Skip to main content

Being thankful

Ah, peace returns to the sitting room as the kids go upstairs and (hopefully) settle down for the night. Today has been one of those days where they have either been best of friends and playing at full rough and tumble / volume, or screaming at each other - also at full volume. I can safely say that much as I love my little cherubs, tonight I was more than ready for them to head upstairs to bed. I watch very few things regularly on TV but Strictly is one of my favourites and I'd prefer not to have to constantly say "sit still", "get out of the way"  or "shut up!"

Despite all of this we have made a point of being thankful for all we have this weekend. This week 2 friends lost parents and another found out that they have a life changing illness. A little bit of good natured shouting between siblings is the least of what we suffer. It's these time that make me realise even more than ever that life is fragile and while you can't throw caution to the wind, I do need to make sure I remember to enjoy it to the full on the way. That's easier said than done - life seems to be so busy and of late I noticed in particular that I'm feeling it - I feel so tired by the end of the week that the perfect weekend is one where nothing is happening. That can't be right, but we all seem to be the same. Is that just the reality of having a busy job and a busy family? Is there a better way? Probably not just yet if we want all of what we have now, but I'm definitely hatching a plan to slow down a bit before too long. I just hope I don't become one of those people who end up having to make a decision because life takes charge before I do.

On a more upbeat note the kids are very excited about Christmas already which not bad for the daughters of Grinch. Abi was dancing around the kitchen this evening with a stocking on her head and Izzy has been regaling us with out of tune carols all weekend. Mental note to myself - if Izzy's love of singing continues we will have to get her some lessons - she is truly awful! Only a mother could love it and it's touch and go for me. She's keen to start playing an instrument again as well, and has chosen the violin. Oh that bodes well - out of tune playing with out of tune singing!

Planning for Christmas is progressing slowly, although Glenn is loving getting Izzy's present together - her motorbike. He has at least now got it restricted and put the baffles in so that it doesn't sound like a chainsaw. He has bought the cutest helmet and boots so let hope she still likes the idea on Christmas Day...  She thinks she's test ridden one we've borrowed and says she loved it. I suspect the bigger problem will be when she will ride it - it's hardly suitable for going round the garden and given we don't have much free time it will be a case of giving up something else. Just not sure what yet. Oh well, this one is definitely Glenn's problem not mine.

All appears quiet now upstairs, having been up twice to sort out the noise (Izzy can't find Rabbit) and the banging (Izzy again, still no sign of Rabbit). Abi wants her nightly 'vignette'  as well. Somehow we've got into a routine of Abi having a little story before final cuddles and sleep. I have to think of a story from the dim and distant past to share before she goes to bed. No pressure then to think of a new, interesting, relevant story every night. No wonder I'm tired!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Diary management!

This part of the summer is definitely typified by me trying to remember who is supposed to be where and when. Abi likes to be off doing something with someone while Izzy is happier to know she's close to home and so for the last week they've gone their separate ways. Abi has been down in Somerset making the most of Ben and Laurie being about. From what I can tell she's having a lovely time. Apart from the covert phone call one evening to tell me she was 'starving'  (Mum was cooking for the hordes and so it had been delayed), I've barely heard from her. The few calls I have had have very quickly ended in "can I go now" like I'm making her speak to me! Today she switches from Mum and Dads to a night or two with Kerrie - not sure who is more excited! Izzy didn't want to be away for that long so she opted not to go. She's very conscious that Abi and Laurie are joined at the hip when together and Ben has his own things he wants to do so she ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Blame the jet stream...

Shed prep, with oversight from the dogs Apparently we have the jet stream to blame for the truly awful weather we are having right now. I blame our builder - if he had got his act together and sorted out Glenn's workshop roof as he promised, sods law the sun would be shining from dawn to dusk. Instead it's still pouring every half hour and Glenn is constantly worried about how much water is coming though the roof / walls / floor etc. Apparently he 'literally' just needs to put the ridge on the top and the gully down the side and it will all be fixed. We are literally at the point of wanting to do him some actual bodily harm. The moment he disappears the better. This week he was also literally going to clad the office ("done") and has failed everyday to turn up and do it (which in my book is literally not "done"). He was also going to have Gary come and finish the electrics (not done), whack down the paving slabs (not done), render the last of the bri...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ypres

Walking around the lake in Ypres while waiting for the rugby to finish! A wet Monday evening after a lovely long weekend away in Ypres - just the two of us and just what I needed after what has been a relatively stressful few months of decision making. The decision is now made however and on Monday I resigned my job in order to join a new company in January. This will be the same role, but a company that hopefully offers more long term stability than my current one. It's been hard going through the initial round of telling people.Despite only being there for 7 months I've made some good friends and very quickly become established and everybody who I've told has been happy for me but very sad that I'm going - it hasn't made it easy. I do feel like I've been through the mill a bit this year - what with leaving EY, ramping up to a big new role, finding out it probably didn't have the longevity I was looking for and then going through the process of finding ...
Post a Comment
Read more