Abi & Izzy - the next 5 years

It's official, today we broke the law and I just don't care. We had an illegal gathering of many people at the Barn and while the doors were open and the room is massive, there were moments where I thought that one of our many new (very curious) neighbours would look at the number of cars and decide to shop us. Luckily they didn't and we got away with it - and it was definitely worth it! So we had, in order of arrival: Steve (the builder), Glenn, Abi and I (Izzy stayed at home again for a lie in and ready meal heaven), Amanda and Laurie, George (he and Glenn had planned to ride together), Muma and Dad (theoretically to do some measuring), Dave (the man from Sharps and the reason for being there), Vy (the painter, here to do a bit of work and check in on details). This was all before our new neighbours (Jim and Hilary) turned up at the door to introduce themselves, no doubt looking on in horror at the blatant bending of rules going on! It was lovely to get a sense of how it ...

Ahhhh, what to write when every day is pretty much the same? What is new this week? Well, not much! The good news (in a world where good news is in short supply) is that we have successfully made it to half term with no major mishaps.  This included Abi's parents evening (via video conference of course - 5 minute sessions interspersed with a one minute break - it all felt a bit relentless and I'm none the wiser really as to how she's doing) and another manically busy week - what week isn't these days though. While we have stayed at home, Glenn has been out all week, painting at the barn. It's a slightly strange situation currently - the barn is not finished but we have a key and therefore access to come and go as we please. Steve (the builder) reassures us that there is no more than 2 weeks work left to do, and we have at least 6 weeks before exchange / completion, but we would prefer they just get on with things. Glenn has come home every day feeling more and more ...

Massive kitchen island! This week was officially Ground Hog day and doesn't it just feel like it right now - every day pretty much the same - get up, walk dogs, eat breakfast, shower, get kids up, sit at computer on endless video meetings, check kids are paying at least some attention to online school, eat lunch, more meetings, more checking on kids, walk Betty, more meetings / checking, walk Bertie, eat, entertain the kids, sleep, repeat. I look forward to the weekend not because there are better things to do, but because I don't have to be on video calls and the kids don't have to persevere with their remote schooling. I will admit to having a bit of an emotional wobble this week. Between work, online school and lockdown, we also have the house move to add just that extra bit of stress. The blip this week was getting a letter from the mortgage company which said "Dear Mrs Drinkwater, following the valuation of Oakwood Barn unfortunately we are missing a UKFDF and hen...

I would sing along but I am so fed up of the mud - please can we just have some dry weather so at least some of it disappears and I can go for one walk without then having to go through the rigmarole of cleaning the dogs yet again. This wouldn't be such a chore except for the fact that Betty hates being washed off and unless you keep her on the lead and get to her quickly, she roars around like a mad thing doing loops of the garden and getting increasingly wound up, barking at Bertie and generally being a pain.  This week the constant rain and dark has been getting to everyone, particular as we are still living with so many restrictions. The vaccine programme is progressing as well as could be hoped but even so it feels the light at the end of the tunnel is still pretty dim. I am trying hard to remain positive and I appreciate that we are at the best end of the Covid experience, but really I'd just like it all to go away now. I'd like to see friends and family and be able t...

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 ...

Everyone needs a friend to lean on... It's fair to say one week blends into another these days, but despite this we are all desperate for Friday to roll around so at least we get some respite from the monotony of constant video calls be it work or lessons. We may not be able to go anywhere, or do anything, but at least we aren't glued to a screen from 8-5 at the weekend...  This week we have mainly been hoping that we would see some real progress on the house - not so much on ours, but on the people who are buying from us. Their chain feel though almost immediately after we had accepted their offer, but because they had a lot of interest in their other property we have kept the faith and not panicked. They had 11 viewings last weekend and (we understand) multiple offers, but after a week of procrastination they decided on Friday to go to best and final offers, and gave a deadline of Tuesday evening!  what's wrong with Monday?!?! So we are now waiting patiently to hope that ...

Izzy's attempt to sort her room - she gave up at this point! Well we've survived the first week back at work (and school) and live to see another day / week / month - quite frankly they are all the same these days. It was always going to be a busy start to the working year - we run straight into year end and a run of Board committees amongst other things, but then add in the chore of doing it all online, plus balancing against the kids being back into home schooling and by Friday I'd definitely had enough. Thank goodness for a house move to take our minds off things, even if it just gives us something else to have sleepless night over.  Yesterday was Saturday and despite the restrictions we are allowed to do things associated with a house move so we went to Taunton again to measure up for wardrobes, sort out flooring and check some details / hand over more oodles of cash for a house we haven't yet bought...I still have daily nightmares that it is a lot smaller than our ...