Skip to main content

Snow!



After a beautiful day of sunshine yesterday, today it snowed... but more of that in a minute.

Yesterday actually felt like a day of much progress. Despite Covid we managed to arrange a visit to Taunton School to have a look around with the girls and to meet the Headmaster. This was a massive relief as I had got to the point of thinking we would have to accept a place without ever stepping foot inside the school. In the end we had a very comprehensive, if a little deserted, tour of the school and the kids loved it, as did we. There may even be a small chance they might squeeze us in if we are there by the summer term - that is of course if the kids are back into school by then.

The other news was that I managed to speak to Mr &Mrs Tucker - the people buying our house - and we tentatively agreed that we will try and complete during the Easter holidays which could have us moving in the third week of April. This does require everyone to have got all of what they need done, and that of course is dependent on restrictions being lifted, the vaccine programme continuing to roll out as it has done and some sort of normality looking like it could be possible - fingers crossed for us all. It also requires solicitors to make sure everything is lined up, along with planning permission for the barn etc etc.... who would buy and sell houses?!?

Guard duty - you never know

A trip to Taunton wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Barn and it was looking splendid in the winter sunshine. Every time we go a bit more is either finished or underway, and this time it was the wooden floor, which looks brilliant, and the block paving which was about 2/3 complete and also looking fab. The team are back in this week to rebuild the kitchen and get the work surfaces templated, finish the bathrooms and start to get everything plumbed in. That will make a big difference - being able to use the bathrooms rather than planning our trip around when and where we will need to stop to use the loo - easier said than done when most places are shut and you can't visit anyone!   

So after another day of down and back by return, today was a markedly different weather day. I got up before 7am as normal to let Betty out and it was cold and dry, but when I came back down 10 minutes later the snow was just starting to fall. By the time we got to the middle of the village it was settling and Betty had turned into a Jack in the Box chasing snowflakes and trying to capture them in her mouth as we went. We got to the field and I let them off and they shot off together, clearly very excited by the heavy snow and making the most of the game. We finished off our walk wading though a couple of inches and despite it being breakfast time it was a chore to get Betty inside - far too much going on outside! The kids were up early and took both dogs back out and they spent most of the morning out there. By the time I came downstairs after (zoom) yoga she was flat out and absolutely knackered. Didn't stop her from asking to go back out half an hour later for another game. It's a good job she's made the most of it - by this afternoon it had mostly gone and we are left with the muddy slush - ugh. Tonight is supposed to be -3 so at least I don't have to brave the roads tomorrow morning for a Monday commute - that would not have been fun. 

This week is another busy one for work but I won't complain - I would far rather that than a slow week. The kids are back into the school routine, if you can call it that, schooling from home is something you get through rather than enjoy - I probably should take phones off then but in reality its the only thing that makes it bearable for them so I don't have the heart. Roll on half term and some hope they can go back - who'd have thought they'd be so desperate to be in school!!

Snuggle time!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome Albert James!

So this week has been full of new things - Jess and Chris have welcomed Albert James Wilkinson Rayner to the family, a tad early but all doing well apparently (and so cute!!), I started my new job, Abi has her new shed and Dad got sorted on a phone that wasn't invented before the kids were born!! I always knew this week was going to be full on and it certainly has been. The first thing I had to do was try and sort out my diary which had been filled from dawn to dusk by my predecessor with meetings. I decided to set out as I mean to go on and immediately took out those that started before 9am. While I can get into  the office for 8am , it's a pain and requires me to be on the 6:30am train which is just a bit much every day (stating the obvious). I then made it clear that we don't need to be joined at the hip for the next 4 weeks which is a sensitive process - even though he is retiring it's hard to let go and he is understandably keen that the team are looked after. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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

All about Izzy

This weekend has mainly been about Izzy, mostly because Abi has been off riding again and so we've hardly seen her. This has its pros and cons - on the one hand Izzy gets lots of attention and the choice of what to do. On the other she misses Abi and when big sister arrives home we have the inevitable few hours of resettling which seems to involve tears as a matter of course. I did have a moment of despair this evening when I looked across to the table just before Sunday dinner - normally a happy time - to see both of them, heads on arms, holding back tears. Luckily a bit of food and a game of 20 questions to share what everybody had enjoyed about their weekend and we kind of managed to get back on track by dessert. When asked what she wanted to do, Izzy immediately shouted "Jo Jo" so my task was to sort out a visit with Jo, the boys and Ellie. No matter how much time passes they still love to see each other and the first task is always the same. Edward and Izzy have t...
Post a Comment
Read more