I apologise for the lack of chronological order in the last few posts. I think that regular readers will be able to work out what was supposed to come first.
I think that I had failed to press publish when I had first written them and now can’t work out how to make them come I date order.
Can anyone with technical skills help me out? This is my first ever attempt at a blog so it’s bound to have a few hiccups.
Hope that you enjoy sharing a few snapshots of our life though xxx
I’m not very good at keeping up with this journal writing am I?
We’re already at the end of February and the birds are singing furiously heralding the beginning of Spring. The sun is shining and the bulbs are all blooming. This last week has had beautiful weather. A wonderful break from the gales and driving rain that have become the norm of late. It’s been one of the mildest Winters that I can remember so to have had frost and sunshine this week has been a welcome change.
Off to Cartmel again today to teach guides and leaders how to take good photographs. I’m definitely looking forward to a child-free afternoon in the company of intelligent adults!
Well here we are once again at the end of August with the holidays drawing to a close and the thought of school looming.
We’ve not had a busy Summer with lots of holidays. Although the weather on the whole has been pretty kind to us (this is the Lake District after all!) we have chosen to stay closer to home and have days out with Mum when possible.
Mum’s health has continued to gradually deteriorate culminating in her inability to change gear in the car so to all intents and purposes has become home bound unless I drive. As you can imagine the frustration is immense. We are looking into the possibility of a mobility allowance but it’s not looking hopeful. At least with determination she is still able to do much.
Connor will be turning fourteen next week and brings all the joys of teen angst and hormones to the house! Actually to be fair he’s not been too bad so far. He’s a pretty balanced kid and helps when he can. He does a paper round every morning which keeps his feet on the ground. He’s still attached to all his computers with an umbilical cord so as he works towards his GCSEs I’m sure that they will feature highly in his choices.
The girls continue to grow like weeds
I’m not very good at keeping up with this journal keeping… Having my life full of so many different commitments isn’t conducive to having time enough for myself. Unfortunately I come rather far down the list of priorities. Obviously the children and Mum come first, as well as other family. Then friends and pets who join my ever growing list of responsibilities. I’m still chairman of our primary school’s PTA (where the girls attend,) am on the community centre committee including various sub-committees, unit leader of the local Rainbows group, deliverer of the monthly parish magazines and council notes and now to add to my burgeoning list we are fighting against the arrival of enormous pylons that are due to pass through our idyllic village on the way to Heysham from the new nuclear station at Moorside. (More about all that on another occasion though!) Oh! And I also help at our local youth club and at the after school gymnastics club. (Although those I don’t mind because the girls are involved I would be there anyway.)
My Great Aunt and Uncle (my Granny’s youngest sister) are housebound in our local town so along with a couple of other family members we help and shop for them. We have a very small family. I am an only child and have very few relatives. I want to be able to help them so much more but they are a very proud couple and although they really are desperate for help they will not accept any (professional or otherwise.) It’s definitely a worry…
Since we last spoke, Mum has lost 95% of the use of her left arm which has meant that she can no longer drive. More responsibility for me but we do get to spend more quality time together. She so hates strangers in the house helping her and having to waste (although very necessary) time attending hospital and dental appointments.
To add to my chaos I have caved into the children’s demands and have accepted a stray kitten into the house. Meet Maceo! A tiny black tom with a white tip on the end of his tail that he loves to chase! He really is very cute. I’m not a massive cat fan but he can be very adorable and so funny! He has fitted in perfectly and gets on so well with everyone (even Walter in small doses!) We now have various cat toys underfoot and have to have regimented feeding times so that Walter doesn’t eat his food first! Walter’s coat is looking amazing at the moment 😂
September was birthday month for Connor and I so we now have an ever growing fourteen year old and well I’m another year older!! Connor chose to take a friend to Blackpool Pleasure Beach for his birthday (yes I was scared!!) and I just had a peaceful Sunday at home with a lovely family trip for a bar meal in the evening. Lovely to just have a family day.
October is the girl’s birthday month so the lists are growing daily and in wild directions. We have gone from a rabbit to a mallard duck for Meggie. I suspect a soft toy might be the answer!! All the children are still playing Pokémon so I sense a theme for their day!
Must get on with ‘real’ work!!
Karasek Park 