Closing down....

This blog has reached the end of a long line...Last year was hard and I only really updated sporadically...Need to consider the blog ...why , what etc....

ciao...

moving along slowly ...............

have taken some time in the last few weeks....getting back into routine, enjoying the fantastic autumn we are having and thinking about how to move this blog on ...but life does go on...so we have to keep on ...there have been really hard times when I want to pick up the phone and talk about something that Nelly has done or tell about the fab Halloween party I am organising tomorrow for ....wait for it...47 children ...but I cannot. Nelly and I have spent a few days with my sister this week over half term, sorting things out... visiting and revisiting the house...looking at things, evoking memories...strange little things that my Mum kept ...a diary for at least 47 years, things that my sister and I made when were were kids ...the obligatory photo albums...an autograph book with some lovely line drawings she had when she was twelve that captured my 11 year old niece's attention ....

we sorted and cleared and arranged to pass things onto charities that could really use 8 pyrex bowls, baking trays, cake tins and more china than you would know what to do with ....

We still have lots of things to clear and do but every day it gets easier - we visited the grave and nelly placed a lavendar bag she had taken from Grandma's bedroom on the grave...little reminders everywhere ....

a goodbye.....

...a very sad and hard post to write - it has been sitting in my drafts for a few weeks now, verys sadly and suddenly my mother died on September 13th...she had been undergoing chemo for secondary cancer in the liver after an op to remove a tumour from her small intestine..She had been well, recovered from the op , ans started the chemo in the middle of August. She was well up until a week before she died, when she became very ill. Thnking it was the effects of the chemo - no energy, sickness and diarrohea she was admitted to hospital on Thursday 10th. She was not in pain but jest very sisk and uncomfortable. She was a very brave lady in her sickness and laughed, joked and bossed my sister and I around in the last days! She had the chance to see special people on the Saturday her brother, sister, friends nieces and Rob and Nelly and to see pictures of my sisters children who were at a wedding that day - one as a bridesmaid..IF you can say this her death was a good one..She was not in pain, she was a regular church attendee and her vicar was with us during the final day. We are all missing a very special, warm and chatty person in our lives - our phone bill will be reduced enormously...Her funeral was attended by well over 350 people, the sun came out and we all said our goodbyes and shared happpy memories...

It has taken me a few weeks to compose this post ...Clare and I have each other, Rob and Stuart and between us we have three beautiful girls who knew a wonderful Grandma...She will be missed enormously by us all......

Winning moments

Last weekend was the village flower and produce show we entered a few categories though most of our veg harvest has been and gone. I managed to pull together a respectable looking trug with some potatoes, herb beans, onions shallots a mini beetroot, chillies corn and spinach ! For this I received a hugly commended certificate !! Nelly and I picked some wild flowers (aka weeds from the garden !!) and arranged in a yoghurt pot - for a third prize ! And my last years jar of apple date and ginger picked up a third too ! Hurrah

the delicious carrot cake that took hours to make , sat sadly on its plate prizeless but we demolished it afterwards with lots of tea and coffee !

A good day was had by all and the children ran riot under the tables as the very serious prize winning speeches were made !

Roll on 2010!!!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Nearing the end of the holidays

So in all I think the sun has shone for about five maybe six days - am I bring generous??!! We are now counting down to back to school nelly was called for her pre school booster injections yesterday these are now her final ones until she is 12 !!! Can you imagine that! She was really Brave taking off her cardigan to offer the nurse her arm ! First one was easy second took a little time ! She got a big sticker and she then looked after me at the opticians! I got a sticker , another trip to the hospital and a £281 bill for new glasses and a years ban from lenses !
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Lack of blog updates !

The holidays are here and we have been doing a lot of weather watching whilst trying to keep the small ones amused during the rain ! There have been bike rides walks in the woods we did resort to a soft play on two occasions when rain was just too miserable !

Nelly and I spent the weekend before last with grandma who taught her how to look through the Argos catalogue!!!!! Gggrrhh and how to turn down pages of things she wants !! Oh no !

Grandma gave nelly some holiday money and we are busy working out what to spend it on I am trying to teach her how to understand what £20 will buy and another doll is not really worth it as she has 4 already ! So far we have bought one of those things that you put in crocs and a packet of Cath Kidston tissues !!she has a tissue obsession going on and is drawn to packets of brightly coloured tissues like a magpie !


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

some more festival pics....

Rob looking nervous about his whole camping / festival experience ! he just needed a beer!

charming little touches ...

Gabs on tour with another festival hat

Uncle Johnny....getting in the mood for the festival toilets!

Sean gets his own festival hat!

Nelly waiting to try those loos and boy did she make use of them!