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Back to School!

Finally Izzy's big day has come and on Thursday they both started back at St Gabs after a 4 year break. The preparations included not only packing of bags, but undoing the red streaks in Abi's hair from her few days in Wales with Mia... enough said about not doing stupid things like dying your hair 3 days before you are going back to school!

I'd love to have photo's of the both of them but it was never to be - I do not have the compliant type of child that willingly stands outside of the front door on first day back to school so I can plaster photos of them 'then and now' all over social media. Instead mine generally tell me politely to get lost while hiding behind a dog or under their duvets when the phone comes out for a photo! I did manage to get one of Izzy but under sufferance and with promises of it not being shared. The blog doesn't count does it?

After a slightly nervous breakfast we dropped them off and they disappeared almost immediately to their respective classes without a backward glance. At 5pm I picked them up it was lovely to come up the school drive to see them both sitting on a bench outside the front door, grinning from ear to ear with a bag of popcorn from Gabbies chatting happily. They came back buzzing about what a great day they had both had. Both had reconnected with old friends and made new ones, both had had fun and both were keen to get back the following day - just as I thought it would be.

This weekend has been a whirlwind with some interesting up and downs. We had planned originally to see Amanda and the boys at Westonbirt, but I had completely forgotten we had a birthday / anniversary party to go to on Saturday night, with Sharron and Simon staying as they had also been invited. They got to us in time for the boys to go out for a lengthy bike ride (apparently necessary if you are being 'forced' to go to a party...) and for Sharron, the kids and I to go into town for a bit of mooching for us and tat purchasing for the girls. After much discussion Abi decided she wanted to stay at home and Izzy went to Mia's for the evening. This of course provided the perfect excuse for Glenn to need to get home at a sensible time if circumstances required it! In the end it didn't - the party was fine - Sharron and I found ourselves a cosy corner on some beanbags and settled down for a cosy chat while commenting on how little the 18-21 year olds were wearing and as a result felt old but comfortable. We were laughing as we compared notes on our respective other halves and their diminishing tolerance levels - it's a good job we have each other to make the comparison with - I'm sure they never used to be this bad. We love them but goodness me sometimes it's harder work getting them to behave than the kids!

The weekend also brought some interesting conversations with Abi who is feeling a little crowded by old friends as she tries to make new ones. I suspect the rift is nothing serious, but it does illustrate the downside of technology when you are never completely disconnected. In the end I just said it's fine to not respond - you don't need to return every text and it's healthy not to in some cases. I want Abi to feel she can make new friends, not least she has many years at school to develop herself and her friendships and it probably will be more enjoyable if she has a wider circle to make the most of. After last year I'd like for her not to feel like there is tension in school, but the reality of life means that there will always be some - it';s how you deal with it that makes the difference.. Let's see what week 2 brings - so far so good.

Clingfilm treatment to remove red hair dye!



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