Yes, I know...

It has been ages but finally I seem to have scrounged some time and energy from somewhere to write a little something here...

Since my last missive, when it was parties galore, I have been busy working - I was surprised, too! I have been helping out at the primary school with some French for the year 4s, the Girl is in that year and so I am more than happy to try to give an extra boost before it's off to middle school. The Girl will be in the last intake to the middle schools in our area, quite sad really. It means she will now be one of the youngest in her school for the next three years...

The Knitting Club is going well, out of the eleven members about eight are now quite confident knitters and the others are catching up fast - don't tell anyone, but I'm really enjoying it. And I've got to get a piece of work finished for the Jubilee celebrations in our village - the Women's Institute is having a stall/display so I shall put something out for them. This could be the push I've been needing to finish the blanket that I'm crocheting - finally! The bunting that our WI made was spectacularly long, there is a huge amount of talent in that group, and some people try to keep it very well hidden...

My private students have now finished their work with me for their French GCSE - it's always fabulous to see how far people progress and how confident they become just when they need to. It's one of the things that I love about teaching, the little successes that make a student smile from within.

Since I took the leap of leaving my previous job at the beginning of the year I have done a great deal of soul-searching - writing these pages really helps me, too - and am starting to realise that the things that make me happy are not those that I would previously have considered. I have less money but more time, I travel less in the car but more in my soul, I have time to notice all of the little things rather than trying to race from one thing to the next without really enjoying anything.

I am happy.

Five smiles from my corner of the world:

1. The bird box being used for the first time ever
2. So much sunshine
3. Silent moments
4. Celebrating with friends
5. Granny's bonnets in my garden

Cheery smiles, D x

Busy, busy bee...

Okay, we have partied and partied and partied and partied this week...

First with friends - fabulously feasting with the Marvellous Ms. Our occasional get-togethers of curries from barely warm to blow your head off and all through the spectrum. His Lairdship and Mrs M are of the milder variety, along with the children. Mr M and I, however, are at the hotter end of things, the one which warms the cockles of your soul and blasts them out of your socks! Fortunately, the others allow for us - we are given our own end of the dining table with extra water and fire extinguishers. Ooh, isn't it fabulous when someone else cooks for you? Even better when they wash up, too!

Then it was the Girl's birthday party which involved a trip to Norwich, five other Girls and the reluctant Boy. It was fantastic - Build-a-Bear parties are perfect, you just turn up and then the staff make the whole experience as much fun as seven young children could possibly need. And to top it all, everyone takes home a bear of their own - aaahhh... It was really one of the best parties we have ever done, especially as our Extended Clan were so well-behaved in a popular pizza restaurant afterwards that a large percentage was deducted from the bill for us. His Lairdship and I nearly burst with pride.

The next day it was thirteen years since His Lairdship and I tied the knot, and what happy years they have been, too. We celebrated by going out to lunch and then home for pudding, really we were too full even to think of pudding, and, besides, I do make excellent coffee...

And the rest of the week has been a blur of work and appointments and life in general, all good!

Five smiley smiles:

1. Reading
2. Being with the Clan, extended or otherwise
3. Parties :o)
4. The nodding of pansies
5. Chatting over the fence

Cheery smiles, D x

May? Already?

Where has this year gone? I know that it has been very full and busy - but really, May? This is a lovely month in our clan as it is the Girl's birthday and mine and His Lairdship's wedding anniversary the next day. And, in most years, this is the turning point of the year when exciting things happen with light and gardens. I'm not quite sure that this is happening this year, what with the wettest drought on record here in the UK!

This year is our 13th wedding anniversary - the traditional gift for this is lace. How pretty... How lovely... How can I buy something for a 6'3" tall long-haired and bearded biker that is lace? Any ideas will truly be appreciated... I have been racking my brains for ages and have come up with some ideas for decorating fairly butch things with lace, I just can't see it somehow! Hopefully inspiration will strike in time...

Five cheery smiles for you:

1. Friends popping in for a cuppa and staying to supper
2. Unexpected compliments
3. Birthday plans
4. The Venerables
5. A dry-ish day!

Cheery smiles, D x

And it rained...

... and it rained and it rained. In amongst the tempest between the flashes of lightning and the rolls of thunder there was a moment's respite. And in that moment there was the most beautiful rainbow, a double one, right across the sky. It is a sight that never fails to gladden my heart.

It amazes me that in the middle of horrible times there is always a little ray of light. For me, in this awful week, it has been to see how much the people I used to work with have pulled together. Friends have all been there for each other with love, support and understanding. Throughout the week they have carried on working so hard and so professionally to bring lives into the world and help to create miracles every day for other people. Midwives are truly amazing people and deserve so much respect from each and every one of us.

Five smiles:

1. Rainbows
2. Midwives everywhere
3. New life
4. Hugs
5. Stillness

Cheery smiles, D x

Hannah the Beautiful

Hannah was a bundle of love and laughter wrapped in a dazzling smile. She was gentle, intelligent and funny - very funny, indeed. When I first met her she was a student midwife just entering her final year of training and yet I felt as though I had known her much longer. She came to the ward and learnt from everyone and taught us all, too - she had a harsh word for no one and a kind hug for everyone. She was a very special person.

As she grew in her skills and confidence and came through her graduation, it was clear to everyone that she shone in her love of her job. Nothing was too much trouble and she was always the first to lend a hand. Once graduated, she lost none of her gentleness and respect for life, if anything it seemed to grow. She was a wonderful young lady full of vibrant life and love.

Today her colleagues and I found out that the shining star had been turned out. She shall be missed so much by all of us who knew her, she will always be Hannah the Beautiful in spirit as she was in person.

May you rest in peace, Hannah, it was an honour to have known you and shared your light xxx

And breathe...

Well, I did it. I went back into the classroom and I loved it. Mr Mentor controls the supply teaching at the school I went to in a dim and distant past. He knows what I'm good at and gave me classes in my own subjects - French and German - hurrah! And the students were fabulous, I'm not saying that they always will be but for the last week they were - I'll take that.

This Friday was 'The Big Sleepover'; the Girl and the Boy had a friend to stay for the night to avoid any of the issues that arise with just the one child having someone to play with. The Girls, as they shall be known, were very good and spent most of the evening tickling His Lairdship or tucked away in their bedroom dancing and goodness knows what else! The Boys were also very good and hid away from civilisation in the bedroom playing with lego and other things that ten year old boys do... So far so good. Supper was pizza and garlic bread, not home-made as I had a long day at work, which disappeared within minutes. More playing ensued, marvellous.

Then came Bedtime. The Girls are younger and were off to sleep before 9.30pm - excellent. The Boys... oh the Boys... Suffice to say that His Lairdship and I were tucked up in bed and sleeping before they settled down at, they think, about 1.30am. And then the Girls woke everyone up for breakfast at 8.00am.

How we were all so cheerful I have no idea - but it worked!

Five cheery smiles for you:

1. It is sunny again
2. My friend running in and finishing the London Marathon
3. Sleepovers for the Clan
4. Children being children
5. Inferno pizza...

Cheery smiles, D x

Back to work...

Good evening, it's time for another one of my night-time rambles... The Boy and the Girl went back to school today - hurrah! Although the Easter break has been wonderful and we have all relaxed together, it was time to get back to normality. And, sad to say, I am included in that - oh no! My two months off have come to an end and I go back to work tomorrow. Well, I say 'back' but it's actually back to a job that I love doing but have not done for six years... I'm not sure if I'm excited or nervous or what! I am looking forward to it. I think. No, I know I am; it's not an easy job by any means but I do enjoy it - I shall let you know how it goes.

On a less scary note, my students have come back today as well and I have been overjoyed to see them. It's not until I have time off that I realise just how much I enjoy tutoring them and helping them through the bits of language that they find difficult. It also means that I get to speak my languages again and that never grows old...

Despite the downpours and howling gales of this morning, I managed to get some of my washing dry on the line this afternoon - still one of my absolutely favourite things to do! It is the essence of spring and summer for me.

Five smiles for today:

1. The Clan going back to school
2. Me going back to work (gulp)
3. Washing smelling so fresh
4. A goldcrest in the garden
5. Planning the Girl's birthday party

Cheery, if somewhat nervous, smiles D x