My Mum and Dad!

I've had a super duper month. Our camping weekend at Debden was really good - I have to admit much better than I expected, even though the weather could have been kinder - still it could have been worse. Gaye, Paul and Ellis really enjoyed it and we did have a laugh! There is nothing quite like being outdoors. We were lucky though to have an ensuite!

Mum and dad have been here for a week and it was good. Going through old photos, trying to get loads of information about our family etc and also trying to get a "feel" of my mum and dad's youthful days provided endless opportunities for giggles and belly laughs! I have learnt more about my dad's years in the Navy and my mum's days in the Clyde Confectionery and how "the dancing" played a major part in my mum's teenage years. I loved the story she told me about the ice skating - I am laughing as I am typing! Somehow her friend and herself sometimes ended up with two left boots and the stories surrounding this are hilarious!!!

I love my mum and dad and have appreciated this time getting to know them as teenagers!

Alastair and Iain

What a laugh we have had! Alastair it is great to pick up from where we left off (even if that is two and a half years ago!) It has been great to see you both and I only wish Kathy and Rebecca were here too - never mind. Oh! I so want to go back to Canada - it is a fab place to visit and so clean!

Iain seemed to like London and I hope he comes back over at some point with some friends and the same goes for Rebecca too. It is rewarding to see our children grow into adults (most of the time) and as Kathy and I were saying on the telephone "we have got good kids".

I have known Alastair since I was 8 years-old. We were in the same class during primary and secondary school. We lived a few streets away from one another and our social paths constantly crossed too. We both played volleyball and then ended up working in hospitals in Glasgow, so we travelled to work every morning together. We had a strong bond during those years and this has obvbiously stood the test of time and distance. Alastair and Kathy are great people and a great team -I feel quite honoured to know them. I must say and I know they will agree - having a sense of humour is the be all and end all and I think our sense of humour is second to none. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Back to the grind!!

Ah well Easter has come and gone - it was good and I managed to get a few wee things done! We had a good day in Southwold again with Gaye, Paul, Ellis and Kath. I love that place and Steve and I think it would be a good place to retire to!

It has been great to have Stephanie home for a wee while and just fab to be out of the old routine. I have just returned from a super scrapbooking weekend in Debden - what a laugh! I love my scrapbooking and have been filled with inspiration from my scrapbooking buddies - there is so much I want to do. My Heritage stuff is coming along and Stephanie has now fixed the scanner - yipee! I can now get the rest of the "old" family photos on file to fix and print.

Work has been busy and my class is fabulous. I am so proud of them all - they have come so far and we are a good unit. I feel quite confident that they will do well when they move on!

My Children

Have I ever mentioned how much I love and respect my children. I am a very lucky parent who has two great kids!! Cameron keeps us amused with his humour - he is a great person to talk to and has a very strong sense of just, lined with a great sense of humour. Stephanie (I miss you) is gaining confidence and independence and am very proud of you. Like Cameron, you are great to talk to and have a good sense of humour too. I love what you both are and are growing into two well rounded, caring adults. Love you both - I desperately want you both to be independent and happy - always always there for you both and I know you will always be there for one another - xxxxxxxxx

April Fool Tomorrow!!

Two months since I have written in my blog - disgusting! Life has been very busy though but that is still no excuse. During February half term we went up to Scotland which was great, as ever! However this was the first time without Stephanie and it felt strange! I also had a super scrapbooking weekend at the tail end of February and am looking forward to the next one at the tail end of April!!

I am excited about Alastair and Iain coming over for a few days - it will be great to see them and catch up. Just a pity Kathy and Rebecca are unable to come too! It is super to see my mum and dad return to Spain for a short while and even better to hear them talk about returning shortly. All is as well as it can be! Work is good but hectic - the learning curve has been interesting for the most part and I have definitely enjoyed the challenge. In an odd way I feel more confident and glad to realise I do know my stuff and also the more the I learn the more I realise I do not know.

Photoshopping with Paul has been fun although I can't get on with the layers!!! Practise, practise, practise - I intend to in the Easter holidays. What else do I want to do? Yes I must scan in the rest of the "old" photos and get my Heritage Album sorted before the April scrapbooking weekend. I really love scrapbooking - it is fabulous. I also want to search for a photograph of my mum and dad's wedding. Somebody must have a copy somewhere! It is their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 22 December 2009 and I do not even have a photograph of their wedding. I must try the ancestry sites - I need to sign up to one - but which one?!!!!?

January, January!!

Ah well the New Year has come in with a bang! New Year in Knaresborough certainly lived up to expectation! What a beautiful place to live! A good time was had by all -lots of laughs (real belly laughs)and Robbie had his first holiday in the Kennels! He had a good New Year too!

Going back to work after an enjoyable holiday is always hard but hey it has to be done and the usual, one hour into work and you say "what holiday?" It was good to have Stephanie at home for her birthday - as I mentioned previously - how can she be 19 when I am only 25! Something has gone loopy somewhere!!

Life is busy but it is so important to make time for friends and family. I had a great New Year with my friends - thank you! Will be seeing my family soon in the February half term. I must also make more time for my blog! Sometimes I shy away from it because other people are able to read it - I do sometimes dislike that I am guarded in what I write - I shouldn't be because the whole point of this is pouring out my heart and sharing life's varied experiences and challenges with whoever!!

Ah well, I'm sure I'll soften towards "the pouring out" in due course!!

December Delights!

What a busy month this has been. Commencing with an Ofsted Inspection at school and ending with my dearest friend's birthday - happy birthday for tomorrow Paul! I must add all the inbetween bits like Christmas and all the exciting things attached to that, my sister Shirley's birthday, my mum and dad's 59th anniversary and Stephanie coming home for a month.

I have had a really good December - hectic in parts but enjoyable. I have even managed to complete some scrapbook pages and do some reading! I feel quite content with my life right now and have a new major project in hand (still in the planning stages)but one needs to have a starting point! I am wishing myself good luck with that!

We are looking forward to our trip to Knaresborough for the New Year and I am so happy that Stephanie is coming with us. I love my family time - one never knows what is around the corner - children grow up into adults and need to do their "own thing" and I am hanging on to every moment that I spend with them as a family group. I am very proud of my children and feel confident they will become valued members of the community and my one wish for them both is to be happy and content.

Stephanie may be studying in America for a year - I always knew this was on the cards and I will cross that bridge when I come to it! A super opportunity Stephanie - not to be missed. I feel quite proud that she has the underpinning confidence to take this on and I truly feel this experience will be worthwhile and beneficial in all aspects nonetheleast emphasising the fact that the world is as big or as small as you make (or know) it!

My Cameron has had a fab 80s haircut - I just love it!!! Time to go for now!