We have had a lovely weekend enjoying the glorious sunshine which was a good thing because we are back to rain today.

On Saturday morning Husband took the youngest two girls to the cinema to watch Encanto which they thoroughly enjoyed. As soon as L got home she put on her dancing dress and was playing all the soundtracks! I, on the other hand, had a very quiet and peaceful morning as D and K were both working. I pottered about doing some cleaning and tidying and then as I had a can of Mamade in stock I made marmalade. In the afternoon we went for a walk around our village and from the top looking out over the estuary it looked glorious. The sun was shining, we didn't need coats and it really felt like the start of spring.

On Sunday I got lots of washing out on the line to dry and Husband mowed the lawn. It was warm enough for us to sit outside and have coffee - first time this year. Our village is taking part in The Queens Canopy and our Parish Council together with Sustainable Bishop were giving villagers free saplings to plant and register. We went to collect ours, a cherry, and it has now been planted in our back garden. What a great memorial to be part of.

Today D was back to school although I use that term loosely as she finishes at 11.10 am on a Monday!. K and L had an inset day today so they are not back till tomorrow. 

 Half term has raced by and I can't believe it is Friday again and a week since the start of the stormy weather.

We have had a good week. On Monday we went over to Paignton to the Bank where Husband used to work to open a bank account for youngest Daughter L and sort out some admin on other accounts of the girls that we  are executors for. We had a walk around the town and along the seafront and a coffee out. The rest of the day was spent pottering with the girls doing some sorting in their bedrooms and me doing the usual endless washing and ironing.

Tuesday the forecast said it was going to be dry and sunny so we decided to go to Exmouth for the day. As we got nearer the weather went downhill and we arrived to a mizzly blustery morning! We walked all along the seafront out to the far point and had wanted to make our way up to and out to Orcombe point but it just wasn't the weather. We walked back and up through the town and got a coffee and a snack and by early afternoon the girls had had enough so we came home.

On Wednesday we went up to Wiltshire for the night to see my Dad and Mother-in-Law. The older girls could also make it and we took D's boyfriend J with us to meet everyone as well so a very full car. After lunch with my Dad the older ones caught the train into Bath for the afternoon - S was meeting a friend she had been at Uni with for a coffee and D and J just wanted to have a walk around the city. Meanwhile, we took my Dad down to Valerosa Lounge for a coffee. He is awaiting a new hip - one was done about 6 years ago but now the other is on it's last legs so his mobility is not great at the moment. He saw his consultant at the beginning of January and they are saying it's about a 6 month wait currently. In the evening we went up to Husbands Mums and had fish and chips with her and our niece and a good catch up which was nice. The following morning we just had a walk around Trowbridge and then we had a table booked for lunch at Prezzo and my Sister joined us. We had a lovely couple of days but as usual very tiring fitting everyone in.

Today has been a quiet day. D had a driving lesson, S wasn't working so went and met friends, K had some friends over for the afternoon and I took L into Newton Abbot for a bit of pampering having her hair cut and dried. She looked amazing and so grown up when she came out and was so happy with it. Tonight I intend to have a couple of glasses of wine and watch the last episode of Death in Paradise and then tomorrow it is kids crew at the cinema to watch Encanto.

 Well what weather we have had this week. If I'm honest it wasn't as bad here Friday as I was expecting. The secondary schools emailed me Thursday lunchtime to say they would be closed Friday but the Primary school left it till 7.27am Friday morning to email!!. We just hunkered down at home and got on with the home learning that had been set and by early evening it had all died down which was a relief as M and I had a rare night out planned just the two of us. We just went down to our village Hotel for a meal and a few drinks and it was absolutely lovely. This is something that doesn't happen often enough.

Yesterday K had a hair appointment in town so we dropped her off and then went and did a little bit of shopping and had coffee and cake in Costa. Once her hair was done I then dropped her at a friends house for a party and sleepover. She had a brilliant time but is very tired today!

Today I have been doing some preparation for my busy birthday week. S has her birthday on the 5th March, K on the 10th and Husband on the 11th so it all gets a bit manic sorting presents and cards etc. S has no idea what she wants at the moment which is very unhelpful so I have just bought a card today. K needs a new phone so that is easy to sort and she will just get a couple of small surprises to go with it. We have a meal booked the day before S's birthday - her birthday falls on a Saturday this year so she is having a night out with friends so our family celebration will be the night before. We will also go out for a meal on Husbands birthday but it will be a joint celebration with K. I then think she wants to go ice skating with a couple of friends over the weekend. The girls have had quiet Birthdays the last couple of years due to covid so it's nice for them to get back to doing things with their friends. This afternoon has been damp and blustery so K and L (with Husbands help) have been making some bunting for their bedrooms. L is obsessed with sausage dogs and K's favourite colour is orange.

At the beginning of the week my Sister and her Husband came down to Devon for a few days ,so on Wednesday we went up to Sidmouth and met them for the day. We had a nice long walk and then a lovely lunch out and then another nice long walk so a very good day out.

Well it is half term thank goodness this coming week. We are going up to Wiltshire Wednesday/Thursday to see my Dad and Mother in Law but other than that nothing much planned - we will just see what each day brings.

Let's hope we have calmer weather this week.

 What a horrible wet and windy day today down here in Devon. K and L did their paper rounds first thing and got very wet. We did go out for a short while this morning but other than that we have been snuggled down at home. L made some ginger oaty biscuits and as there was an aubergine, pepper and courgette in this weeks fruit and veg box from Lidl, I made up a batch of ratatouille for the freezer. We all like this with pasta but it is a great emergency standby when I need a veggie meal for K and/or S. I am now cooking a roast chicken for tonight with a nut roast for S and K. I picked up a couple of these artisan nut roast in Lidl before Christmas and the girls really like them.  Our village shop changed hands at the start of the year and it now stocks these and a few other items from this range which is great.

Going back to the start of the week, Monday, S and I had a nice walk around Teignmouth and all along the seafront finishing with a coffee in Wetherspoons. We then came home and I got on with some chores whilst S went to the gym and then grabbed a couple of hours sleep ahead of a night shift.

Tuesday I worked and came home to a parents evening on zoom for K. It's very easy not having to leave the house these days to meet the teachers and I wonder how much of a rush they will be in to go back to face to face meetings. K is doing really well and is just about to choose her options for going into year 10 in September.

On Wednesday I met a friend, from my banking days (pre children), who I have not seen for one reason and another, for three years. It was far to long a gap from last seeing each other and we are going to make sure we get into a regular routine. We had a good few hours catching up on our news and all our children - 9 between us!

On Friday it was my Mother in Laws birthday - 77 years old. She is an amazing women, very sprightly for her age, always keen for a trip out when we visit and really really lovely.

As it was Friday it was in to Newton Abbot with D once she finished school at 11 - a few errands run and a coffee out as per usual. I have also this week paid the balance on our holiday to France at Easter so fingers crossed this will be the start of us travelling again. Husbands Aunt and Uncle live in France, down in the Burgundy region and they will come up to the campsite we are staying on (near Paris) and join us. We last did this three years ago and due to covid have not seem them since then. They are a great couple and good company on holiday so really looking forward to catching up with them.

And that really was the last week. Half term is a week later down here than usual so still one week of school to go and a busy one as L's year and the year below are putting on a production Wednesday and Thursday evening. This was meant to be in December but due to most of the class being off with covid it was postponed. It is called 'The Rocky Monster Show' and L is playing an old lady called Ada complete with grey wig and walking stick!

Have a good week everyone.

 Well another week has gone by in a flash.

Last Monday I had a very sore arm from my booster and by the afternoon Husband and I both felt very tired and a bit sick but with some pain killers and a good nights sleep we were back to normal by Tuesday.

Tuesday was work again and the poor woman I work for is having problems due to covid being in her household again. The week before last, her 12 year old tested positive just 9 weeks after having it before. Luckily we work out of her Mum's house so her Daughter was able to isolate at home and fend for herself. Then her youngest Daughter kept complaining of a sore throat and feeling unwell but every lateral flow test was negative even last Tuesday morning, however, by Tuesday evening she tested positive and that was us shut again for the remainder of the week as her youngest is only 7 so needed an adult at home. All being well we will have a normal week this week but it is rife in the girls schools again so no doubt we will have it back in our house again soon.

On Wednesday, eldest Daughter and I went to our village garden centre for lunch as I had a voucher for buy one get one free for a bowl of soup and a roll. It was lovely, broccoli and stilton, a favourite of mine.

Friday, as per usual it was into Newton Abbot for a couple of hours with Daughter D having a mooch around the shops and a coffee in Costa.

Saturday we went off up to Wiltshire to see my Dad and Mother in Law for the weekend. We set off and drove up in brilliant sunshine but then it all went downhill and the afternoon was overcast and a bit damp. We took my Mother in Law to Frome for the afternoon which is a small somerset town with a lot of nice independent shops and quite an arty vibe to it. We had a lovely couple of hours walking around and looking in various shops. In the evening we got take away fish and chips which we had with my Dad. This is always a treat for us when we visit as he has a fantastic fish and chip shop in the town, far better than any near to us.

Sunday, as usual, we had a table booked for lunch in Prezzo and my Sister and her Husband joined us. We had a nice couple of hours with them catching up on news, and some lovely food, then late afternoon we drove home. It is always an exhausting weekend fitting everyone one, and I find it emotionally draining being in my Dad's house without my Mum.

Today, I have been finalising and paying for our holiday to France at Easter which was moved from last year due to you know what. We are hoping to meet up with Husbands Aunt and Uncle whilst we are there as it is three years since we've seen them. Anyway, fingers crossed it all happens and I am hoping France remove some of the regulations before we travel as at the moment it is one of the trickier places to go.

Right, well now I need to make sure I have my work bag ready for tomorrow and then read some more of my book before an early night.