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All together again!


Hooray - all back together again after a long week without Abi. Despite the occasional bickering the girls have missed each other and in particular its been hard for Izzy who's been home alone. I say that, by the end of the week she had taken matters into her own hands and started shamelessly booking play dates which turned into sleepovers on two consecutive nights. Lesson for us - 2 nights in a row is currently one night too many, We set off on Friday to see Fifi, Amanda and the boys with Izzy so tired she could barely string a sentence together let alone a cordial one. My normally quite sunny little girl got all Abi like when asked to go to someone not of her choosing!


Abi had an absolute ball away for the week. She's made some great new friends, learned a huge amount about looking after horses on a full time basis, picked up some new skills (and new phrases!) and generally thoroughly enjoyed herself. They were fence judges at the local (international standard) horse trials, got horses ready for show jumping competitions, hacked out for hours and laughed and chatted together in the free time they had. There is the chance to go again in August - wild horses (pardon the pun) wouldn't keep her away. On the plus side this provides some great leverage on behaviours and listening skills,  the latter of which Abi sometimes (often) lacks. She has been a complete angel since getting home - all her pleases and thank yous, making her bed, picking up after herself - I think she knows its all worthwhile - I wonder how long it will continue?!


It was lovely though to have us all at home yesterday afternoon, and even more so this morning when we settled back into the normal Sunday routine of bacon sandwiches, bike rides and jobs around the house. This morning Izzy had obviously decided if you cant beat them, join them,. She wanted to make her bed, tidy her room and have porridge for breakfast (not normally on her request list but apparently one of the options at Angie's!). She's still a little reluctant to go for a week, but would like to try for a few days to see if it is something they can both do. Not sure Abi wants to have company along...


This evening was lovely - listening to them playing in the bath together - chatting away while Abi cleaned Izzy's toes with her toothbrush (Izzy's that is - she has some standards!), and Izzy counted to 100 with a flannel over her face. I have no idea what that was all about but it kept them in fits of giggles! When they went to bed it was cuddles all round - I've missed so much having them both in the house with all their noise, laughter and love.


So you would think after a prolonged period out of the house and away from us they would want to stick around. Not so. The offer of a trip to Fifi and Grumps was mentioned and that was it - bags packed and asking how long they could stay. When I said "wouldn't you want to be back here" the response I got was "No, we'll miss you Mummy but they have lambs!" - I cant compete with that.


I wont write more - I'm tired and its an early night for me - I accidentally cycled much further than planned today - meant to go for 50 miles and mucked up my bearings so ended up doing nearer to 70. Not what was planned and by the time I made it home (dead phone and deader legs) I had rather lost my sense of humour. I can't complain too loudly.  Firstly it was all my fault - should have checked a map - and secondly Glenn cycled 90 miles in about the same time doing the Paris - Roubaix with 27 sections of cobbles thrown in for good measure. There's always someone who goes a step further than you!

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