jingle bells before cobwebs


Morni
We went to the Bamber's on Saturday night to celebrate their 30 years together and 18 years of marriage. We met some of their friends - they first proper dinner party they said. 
And on Sunday morning my sister and nieces popped in, they'd been to see Mean Girls the night before and so, not quite in they way back to London they came to say hi and have a cuppa and bite to eat. 
M got her UCAS form in this week, she's applied to Cambridge so had to meet the early deadline. Honestly think that that's not on and no wonder some students don't have a clue about the early deadline and miss out. A remains undecided but the Oxbridge option wasn't one of them in the end. 

BigA has been doing bits of DIY, getting rid of mouldy window trimmings, because this time of year and over a year back in the house we're fighting the condensation and accompanying mould around the house. The joys of adulthood. I have been planning ahead for Christmas, got us three girls advent calendars already - I know it's only October but there they were and I still feel excited to be able to get them for less than we would have in Malawi. I used to always plan very much ahead of the Christmas window, happy that I didn't have to squeeze in present buying during the miserable weather in December. A and I also got some rather pathetic decorations for our planned Halloween party. No idea who will come, a mix of teenagers and adults. BigA has invited what feels like every ultimate frisbee player within a 20 mile radius, and I very much hope the vast majority don't come. Bar humbug, 

I took a trip to the girls' school this week to try and get some better support for A and her art, despite her passion the teachers sadly don't seem to be capturing it and she doesn't really know what to do to improve. It was an interesting conversation but not one that really gave me much hope or faith in the teachers. 

I've been able to get in the garden too, tidying up after BigA and getting some much needed weeding done, there are still plenty of flowers and despite the cats and foxes best efforts things are looking good. It's been very mixed weather but certainly some nice days. We've bought a cheap (discounted) fire pit/box thing in anticipation of a nice night next weekend, for a Halloween party. 

And then last night we headed off to The Beehive to celebrate BigA turning 46. He looks fabulous - improving like a fine wine, I have done well there haven't I. We also carried out our little tradition of gifts in the morning. The girls had put lots of thought and effort into his gifts, which I know he appreciated. He liked 2 of the gifts I got him, one less so, but I like it and it's for the kitchen, so really just an excuse to get it for the house. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Scrubs

 A delightfully slow start to the weekend - tea brought to me by my wonderful husband and then he made a cooked breakfast. M headed off to work and he got on with his DIY projects and I lost myself in my book after a cleaning blitz.  A mate came over for dinner and we had a much needed catch up. She has overcome so much, not least a terrible work situation and so I was reminded of the fact that it can all turn out for the best. We did lots of laughing out loud and giggled over memories and her current, rather busy and crazy sounding love life.  Sunday was the first folk open mic event. Oh it was beautiful and so many performances moved me. I fought the tears but one song really hit me. So much of it made me think of D and my dad. The joy of hearing such talent. Our little band of two middle aged folks and a bunch of teenagers were ok. I wasn't great but not too bad given my lack of practice and subsequent confidence.  That evening an exhausted A arrived home. Too tri...
Read more

Brussels

Last Saturday the girls and I set off for a day trip to Brighton, me to meet up with Sharon and Chaz and them to have a bit of a wander around - to see a place that they had both been to when younger but not for a long time. It was a truly lovely day and I was so full of the happiness of it all, that I almost didn't mind the excruciating delays on the train home.  Sunday was all about getting digging in the garden, I was determined to make a start on the area near the door to dig out as much as possible and redistribute the earth to the back of the garden and around. Some of the plants A and I bought have been dug up and some plants rather beaten up, we assume by the foxes. I did more on Monday and was pleased it hadn't rained so I could very on - as it would just be a mud hole. I also said bye to A that morning as she headed off to Kent for some filming for someone's school project. I was super excited for her but also a bit nervous about her heading off without me. She ha...
Read more

application time

I haven't quite gotten used to mum not being here. It was so lovely to have her here that I wish she could come again. To compensate I cracked open a jigsaw that she brought and spent some of my weekend with that. I love a good jigsaw and a cup of tea.  It was the Hillview Christmas bazaar last Saturday and A was keen to go. It was more of a social event for her. We all went along seeing lots of people we know and BigA bought me some lovely earrings. The traffic back was terrible all due to petrol tankers and the queues that come with them.  Sunday morning I woke up knowing that 7 years before I had brain surgery and the importance of that journey will never leave me. I think it shaped me in a way that is partly why we're here now and why we will leave in July. A couple of weeks before, while in the school pool with my mum talking thoughts and through what we should do I said how comfortable I am here, how easy it is. My mum, knowing me well and wants that for me. Less stress,...
Read more