Abi & Izzy - the next 5 years

Izzy - can't do a photo without rude finger gestures It's fair to say that the last couple of weeks have been rough. I managed to get the cough Mum had a while back and it has been horrible! Both Dad and Glenn seemed to get a very mild version of it but Mum and I got the full dose and I can safely say that it has been a stark reminder of just how bad a viral infection can be. It also illustrates the whole Covid experience - some get it worse than others. For me it has meant that for over 2 weeks I have had the worst cough which has left me unable to sleep properly. I still can't sleep lying down fully, and have to be propped up on pillows on my back which is not my favoured sleeping position! It has also meant that Glenn has spent the last 10 days in the spare room because I have been coughing so badly he is unable to sleep in the same room. Thank goodness we didn't all have it - we'd have shaken the house to its foundations! It has also meant that I have been exhau

Another win for Izzy & team! Well that's January pretty much done - a whirlwind of school, work and play as ever. I'm trying not to wish the time away, but I'm only too conscious that February is a short month and then it's March and then forget it... summer will be upon us and then it will be 2023!!   This week we have been looking forward to the summer and decided to throw Covid caution to the wind and book a holiday. Glenn and I have been determined that we would find somewhere new to stay, with the girls equally determined that we go back to Jerry and Pauline's again. While we absolutely love them, we are more than ready for a bit more luxury than it offers, not least for someone to have cleaned under the bed and put some sheets on the bed that are less than 25 years old! Knowing the pressure was on, we spent a few evenings looking for the perfect place - same area but more modern - preferably with enough room for others if they chose to join us. We finally

  Back to school and back to normal - whatever that is these days. First week back didn't start until Thursday which helped, but now they are fully back into the swing of things. Izzy's successful hockey season has now moved to Netball, and after a disappointing narrow loss away last week (in Bristol, didn't get home until nearly 6pm!) she was elected captain this week for their home game against Blundell's. Abi, Kerrie, Elsie and I all turned up to watch her bring the team to a stonking 31 - 7 win - the other team didn't stand a chance! By half time the teachers were discussing how they could even things up a bit - they were very clearly the best team on this occasion. Izzy is loving her netball, even though she says her heart is still in hockey. As well as school (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday matches) she plays in a practice league (Helen's Hoops) on a Monday with our neighbour Sophie. This week she was picked out by one of the Galmington coaches who also

Elsie, growing up SO fast! And so the year turns yet again and I am teetering on the edge of being back to work after a lovely 12 days off work. It feels like I've had a good break, albeit it also feels like the time has passed in a flash - quell surprise! Despite the constant crappy weather (incredibly mild but very wet with occasional bouts of wind), I've managed to get out and about for lots of lovely walks, with the dogs being spoilt by the fact that any of these have been with others.   One of the things we had planned on was catching up on some house admin over the holiday and we have managed to do pretty well. Glenn has continued with all of the little DIY jobs that still need to be done to get things straight and to the standard we would expect of a new house. This includes everything from sorting the gutters out (not big enough), to redoing the mastic in our shower (not done properly first time around), to changing light fittings (poor quality and hence falling to piec

Home made dog food!  I should probably rename the blog to "Betty and Doug, the glory years" because its fair to say I have more stories and photos involving them than I do of any other member of the family. No matter how many times I try and take photos of the kids, they evade me, and despite them taking 100s of selfies everyday, I'm not allowed any of them. This weekend we have mainly been rushing around as ever. Yesterday we split up and Glenn and Izzy went one way for a day on the bikes, while Abi and I went to Newbury to meet Zsara and Aran. The grand plan was to go by train but it was cancelled at the last moment, which meant we had to suffer the range anxiety of an electric vehicle and take the Jag. It's a fab car o drive but it comes to something when you can't get to Newbury and back without having to plan in a 30min stop to recharge. No matter, it worked quite well and we stopped at Tot Hill services (after a false start in Andover) and had coffee while l

I was sure I write the blog last week.... but, it seems another 2 weeks have flown by and now we are staring down the barrel of the Christmas holidays and the end of the year! Currently it's all about Doug and what a star he has proved to be so far. He has now been with us for 3 weeks and he is (so far, I keep thinking at some point it will change) a pretty chilled out puppy. As a second dog he has been thrown in at the deep end and has been to Sunday lunch with Alan & Sarah (which he loved), socialised at home with friends and their dogs, met babies (he loved Elsie) and started to go for walks. The walking has been a bit different to our previous approaches with new dogs. In the past we have ventured out carefully, making sure that our new baby only walks a short distance so they can experience all the new sights and sounds. Doug's first walk was after Sunday lunch last week, just him and 8 other dogs for bout 45 mins - he loved it! In our defence we didn't let him wal