Well half-term is going far too quickly!

After our long day on Saturday we had a relatively quiet day on Sunday. D and K had both arranged to meet friends so I took L to Hobby Craft to spend her birthday voucher and then we came back to Morrisons to get a few bits that I needed so very exciting. On Monday Husband drove up to the edge of Bath to move S out of her current rental property. She only has two more weeks working in Bath and is going to stay with my Dad for that. He had taken all the seats out of the car and S followed him back and both cars were absolutely full to the brim plus Husbands car had a mattress strapped on the roof! It was a long day but at least it's all done and all she has to do is hand the keys in next week. 

While Husband was doing that K, L and I went to meet up with a friend and her two Daughters at the house they have recently bought, but not yet moved into. It's a big old project and it was great to have a look around and hear their plans. We took a picnic lunch and it was warm enough to sit outside and eat. The house has about an acre of land and a swimming pool but it all needs a lot of work so it's going to keep them busy for the next couple of years. In the evening we started watching "The Long Call" which we are really enjoying.

Tuesday I worked and when I came home it felt like my house had shrunk. Every cupboard I opened had things of S's in it - food bits, toiletries, airing cupboard stuff, honestly it's endless, wherever you look stuff has appeared! Daughter D's boyfriend came for dinner and then afterwards they all set themselves up carving pumpkins. They are now sat in front of the house and they have also decorated our snug window. I am not a big fan of Halloween so I have just left them to get on with it but I have to say it's all looking good.

Today we have had a daytrip out to Looe in Cornwall. On the way I had the treat of stopping at the big Waitrose in Saltash and picked up some Christmas bits to stash away. Once in Looe we picked up some lovely cornish pasties, first of the year, which we took down to the seafront to eat. We had a relaxing couple of hours walking around the town and harbour although I have to say it was very busy.

I'm not sure what we will do for the rest of the week, we shall have to see what the weather does.

 What a strange week it's been. On Monday Daughter L went off with school for a 5 day activity residential in nearby Brixham.  This is the first time we have been apart so it was a long few days. Although at the start of the week the weather was terrible they still managed to do all the activities and she had a brilliant time. I was also bursting, of course, to tell her that she had passed the 11 plus, the results being emailed through Monday  after she had gone. She was so pleased and it was well deserved as she has worked really hard for the last year in preparation for the tests. So next September she will be joining sister K at Torquay Girls Grammar School and we are very proud of her.

Today, we have just got back from a day trip to Poole for friend Sara's surprise 50th birthday party. It's a couple of hours drive from here so on the way we had a very pleasant stop off in Dorchester, and had a coffee in the Waitrose cafe there. It was only a small store and very busy so we just used the cafe and toilets and then carried on our way. The party was held in the back area of a very nice pub and she had no idea so was absolutely gobsmacked when she arrived and found about 40 friends and family waiting for her. Husband has been friends with Sara's Husband Geoff since they were boys and we have been on various holidays with them over the years but due to Covid hadn't caught up with them for nearly 22 months. We had a lovely couple of hours and will be back their way in January when we have a Premier Inn booked for a weekend. Now we are home, exhausted after all the driving, with the wood burner lit, wine chilling getting ready for Strictly Come Dancing which we are not particularly fussed about but which L adores!

 

Half term next week and Husband is moving S out of her rental on Monday, I am working Tuesday but Wednesday we are planning a day trip down to Looe.

Back soon.

 Exciting News

This afternoon I had an email to say that youngest Daughter has passed the 11 plus for Torquay Girls Grammar School. She will be so happy as she worked so hard for it. Unfortunately, she has gone on a school residential today and won't be home till Friday so will not know until then!

Back later in the week.

 Well what a busy weekend. We had a lovely day yesterday at Crealy with L and three of her friends for her birthday. We got there just before 11.00am and got home at 6.00pm. The sun shone, all the rides were open and everyone had a great time. Eldest Daughter was back for the weekend so last night we all, together with Daughter D's boyfriend, walked down to our village hotel for a lovely meal. The food was really good as always and when L's pudding was brought out the owner dimmed the lights and had stuck a couple of candles in it and everyone sang Happy Birthday to her which made her evening.

Today, it was such a lovely sunny morning that we went over to Teignmouth and had a long walk along the beach. I absolutely love living by the sea and although I've had  a couple of moments of wondering if we should move up near my Dad to offer support, I know we would all be miserable leaving the coast and also the girls are so settled here.

On Wednesday I met a friend for coffee first thing whilst Husband took D over to Torquay to sit her driving theory test which thankfully she passed. She is nowhere near being ready to sit her driving test but at least that part is out of the way.

This afternoon has been spent packing a case for L as she is off on a school residential tomorrow till Friday. She is going to a place called Grenville House in Brixham and they will do things like raft building, coasteering, absailing etc. She is excited but also a little nervous as she hasn't really ever spent a night away from home. Unfortunately, the weather is forecast to change tomorrow but I'm sure she will still enjoy herself.

Just this week and then half-term and I am looking forward, hopefully, to a couple of lie-ins.

 Happy Birthday L

Just a quick post as we have a busy day ahead. My baby Daughter, L, is 11 years old today! 

We are off to Crealy (a theme park near Exeter) with three of her friends today and then out to dinner. She was up at 7.00 opening presents so an early start for us all. 

I cannot believe it is 11 years since she was born - I had to stay in overnight as no-one was available to do the discharge checks and early the following morning Husband and eldest Daughter S came to collect us. That is what set off her desire to be a midwife and here we are 11 years later and she is. 

 I'm still here, it's just now everyone's back to school/work my weekdays are very samey and not particularly interesting to write about. 

The last weekend in September we went up to Wiltshire to visit my Dad and Mother-in-Law. We had a lovely couple of days but tiring. We took Mother-in-Law out on the Saturday afternoon for a walk around Frome which is a lovely town with lots of one off shops selling all sorts of lovely things. We had a coffee out and a good catch up on all our news. In the evening we took my Dad out for dinner and again had a good catch up with him. On the Sunday, as the sun was shining a little, we decided on an impromptu barbecue for lunch. We just had burgers and sausages, with salmon for the non meat eaters, and new potatoes and salad. It was lovely and saved my Dad having to sort a hot meal in the evening. We got home early evening exhausted but happy to have seen both our parents.

Eldest Daughter is working in Bath and I think this is week 5 of her being there. When she was applying for jobs she ideally wanted to work in Exeter so she could live at home and put more money into her house deposit pot. Unfortunately, she wasn't successful, as they filled their vacancies with their own students so she went back up to Bath and started work. Well blow me but the beginning of the week before last she had a phone call from Exeter saying one of the new graduates had decided not to take the job after all and would she like it! So it's been a busy week or so for her, handing in her notice with Bath, giving notice on the house she's been renting and filling in another whole load of paperwork but we are all so happy. She will be moving back home some time in November, so last weekend,as it was such dire weather we had a big sort out of the garage in readiness for all her belongings coming home again!

This weekend the weather has been gorgeous. Yesterday morning I took K and L to the cinema to watch Spirit Untamed which was really good. Our local cinema does Kids Crew on a Saturday morning where tickets are £2.50 and the film is something that has usually been released in the last year. This is something we did regularly in the winter months before covid struck so it was lovely to be back yesterday for the first time in about 20 months. The rest of the weekend has been spent giving my car a good clean and pottering in the garden.

Hopefully, it won't be as long between posts next time.