeze. My son has even joined me on a couple of nights as a way to cool down. We may have enjoyed an ice cream from the artisan ice cream stall in town. Life is best with those little sparkles.

It’s a big week in our household with prom and leavers’ day and the end of school in our family. My summers will look different now, no school uniforms to buy, no trips to Clark’s or evenings labelling everything, the end of an era. Our son is off to a college on a supported internship type course so there will still be education it will just look different. It’s strange that this will be his first leavers assembly, he left primary in the Covid summer of 2020 when restrictions meant the good bye was outside, children only, sat on coloured circles 1 metre apart from each other. I really hope this is a very special week for him.