This week I've been off work and we have had such a lovely time. It seems to have been really busy - but my current mind-set is to take every opportunity to catch up with people as we just don't know what's around the corner. This is stating the obvious but 2 weeks ago we said goodbye to 2 old friends - somewhat more distant than in the past but still both fondly remembered. The most emotional for me was to attend the funeral of my university friend Karen. It was a huge shock for me - Karen was my age with 2 young daughters and I remember her as someone so full of life. We had known she had been unwell for a long time with MS but it was cancer that got her in the end - crept up whe everyone was focused on the MS and took her so quickly. Glenn also said goodbye to one of his old friends from his days in London. Jack had beaten cancer once and was doing well, then as with Karen, was struck down and passed quickly. Two good, kind people - life doesn't seem fair. So as I said - we've been giving thanks for being happy and healthy and making sure if there is an opportunity to stop and catch up with friends, we take it.
Our jaunts this week have included a trip to Somerset to see everyone - always a treat. Glenn stayed at home to dog sit, he's always happier doing quick trips and seeing people on his terms, so we took 2 days and managed to squeeze a lunch in with old work mates from Bristol on the way down. The girls complained that 2 days "is not enough", and Abi in particular complained that she'd "rather go on my own Mummy, I get to do more" but regardless of this we had a lovely time. The weather has been great this week - well timed for once - and so Mum and Dad even got us into the Leat hand-dredging for pond weed. I notice I was neck deep in water and they were on the side or in waders! The girls procrastinated for a bit and then jumped in but I will admit that after an hour it was too cold to stay longer. A job best done in small amounts we agreed.
We managed to balance the time nicely between Mum & Dad's and Amanda's. When we went to Amanda's Ben tried on his 'big' school uniform for us - he looked so lovely! How can that little roly-poly baby boy be ready to go to secondary school already? I feel like all I ever write about here is how fast time flies but its so true! We chatted about the stage he's in - passing from primary to secondary with all the growing pains that brings. He's had his first run in with social media which ended a bit poorly, bringing up the question of how do you let them grow up and experience some of what is out there at the right time? None of us want our kids to be the odd one out, but yet neither do we want them growing up too fast and getting hurt. I guess our job as parents is to try and steer the line with them and be there to pick up the pieces when they inevitably fall. They do come through the other side. We popped in to see Kerrie in her new house on our way home. She's all settled in, happily nesting while Ryan is in the US for a few weeks. I hate to admit it but she's also in a new stage - watch out - there may be the sound of more little feet in the years to come!
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