Stormy skies

Two big rumbling storms have streaked through the skies this afternoon. There were rather beautiful.
I rushed out to get a shot before the heavens opened but feel that these do not really capture the energy.

Now the sun is shining and everything is glistening.
It has been a good day, only my big girl (who is the smallest in the family) is not well.

Coming and going

Tonight we are going to look at a holiday for two. In a place where Big J has friends so we may have a few days on our own and a few with them. While we are away the girls will be in Japan. I have some pretty stressy butterflies in my tum about that. I love that they still go back, love that their granny comes to stay, love that all things Japanese mean so much to them, but I hate being apart from them and the cautious mother in me wants to wait for them safely at home while they take off across the world - not take off herself....odd that.

It must be a form of separation anxiety. Love my girls.

Youngest is in London at an architect friend's office for the next two weeks doing work experience.
More growing up.

You never can tell

After writing about sharing my day off on Wednesday - hubby threw a something into the mix that completely changed the day. He phoned from London to say he was finishing at about 4:30 so why not come up and join him for a browse in the sales and a film?? Well after looking at the ironing pile, the list of not yet touched chores and my youngest and telling myself that it was just not on, youngest said 'Go, Mum' and 'I will cook dinner for the others' and she did, and I did!!

So London on a sunny afternoon, no purchases, but that is fine by me. Then a tasty meal in China Town and a film, Your Sister's Sister:

It was a great film. Made me laugh and cry and wonder how I would have coped in that situation.
It was good to do something different and good to be with Big J on our own.
The kids of course, fared well and were none the worse for their mother running off for the afternoon.

Since then the tempo has upped a bit and we have reached the end of another weekend. The ginger Herman cake went down well at the office. Had a little chat to myself about MY SIZE and have been to the gym once and spin twice. It will be a long time before I have a butt like a beach volley ball players (women's people, a woman's volly ball player's butt) but I did the squats today.

 Lots of weather of course, anyone in the UK knows what I mean, but there were spots of sunshine and this evening is lovely.

Murray did not win the tennis, but love that he can be so open about how hard his loss was to him.

This evening will be spent listing things on ebay.  JOY (not). The best bit is the sale, it's getting there that is a drag!

Learning to share

It is my day off and it is so very precious to me. I like to be alone in the house, in silence usually, no music and NEVER the TV. I hate having the TV on during the day. Bosley keeps me company if he is not comatose, he loves a walk around the garden, sitting under the line when the clothes are being pegged out and the odd chasey game, weather permitting.

Things do or don't get done depending on need, urgency, mood, energy levels etc. Cooking is usually done, some chores and errands and often a lunch time trip to the gym with my spin buddy.

After school, when the first child appears, my solo day ends. But no more. I have to share the time now. Han has finished GCSEs and is at home. Big J works from home two or three times a week depending on his schedule. Em is on study leave and Adam lives with us again - although is working his socks off and we don't see him during the day usually.

Sigh. Love them all as I do, that slice of me time mid week was bliss.

As we speak

in the oven there is a ginger and pecan Herman, two mini banana and date Hermans and a chocolate, chocolate chip and sultana one about to go in....I added wholemeal flour this time and some yoghurt to moisten the mix.

Interesting to see how they all turn out - if they do.

THE OUTCOME:

The chocolate one had an almost moist bread like texture, good chocolate flavour, but the raisins and choc chips were thinly dispersed

The banana and date one is still in the freezer, (gave one away to a friend who gave it the thumbs up).

The ginger one sat for a few days to mature and it was YUMMY.

Herman's day has come

Who out there in blogland has NOT had a Herman - (German friendship cake) foisted upon them given to them by a friend?

We are onto number 4 or number 5 and today is the BIG day.... we (this means your humble blogger)  have to the bake the blighter and ideally find 3 friends to pass some batter mix on to! I have found one recipient this time, the delightful little daughters of my lovely colleague R. But the rest will be baked and time has been spent working out what version to go for.

We like ginger....the stickier and gingery-er the better.

Possibly banana and walnut?

Chocolate chip or good old fruit....mmm

Good thing spin is tomorrow and good thing some of it can go into the office with me as well. Off to put on my pinny!

x

Not sure I am ready

to come back to blogging. Much as I love it. It takes SO much time. I have been working hard at my life, family and relationship with my ever shrinking Big man. (He has lost loads of weight and is looking fan-tas-tic).
I looked through all the Portugal photos today. It was the first time and they bring back great memories. Rather than put them all here, they are on Flickr and the link is here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77589043@N05/sets/72157630372589908/

Em did her DofE practice run this weekend and came back bouyed by the experience.

Han has been at a Japanese festival in Brighton in her Cosplay gear.  Here she is in a costume that is not hers at a recent London event.
And here she is in her hand-made costume.... the wig she bought!! She is the character Teto-Kasane.

I am crocheting another blanket. This one for Han. Em is using hers. I am still exercising like a mad thing and going to spin classes. I keep thinking of having to ride up to Ditchling Beacon next year...got to build those thigh muscles.

I have been getting stressy at work, forgetting the mantra that 'it is a job not a life'.  I am reading '50 shades of Grey' and taking a while to get into it....Not a genre I am all that familiar with.

Roses have moved onto the patio. Patio roses. Something new. I usually like less pernickety plants.

My BFF is coming to the UK soon. Yip Yip Yippeee.

I do like blogging. See you all soon. x