My little world has been a busy place for the last 2 weeks and in a good way. The Beach Hut Day was lovely in every single way. I’m not normally a good passenger but was perfectly calm and unbothered by anything on the journey to and from, thanks to the very fabulous KW who was our chauffeur for the day. We arrived in good time and our breakfast arrived just as we were getting settled in to The Shiny Shell. The weather was dry and the sun made a very welcome appearance late morning. We walked on the beach, as a group and on our own at times. We chatted. We ate lovely food. We paddled. We ate some more food. It was as near to perfect as we could have hoped. And more importantly, it was JUST what each of us needed – no agenda, no timeframes, we just did what we felt like doing and let each other just be. Perfect.
The following week, I downed tools on Wednesday evening and on Thursday Mrs F and I set off for a Spa Day at the Aqua Sana at Woburn Forest. We’ve been to Champneys a few times and so we had a rough idea what to expect, hoping it would live up to previous experiences. And it did, and then some. From the minute we drove through the gates into the forest – surrounded by trees and blue skies – to the minute we left, we felt relaxed and the facilities were brilliant. I wasn’t even phased by the lack of personal changing rooms when we were changing ready to come home, that’s how relaxed I was. We have deemed the whole thing a great success and hope to return in the future.
That same evening we had Parents Evening for A and so we headed over to Elstree for our 2 appointments (just 2 – bliss). We had been given the option of virtual meetings but all agreed that for our first time of meeting A’s new teachers it would be good to do them face-to-face and for K to see the school from the inside. We had no real concerns about what we were going to hear but we didn’t expect it to be quite such a resounding success. All the feedback was incredible and made us both feel so proud, but the winning comment of the evening was from the Principal (Head) Teacher who takes A for Sociology. When we sat down he said that as a teacher it is not advisable or really acceptable to have favourites but that he had “saved the best ’til last” (we were his final appointment of the evening) – as we know, she loves a debate and has a lot of opinions but he said that she is also a good listener and takes on board what others have to say, and is insightful and brings something to the classroom that he loves and that it was a “privilege to teach her”. Her Make Up teachers said she inspires others in the class to do more, to work harder, to strive to be better and that the BTEC officer wants to use her initial assignment as a benchmark for a perfect Distinction* piece of work. It has taken a lot of effort and a huge amount of courage for A to move schools and start again in a whole new place. She has had some hurdles so to hear these comments. knowing how hard she is working to attain the levels she’s working at, is really gratifying and we are so pleased.
The next day, K and I headed off to Canterbury for the weekend. We had a lovely weekend wandering, eating, taking in a bit of history and just spending time on our own together, something that’s been in short supply the last few months. I had an interesting chat with a volunteer in the Cathedral. Normally I avoid them like the plague – my unfailingly polite gene makes me feel obliged to listen when they rabbit on about stuff (and normally it’s so dry and rehearsed) – but this woman caught me off guard. I was daydreaming a bit looking at some stained glass windows, wondering if all this stuff is really necessary. I had been talking to K about how conflicted I feel in places like this – I appreciate the history and the beauty of the place but the organised religion thing doesn’t sit well, along with the wealth, power and pomp of it all. Anyway, she came over and asked if I’d like to know a bit more about what the windows depicted. The polite thing kicked in and I braced myself. She was not like any other volunteer person I’ve met before. She was funny, articulate, interesting, and she totally had me hooked when she said “I’m not religious at all and some of this stuff is so far-fetched…” She was new to the “job” and was worried that she might not fit the mould. I told her that in my eyes that could only be a positive thing! We had a great chat and I was almost reluctant to walk away.
We’d planned a few things for while we were away, one being to visit the Cathedral (tick), another to visit Whitstable (tick), and to have a nice meal out on the Saturday night (hmm). We’d booked a mezze type restaurant in the city centre so we did a “walk-by” during the day to make sure it looked ok. It had great reviews and it looked nice so we were happy with our choice. Until we got there. I’d booked it a few weeks beforehand and had email confirmations. But they didn’t seem to have our booking. After some muttered discussion between the staff, we were seated at a tiny table near the door and we ordered some drinks and food. While we were waiting for the drinks K noticed that a VERY long table was being set just across from us. Lo and behold, a short while later while we were eating our starter (which arrived before the drinks and so speedily we wondered if we’d got someone else’s food) the doors opened and in waltzed 27 – yes, twenty seven – people who were there for a pre-wedding celebration. They were not subdued. Our drinks arrived just as we were finishing our starter and the main arrived within what seemed like seconds. We were clearly in the way and needed rid of so that the big table could take priority. We dragged out our main courses for as long as we could and paid the bill. We were in and out within 40 minutes. Not quite the nice, relaxed meal we’d hoped for!
We got home at lunchtime on Sunday and picked A up from mum and dads. T was on nights over the weekend and she was not keen to be home alone overnight. Although she loves spending time with M&D she was ready for her own bed, plus she had a part y to go to later in the day and needed time to get ready. It was another fancy dress party and after the success of Draco Malfoy on her birthday, she was giving Troy Bolton from High School Musical a go. Another wig had been purchased and various bits of clothing purloined. She looked amazing. I love that she doesn’t want to do the obvious thing, that she likes to go all out, to be different. I also love that she is always pretty much ready to come home by 10pm. She really is a girl after my own heart in that respect!
On Monday we were off to London. A and I were booked in to see the Feminine Power exhibition at the British Museum and K and T were coming along (not to the museum but just for a trip out). A also wanted to go to Selfridges which they were quite happy with. The exhibition was good, not as big as we had imagined but interesting and thought provoking. Selfridges on the other hand was overwhelmingly big and busy. But we only had one destination – the toy department, and specifically the Jelly Cat section. It had the most soft toys I have ever seen in one place. We were in there around half an hour, just looking (and feeling) and A eventually made her decision on which to purchase. She has 3 already (Geoff the frog, Greg the stegosaurus and an EMO fairy which up until then was unnamed) and wanted something different but that would still fit in. She opted for an ice cream cone with pink ice cream and a very cute face. It is called Creamo and the EMO fairy has now been named Scre-Emo. Yes she is 17, but she is embracing her inner child and allowing her to be herself, something she has been afraid to do for such a long time.
Tuesday was my actual birthday. I had envisaged being the first one up as usual and having to wait (patiently) for the others to emerge from their beds. But T’s car needed an MOT and was booked in that morning at 8.30am in Dunstable. So he and K were up and out taking it over there, so the celebrations started much earlier than expected. Even A was up in good time and I had a lovely hour or so opening cards, presents and eating croissants. We were due to meet mum and dad at the Prae Wood Arms for lunch at 12.30pm, but as I was heading upstairs to get ready T had a call from the MOT centre to say his car had failed and needed some work doing. After some frantic calls and some logistical planning, it was decided K would pick the car up and take it to a garage near to M&D to get the repairs done, he’d walk to M&D’s and then they would bring him to the restaurant. We’d then need to get it back to the MOT centre on Wednesday afternoon for a retest before T started back at work on the Thursday (he was on duty all weekend). Not quite the easy chilled out day we’d planned but it all worked out ok in the end. The lunch was lovely – the food was fab and the table I’d booked seemed to work out well for all concerned. A slice of cake and a cuppa back at M&D’s with lots of laughing (mostly at K’s expense) as A used every SnapChat filter going on him, with some very funny results. We were home by about 5pm and I spent the evening watching TV and eating birthday chocolate. Perfect.
The rest of the week was quiet and lovely with the odd walk and seeing Top Gun: Maverick at the cinema. My favourite film this year so far. Just pure escapism, action, high energy, with some 80’s nostalgia and not a hint of cheese. Brilliant.
All the family here (minus T and my brothers middle one C – both working) for cake and my mum’s yummy scones on Sunday afternoon, for all the birthdays. It’s mine first, then my sister in law, Dad’s and then C’s. All within the space of one week. Perfect excuse for more cake (not that there is any need for an excuse).
And then before we knew it, life returned to normal. A is back at school, we are back at work and T is…..on holiday. Alright for some ;-). Bless him, he’s taking some well-earned time off from work (first holiday since he started back in March 2021) and has gone with one of his best friends, from back when they were at pre-school together, down to Cornwall where his friend is living for Uni, with another mate for a few days. I hope he comes back feeling refreshed rather than hungover! Hopefully the sea air and some down time will be just what he needs.
The diary of a happiness hunter 