Something new

Tonight is our first Book Club meeting. Love that we all love the idea, but have very little idea how it works! Thank goodness for the local library....it seems that they put keen souls like us on the right track and lend out books in bulk. (If you are already in a book club, please do not scoff....this is new and exciting to me). I started the book last night and finished it this afternoon. "Juliet, Naked" by Nick Hornby. Please see this review from the Guardian as it does a lot better than I could. I have an odd relationship with Nick Hornby. Very readable, but not disturbing enough. Disturbing in the sense that the twists and outcomes are not so unpredictable. I think the best thing about this book was that without reading the blurb, I launched into it and was suprised that it the title was not about a woman per se....but the aftermath of time spent with one and how that aftermath, (the album in its stripped down version) impacted the protagnists. The title alone threatened 'romantic something'.

Time is our friend

Peace again. I love my wonderful girls and want everything for them. It sits well when they are happy. Thank you to someone very dear for her email about this. Really gave me a boost.

Parents have a lot to answer for

There are times when I despair as a mother. My youngest is angry a lot, she has been honest with me about my role in causing her anger. Of late, we have had sublime moments, playing badminton, hanging out and it feels as though we were getting closer. Tonight there is a wedge, driven in by me being parent, mother, disciplinarian. I have no idea what to do to undo this situation.

Face lift

Bit of a change to the background of the blog. Change is good.

MUCH work done in the garden yesterday. We used some of our own compost for the first time. It has been busy breaking down with the help of thousands of worms (seems like it when we look inside), and the result was a fresh smelling mixture, with a lot of egg shells! The raised bed got a load of it in preparation for some late planting. The potatoes were thinned out, with the view to getting a bigger crop per plant (all in pots/bags this year). A quick trip to the garden centre to get MORE compost, (not all of ours is ready yet.) Quite a few aches last night from all the lifting and digging, but, what a wonderful feeling!

Eyes

Han-solo has had trouble with her eyes, floaters, distorted/reduced vision and things moving in the peripheries. She has also had pain in the eyes and headaches. We drove to A&E last night to get her looked at and the diagnosis was migraine. The girl is so driven and busy. A visit to the GP today resulted in being gently persuaded to slow down a bit. She has had the day off school, relunctantly, but is a more rested girl now. She and her sister are now filming for her new blog. Just want them all well, safe and happy.

Comfort

My grandmother made this blanket, which was on our bed in when we stayed with my parents in Australia. She also made one for her six other children, (Mum is one of 7). She made lots of blankets for Save the Children as well and was given an award for her years of work. She used to wonder if she would ever see one of her blankets on news reports from refugee camps in Africa. I am not sure she ever did.

I could do with a bit of a lie down under the comfort blanket followed by a few hours of soothing crochet. Just feel like it. Everything is very stretched.

Han-solo cannot go on the DofE expedition unless she completes a first aid course. (Music exams clashed with the session run by the school). FINDING a course for one is hard work and it looks like a day off school might be necessary. Many hours spent on that and still no result.

At work I am organising a seminar for GPs on behalf of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit and today need to go in to work to put things together. Nothing like last minute dashing around.

At least I am up early and have seen off all my loved ones. The weather looks as though it will be nice, again!

Aim for today is to do things SLOWLY and not rush.....bit of rose smelling on the way.

Out of kilter

We have been back for two weekends, but spent last weekend having a first cousins reunion in Oxford at my wonderful cousin Lyn's place. Her three half brothers, two of their girlfriends and her sister were there, all the way from Australia. One cousins came from Newtownards and one from Dublin. It was amazing and fun and we went punting on the river after a fabulous lunch. Happy, happy day.

But with all that there is a sense of not being on top of things at home. Much to do in the garden, Duke of Edinbugh items to be sourced for Han-Solo. Em is taking up athletics and needs gear. Big J is working on his new contract and is putting in enormously long hours. Nothing seems calm or organised.

I tell myself it is going the right way though. I made a pledge to myself when is Australia to STREAMLINE life a little. Slowly, things have been making their way to the charity shops, to the tip, to the box for a table-top sale at a church hall in two weeks.

Today a chest of wicker drawers became a shoe box in the hall. Works perfectly.

(This is a pic from The Cotswalds Company....the little chest is the one we have).
Saves the cost of a new one, shoes that do not fit have to be taken to respective rooms.

I looks better, less always looks better than clutter.