Home Sweet Home

Things being what they are in Britain at the moment, with more and more people out of work, and more and more companies tightening their figurative belts, it is perhaps not unexpected that Steve has not yet been able to find work.  He has started looking further afield as we have come to the realisation that there is nothing available in his field, with his experience, at his level, near our wonderful North Eastern base.  Most senior treasury jobs are based in London where most head offices are, but there are still a few (a very few) which are are situated further out(although still down South), and it is these that Steve is currently going through the whole application-interview-sit-on-tenterhooks process for.

And this is where we come to the reason for this post; my realisation and acceptance of the fact that whatever happens, we will have to leave our beautiful house, our fantastic coastal situation and wonderful support network.  I have worked so hard, in a way that goes against my somewhat shy, prone to anxiety personality, to develop friendships and make this town our home, not just somewhere we live.  When I was talking to a friend about how much the thought of starting again fills me with dread, she was surprised and said "but you've done it before, you should be used to it".  And it's true, I have done it before - a number of times, but the fact is, that for me at least (with aforementioned personality defects!), it doesn't get any easier.  Having my babies here went a long way to forming some of my most precious friendships, as new babies do, but there won't be any more new babies (unless I can use the move it to persuade himself ...) to help me do that where ever we end up.  And yes although I have done it before, this was the first place that really feels like home. 

And it is hard to leave your home.

But it is also exciting! 

Some time later

We are two and a half weeks into the school holidays and things are, surprisingly, not too bad.  We have had lots of meet ups with friends in parks and at the beach, picnics and walks, along with the kids playing out on this wonderful pedestrianised street of ours for hours at a time with the neighbouring boys and girls.  We have been fortunate to have Daniel with us for a nearly 2 week long visit, although he has sadly gone home today. 

While we were eating tea I asked the boys what had been the best part of their big brother's visit:
Sam " when he came walking down the street and I saw it was him and I ran and ran to him, and if his bag had been smaller he would have run to me"
Tom "Danny's gone and that makes me very sad, but the good part is that he built lots of up track and bridges for my train set"

We went to the Volkswagen classic car rally in Tynemouth which was really good - it was a beautiful summer day and the camper vans where jaw droppingly gorgeous!!  I never realised until then how much I would love to own a camper van!!  The beetles were also beautiful, but it was the camper vans which stole my heart!!

Tom doodles on the Doodle Bug!

It's handy to have a big brother to explain technical stuff to you

My favourite camper van

Priors Haven, Tynemouth on a beautiful day, rally in the background

The boys and I have had a visit to the Life Centre with the wonderful Helen Thompson and her lovely daughter Kira.  The Life Centre is a fantastic place to visit and the kids always have a great time, especially at the moment as they have the Wallace and Gromit Exhibition on.

While on the subject of Helen and Kira I must also mention our epic day trip to York.  Now I know that it being only a day trip, and only an hour away on the train it shouldn't qualify as epic, but trust me, it was.  The kids were up and down, heart wrenchingly good and stomach churningly bad, selfish and selfless.  They walked and walked and walked.  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  And so, as far as I'm concerned, qualifies as epic!!

Brave (insane?) woman gives Sam a proper, heavy, very old broadsword to hold... and then does the same with Tom!

Getting the hang of jousting

All set for the miniature train ride at the Railway Museum

 So all in all, it's going pretty well.  The boys seem to be enjoying their holiday, although Tom (social creature that he is) is missing his friends from nursery a lot.  We have been having quite lot of busy, so I think I am going to try for some friend and stimulation free time.  Remind them how to entertain themselves and just have some time to "chillax" - as one of Sam's friends suggested to me at his sleepover - and that is a post for another time...

Tooth Fairy

My boy's tooth fell out tonight, after a very long wobbly interval.  Weeks and weeks it's been hanging on and every day the question was asked "when's my tooth going to fall out?".  So finally tonight it came out with his bed time teeth brushing, cue much excitement, dancing and great big gappy toothed grins.  Once the blood was mopped up and the tooth safely stowed away he stopped:

"I'm going to write the tooth fairy a letter"

Okay my darling"

...scritch scratch scribble...

"do you want to see what I wrote?"

"I would love to"

                              To the tooth fairy
                              Do you really exist?
                              from Sam

Baby Girl

Elizabeth's dedication was a lovely service and I was very honoured to be standing next to Rob and Kerry Viljoen, as the special grownups dedicated to her emotional and spiritual well being (although those that know me are probably aware that the spiritual stuff is not really my forte, but the emotional - yes sirree bob, with bells on!) 

Elizabeth wearing a dress worn by her mom, 38 years ago

Auntie Jill with her 4th and last grand baby - "that's it" she said!

Godparents - Me, Rob and Kerry



Nick Nick and I get on famously

Dearest friend and wonderful mother of four, Andrea

It was wonderful to spend time with Andrea, she is, ever, my sounding board and always understands, without the need for explanation.  It was lovely to see her mom, Auntie Jill, who is one of the pillars of my teenage years and it was delicious to spend time with Nick Nick and Beth, my two gorgeous god children.

A weekend away away from home at the very start of the school holidays is just what was required to give me the energy to get through the 6 week holidays... or maybe just the first week!!

I did get to spend a lot of time in quiet contemplation with Beth.  There is no doubt that it makes my heart very sad that I will not have a daughter of my own.  I do have a step daughter who is maturing into a wonderful young woman and now I have baby Beth as god daughter.  But neither of these are mine.  I wouldn't exchange either of my gorgeous boys for anything in the universe.  And more than that, I wanted both of them to be boys.  But as they get older, and the weight in the house shifts ever more on the side of testosterone, leaving me hopelessly exposed to farting, burping and wee all over the toilet seat - oh how I long for a girl!