My Mondays to Fridays tend to be very samey hence why I've been quiet the last couple of weeks. It's a very dull routine of getting girls off to school and myself to work and then clubs some evenings. The rest of the week is taken up with chores and usually on Wednesdays I meet friends for coffee.

S has a much more exciting life! In the early hours of the 20th she drove up to Gatwick and caught a flight to Lyon where Husbands Aunt and Uncle picked her up and she went and stayed with them until the Friday. It was the week of warm weather so she had a glorious break, sitting outside cafes with coffee and croissants, walks and a swim in the Lac du Setton which she said was very chilly. She got home very late Friday night and then on the  Saturday her and D went to Cardiff for a couple of nights. A year ago S managed to get tickets for a concert as an 18th Birthday present for D so off they went for that and some shopping. They had a brilliant couple of days.

On Mothers Day, which would also have been my Mum's 75th Birthday, we took K and L to Broadsands beach for the day. We had a picnic on the beach and read our books etc and then walked around to Elbury Cove where the girls went in for a swim. L didn't last long but K managed about 15 minutes. In the evening the four of us went out for some food so all in all a good day, but tinged with sadness,

This week I have been gathering bits together for our holiday in France and sorting out the necessary paperwork. It is actually starting to feel real and that after the last couple of years we might actually leave the country!

Finally, Daughter D has had a brilliant day today. Last Wednesday she had an interview on Zoom with Plymouth University to do a Sociology degree and today she was offered a conditional place. Then this afternoon she had a phone call from the Police to say that her application to be a Special Constable had been shortlisted and she has an interview for that on Zoom next Wednesday. Her first choice of job is to go into the Police Force but it is not that easy these days. She eventually would like to specialise in safeguarding/child protection within the Police hence her other possible career choice, social work. Decisions, decisions. With both it will come down to A Level results - in Health & Social Care and Photography she is online for a distinction, the tricky one is Sociology. With home learning and staffing problems due to Covid the teaching has been a bit weak so none of the pupils are strong in the subject. She is doing mocks this week for it so we shall have to see how she does.

We are doing more holiday sorting Saturday and then going up to Wiltshire Sunday for the day to take my Dad out to lunch. The Premier Inn we use was full and the Travelodge wanted a fortune for the one night hence we are not going for the weekend. It is his Birthday on the 10th April, but we will be driving to Dover, so we are having an early celebration.

Hopefully will post again before we sail! 

 Well that's our busy week of Birthdays finished, next one will be D's 18th in May so time for a breather.

This week I have worked Tuesday and Thursday as usual, taken D and L for eye tests and worked through a mountain of washing and ironing!

 On Thursday, K had a couple of friends back for tea to help celebrate her birthday so I made up several homemade pizzas and then we had Birthday cake for pudding. She requested a home made cake and I have basically one style which  is a chocolate heart shaped sponge with a chocolate ganache icing and the age of the birthday girl marked out in dolly mixture!I have been making it for years now.

On Friday it was Husbands Birthday and so we had a meal out at our village Hotel where we are always sure of a good atmosphere and lovely food.

On Saturday K was meeting friends so we just had L to entertain. We decided to have a nice walk along the seafront at Dawlish, which is a seaside town just a few miles from us, and a wander around the town where L was pleased to have her first coffee ice cream of the year! When we got home, as it was still dry, we also had a walk/scooter around our village before the rain came in for the rest of the day.

Today, for K's birthday treat, we have been to Plymouth ice-skating. She took a friend and L and D also came with D's boyfriend. Husband and I just watched. Afterwards there was time for a little bit of shopping before we headed home where dinner is now cooking and I am looking forward to a peaceful evening. I have been really enjoying the Marcus Wareing programmes from his smallholding. We would love somewhere with some land again as we miss having chickens, but with the current economic climate I doubt we could afford anywhere in Devon now.

Well that is it for now, back soon.

 Happy Birthday K

Our lovely K is 14 years old today. She is my quiet serious Daughter who is a pleasure to be with. She is off to catch the school bus shortly so we will do presents and cards after school. She is having a couple of friends back for tea and then we are having another family meal out tomorrow night as it is Husbands birthday tomorrow.

She said it didn't really feel like her birthday and I said to think of all those children out in Ukraine who won't be able to celebrate their birthday with family or receive presents. It is absolutely awful at the moment watching the news. A local businessman and a colleague were driving two big vans of donations to Poland last week so D and I went down with a big bag of toiletries that were needed and I have made a monetary donation but you just feel so helpless.

Right I need to get sorted for work so that's it for now.

 What a busy week and what a wet few days we had at the beginning of it.

Tuesday started off with L getting confirmation that she definitely has a place at the girls grammar school in Torquay in September. We had a letter in October after she had set the tests to say that she most likely had a place but then you have to wait till the 1st March for your local council to confirm school allocation. We were all very pleased so she will join Daughter K who is already there. As it was Shrove Tuesday we had pancakes for pudding which S expertly cooked.

On Wednesday I met a friend for coffee down at our Village garden centre which was a lovely couple of hours out in a very damp day.

On Thursday we decorated our living room ready for our busy Birthday week which started with Daughter S's birthday yesterday, Daughter K's this coming Thursday and Husbands this coming  Friday!

Friday we saw sunshine again which was a relief after several wet days and in the evening we had a family meal out to celebrate S's birthday. She had a very quiet 21st last year in lockdown and as her birthday fell on a Saturday this year she planned to make up for it with friends over for drinks and a night clubbing up in Exeter. My Sister and her Husband were renting a house down in Cornwall for a week so we decided to make ourselves scarce for her and take the younger two girls to Newquay for the weekend. I found the amazing Esplanade Hotel with indoor pool at Fistral beach in Newquay and we have had the best weekend. Usually our overnight stays are premier inn or travelodge so this made a pleasant change.  Our room was lovely and spacious with a sea view. We hadn't been able to check in till 3pm so we had already had a long walk all around Newquay before we got to the hotel so straight away the girls wanted to go swimming. There were towelling robes provided to wear down to the pool which was lovely and not too busy. I took my book to read while they swam and it was a very relaxing end to the afternoon. After showers we headed into Newquay and went to the Concho Lounge for food which was very good and then headed back to our room to chill and have a glass of wine and watch a film.

This morning we had a lovely breakfast in the Hotel - the dining room looked out over the beach so it was a lovely setting. We then went over to Perranporth and met my Sister. We had a walk around the town and then went on the beach for a long walk and a coffee sat outside The Watering Hole which is a pub sat on the beach. Afterwards we followed them back to their holiday cottage in St Agnes where we had another long walk around the village and down to that beach. It has been sunny all weekend although a little chilly but lovely not to have the recent rain. We got back home teatime and are now relaxing ahead of another busy week with work, birthdays and play dates.

 Happy Birthday S

Today our eldest Daughter is 22years old - I cannot believe she is that old - the years have flown by. She is an amazing young woman and we are very proud of her.

We went out for a family meal last night as S is celebrating with friends tonight. She is having people over to our house for drinks and then they are off clubbing in Exeter. She is making up for having a 21st in lockdown! We are leaving her to it and taking the younger two girls down to Newquay for the weekend so I will do a proper post when we are back.

Bye for now x

 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.

 Well it's a lovely sunny morning here in Devon so I have been out and hoovered my car  and now Husband is kindly washing it for me. It's long overdue as it was filthy inside and out. Later on today Husband and I have finally got our booster appointments over at Dawlish hospital so we shall have a walk around the town and along the seafront afterwards.

Monday was a cold bleak day but S wasn't working so we got ourselves organised and went out for a nice walk around a part of Newton Abbot that I lived in years ago. There was newly opened Co-Op on route and I treated us to a take away coffee to warm us up. We then came back home and both got on with jobs - mine cleaning and making a shopping list for Aldi that evening and S cooking up her lunches to take to work for the week. When I went shopping I treated myself to a bunch of daffodils to bring a touch of spring into the house.

Tuesday I worked and then in the evening L went to the pantomime in Teignmouth with Scouts. The performance was just for youth groups and the pantomime was Beauty and the Beast which she thoroughly enjoyed although it was a very late night.

On Wednesday I met a friend and we went down to our village garden centre for a coffee and a catch up. She is having a stressful time at the moment with elderly parents going into a home and a house which has to be sold to pay for it etc. We spent a good couple of hours and a couple of coffees talking it all through and catching up on other news.

On Thursday I worked in the morning and then it was a quick turnaround and I was out for lunch with some friends I used to work with. For a change we went to our village Vineyard and the food was really lovely with lots of choice.

Friday D always finishes school at 11.00 and we always go in to Newton Abbot. I usually have a few errands and some food bits that I need that I can't get in Aldi and then we have a coffee in Costa. Before that, first thing, I went to Lidl with Hubby for one of their £1.50 fruit and veg boxes. If you haven't tried one I can highly recommend them. All the boxes have different contents so you can pick one that best suits your needs. Last weeks had peppers and aubergines and I already had mushrooms and courgettes so I made some ratatouille for the freezer which is great to have on hand for the veggie members of the family. 

Saturday morning I took K and L to the cinema for the kids crew showing of Boss Baby Family Business. Kids Crew is on a Saturday morning at our local cinema and they  show a recent film for £2.50 a ticket so good value. After lunch I decided we needed some fresh air, rather than playing games on phones, so we had a walk around the village stopping off at the park. As no one else was there K and L both had a go on the basket swing and I sat and had a coffee from the Crew Coffee van.

So that is my week. Hopefully I won't have any reaction to my booster but I have no plans tomorrow so if I do feel rough I can take it easy.

 It's been really wintry this week with very cold early mornings but some sunshine too. I like it when it's like this as long as I'm all wrapped up in the right clothing!

The week started with a trip to the orthodontist on Monday with D to be fitted with a new bottom retainer that I'd had to order as her one had split. That was my purse £90 lighter so I hope this one lasts a bit longer than the year the last one did. Unfortunately she tends to grind her teeth at night and they're quite flimsy things so I won't hold my breath.

I worked Tuesday, and Wednesday instead of Thursday this week which meant that I could take the children to the village toddler group. I think it must be about 10 years since I've been and not a lots changed. It was an easy few hours work with a couple of coffees and chocolate biscuits thrown in!

On Friday D's boyfriend, Jack, celebrated his 18th birthday. She went for a meal with him and his family to The Ivy in Exeter which she said was amazing. It is booked up weeks in advance as it seems to be the in place to go at the moment.

This weekend we have been to Bournemouth with K and L to visit our friends Geoff and Sara.  We always have a weekend with them in January but last last years had to be moved on a year due to Covid, however, we did see them last October when Geoff threw a surprise party for Sara's 50th birthday. We had a lovely meal out with them last night and then today had a walk along the seafront and a coffee out in a lovely little cafe right out on the end of the pier. It has been really nice catching up with them. There has also been a little bit of shopping and some copper spent on the machines in the amusement arcade on the pier.      

        

       

Now, I need to make sure everything's ready for school tomorrow and then it will be another episode of either The Bay or Around the World in 80 days, not sure which yet, but we are really enjoying both.