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Feels like October

My constant companion in the garden!
So much for the relaxing sunny week off work - the weather has been more like October than July and so this week has been mainly about dodging rain and wind rather than basking in the sunshine. Despite that I have managed to have a good week off, mixing seeing lots of friends and family with some extra yoga and walks, as well as time with the kids. The sun finally came out today and I even managed a bit of time in the garden!

We've capitulated on school and so this was essentially the first week of the summer holidays for the girls. I know we should have made them see it though to the end, but it was getting more and more of a chore and they never do anything by this point in the term anyway and so I'm sure they haven't missed much. The question of what they will do over the summer holidays feels like it is more my problem than theirs - they are quite happy to potter around doing very little - it's just me that wants to see them do something constructive. Of course while the lockdown is easing, there is very little open that they can do and so they will very much have to fend for themselves I'm afraid - it will be character building if nothing else! We are trying to be supportive of the whole virus situation but when we live in a county where there have been less than 500 cases, it's hard to feel the same level of risk here. As long as nothing gets in the way of the girls going back to school in September then I'm happy.

One of the highlights of this week has been catching up with people. On Monday we all set of for lunch with Simon and Audrey. On Tuesday it was the turn of me and the girls heading down to Somerset to Mum and Dad's where we also saw Amanda, Alex and the boys. We abandoned the kids and went for a lovely long walk although (as ever) there is never enough time to catch up on all the news. Their house is looking fab and the garden looks like they've been there 10 years rather than 2, with the pond settling in nicely. On Wednesday it was a chance for me to meet one of my friends for an afternoon walk where the heavens opened almost immediately that we set off, and we walked for an hour in pouring rain, not caring a bit. Thursday was a quick trip to Westonbirt for me to meet another friend, before staying local on Friday for dentist appointments. We had been told that they couldn't see the kids becuase the government hasn't yet authorised routine NHS work, but our dentist very quietly whipped out Abi's two baby molars which were refusing to drop out regardless of the fact that her adult teeth were almost fully through. Saturday was tea with Zsara before a quieter day of yoga and gardening today. Alongside this I've had restructured the mortgage and tidied up a few other pieces of household admin so on reflection maybe it hasn't been an idle week! Having just checked my activity monitor I've walked over 75 miles so it definitely hasn't been all sitting around doing nothing.

So back to work for a full week, before a short week and a trip to Port Lympne (one of our favourites). Then its just 2 more weeks of work before France - fingers crossed nothing gets in the way - we can't wait!

The reason why I post more pictures of the dog
than the kids these days!








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