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Two Tribes


This weekend we have mostly been with either one or no children - a result of sorts I guess - albeit I do miss them when they are away for any length of time. As I write this it's Easter Monday and Abi has been down in Somerset since last Thursday, and appears not to be missing us in the slightest! Izzy went with her, but right from the start had said she only wanted to be away for 2 nights, so it was my job to go down on the Friday and bring her home Saturday, in amongst a very efficient series of catch ups with all kinds of friends and family.

So Abi has been down in Somerset, mostly hanging out in the Gallacher Tribe, making the most of Ben & Laurie being off school. While we were all down we managed to see Emma and her boys, Liz & Dave, Chris & Jess and Kerrie and Ryan - all in the space of 24 hours! I did comment to Mum that their house is a constant stream of people visiting but they like it that way - as long as not every visit comes with tea and cake I think!

While Abi has been making the most of her cousins, Izzy has been at home hanging out in the Blindmans Gate Tribe. We have new neighbours with kids of not a dissimilar age and so Izzy has been the hostess with the mostess, integrating the new kids with all the others in the cul de sac. Their garden backs onto the woods like ours so our garden is the most direct route between all of them. I suspect there will be moments when we are glad the dogs look a bit intimidating so that it doesn't become the cut through. It's nice to see them all out and playing so I don't mind. Izzy was so chuffed that she was part of the girls gang. All the other girls are in year 6 and so she's definitely playing up a couple of years.

There's no denying they are both growing up. Between Abi and her independent travels, and Izzy and her ability to converse and engage with pretty much anyone, they are their own person now and I need to accept that we are moving into stages where they need us less and less on a moment to moment basis. It does have its upsides. Having only one of them in the house over the past few days (and it was vice versa last week) does mean a lot less arguing. Much as they get on well, they bicker like siblings do and the house is calmer with only the one of them running around.

Despite being so independent Abi has her moments of admitting we are special to her too. This week I got home from work to find a lovely board she had made for me (above) - moments and gifts like this are to treasure for ever.

Wedding fever is upon us and there is much excitement that Jess ands Chris's wedding is finally nearly here (after sooooo long according to the kids), and that Kerrie is starting her planning. The girls will get to be bridesmaids and they want to know exactly what their dresses will be like before Kerrie has even thought about her own. This led to Liz telling them a funny (in hindsight, decades on) story about her wedding when her Mother in Law (the "Witch") insisted on choosing her bridesmaid's dresses, and put Mum in a shiny blue kaftan... you could see them both thinking the same " please don't do that to us!" I won't but it would be funny to tease them with comedy outfits!

Just a short week this week and then off for a week - can't wait! It will be so nice to have a few days away, even if Glenn is calling the place we are staying 'Bleak House' due to it's remote location and lack of wi-fi (or even telephone reception). I'm looking forward to time together, lots of relaxation, maybe some walking and running and I suspect plenty of cake. Yorkshire seems to be synonymous with eating cake so that's what we shall do. This time next week we'll be there - woo hoo!

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