Busy

Had quite a busy few days since last post.  On Tuesday morning I had to go and have my second Hep B with the nurse.  I walked down to the surgery and when I got there I realised I had forgotton to take the dose out of the fridge for her to administer.  Had to phone Rick and ask him to bring in down in the van.  So much for saving diesel money!  Straight after that the children and I headed off to pick 21yos up from uni for the summer.  Rick headed off on a long training run for his next ultra.  Arrived with a banging headache and feeling rotten so had to take paracetamol which I haven't done in ages.  21yos, 13yos, 11yod and 6yos did most of the carrying of 21yos's stuff from his room four flights up and we headed home again, arriving around 5.30pm.

   Spent four hours in the evening sorting through conference stuff for the home education conference I am adminstering this September.  Need to be very organised this year because of all we have on in August.
Yesterday a family came over for the day as the mum is going to be coming along side me and helping with some of the home ed conference and holiday organising.  It will be difficult to hand some of the stuff over but it feels right to do it as our  lives are taking on such a new direction. So 11yod and I were up quite early doing some cooking and tidying.  I made leek and potato soup and she made 2 Victoria sponges and some fruit punch. Day went very well on the whole.  Then 13yos was offered the opportunity to go for a week to a private international summer school so we spent some time sorting that out and seeing if a friend was interested (which they were).  So that is a good opportunity. Yesterday evening Rick, 13yos and 6yos went to a scout BBQ on the beach while 11yod and I stayed at home and did sewing.  Linda came for her regular Wednesday chat and my friend Emer came and brought her sewing round as well so a nice relaxing evening after a full 2 days.  This morning I got up early to do the paper round with 13yos as Rick and I will have to do it between us while 13yos and 11yod are at camp next week and I haven't learned this one yet! More busy times ahead I guess.
Not managed to run since Monday - if the weather holds, I'll get out today for an hour.  Was going to run in the forest with a friend this afternoon but had to cancel that as 11yod has an infected toe which will probably need antibiotics before camp and the only appointment available was for this afternoon!

Victorian spinner and shark hunting

Good day today.  Rick cycled to Stranraer for an appointment and 6yos and 11yod went to a sewing workshop and came home with a ninja headband and belt and lovely headband for a friend respectively.  Then 11yod decided to spin some wool we had found on holiday in a field and she really got into the mood by dressing up.  In the end she carded it and washed it and will be using it for felting.

   Meanwhile 6yos took advantage of the fact that the canoes were still out and played at shark hunting on them, having a whale of a time.

   Music lessons this afternoon and 13yos spent ages tidying his room and getting some things ready for when he goes to camp at the end of the week.  I received one of my study books for the Return to Practice course which means it is all getting more real now.  Just trying to get the uni and my local Health Authority to have more contact with each other so it actually works out that I do my clinical practice here, which will make life so much easier.
Had a great 4 mile run this afternoon with a friend down by the river.  It was fascinating to see how all the vegetation had been flattened in the recent flooding, which doesn't usually happen in June.  Really felt invigorated after the run and pleased to have pushed a little more.  The strange thing about running is how you enjoy it so much more once you have finished!
One of the chickens is broody and we wondered where she was.  Looked in one of the storage sheds where we keep the straw and found her comfortably sitting on a nest she had made.  Under her were 10 eggs!  Moved her off and back into the chicken shed and swiftly moved the eggs.  Hope she gets over it soon as she is affecting the laying of the other chickens and that means less eggs!  Although I have some sympathy with her being broody, life is tough and she needs to get over it!

Victorian Patchwork and Cattle Market Wedding

One of the distinct advantages of coming home early from holiday is that you get to do some things which you would have missed by staying away.  11yod got to go to a music workshop in a local school yesterday morning with her clarinet teacher and had a great time and learned a lot too.  Home education at it's best.  On the way home I had to drop in at Linda's workshop with something and she mentioned that she had one spare space on her class making a Victorian Crazy Patchwork.  So I had an unexpected sewing day with ladies I didn't know so got to meet some new people.  Great day.  Half way through a cushion for our bed.

                  The scout camp was cancelled due to bad weather (some scouts!!!!!) and just turned into an activity day which did mean that I got to go to badminton which I thought I would miss.  Today the sister of one of my friends was getting married - in the cattle market up the road from us.  Never seen the cattle market looking so spic and span.  11yod, 6yos and I walked up to see them arrive and sat in on the wedding.  Really lovely but looked so strange to see a bridal party in the ring instead of sheep and cows.  Thankfully to weather has turned out much better than forcast so they are getting a fair day.  Hope to get out for a 30 min run as soon as the gang get in from their activity day.

                 Good news also that 22yos has managed to find shared accommodation for when he goes back to uni with someone he knows, who goes to the same church and at a reasonable cost.  Bit of a relief for him I think.It's the nephew of the girl getting married today so it's a small world!

Camping, Catbells and Mrs Tiggiwinkle

Not posted for nearly two weeks as we have been away camping in the Lake District.  Mixed weather but had a good time anyway.  It was great to have 22yos join us when he arrived home from Botswana on the Wednesday of the first week. I miss my children a lot when they are away.

 

We spent the first few days in a National Trust campsite but we were disappointed in that one so we moved earlier than intended to one near Cockermouth.  That was really nice.  One of the highlights of the first week was a visit to the World of Beatrix Potter which I have wanted to visit for ages.  I got to meet my favourite Beatrix Potter character - Mrs Tiggiwinkle and 6yos and 11yod thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The disappointing thing about the holiday was the fact that I ended up not doing the trail 10k which I had planned to do.  A variety of factors influenced this, not least that it had been raining for 48 hours before and conditions were really bad underfoot.  I did, however, get a couple of good runs in, one being a beautiful 3 miles round a castle and lakeshore and the other involving 3/4 mile uphill run which I managed to get up without pausing.  It was lovely running down again.

Another highlight was walking/scrambling/panting my way up Catbells.  11yod found it really hard and managed to push herself, 6yos had his usual fantastic energy and Rick, 23yos and 13yos got up really fast and jogged down, Rick managing to run up and down a couple of times to my one.  However, it was wonderful to have got to the top (even if all the world seemed to be up here with us) and the views were a wonderful reward for us all.  I love walking out in the countryside and could have carried on and stayed out much longer.

We had a good holiday really, despite not having brilliant weather and some real windy times.  We came home a few days early as the weather was set to break again and it made sense to get the tent down dry.  We have finished all the unpacking just 24 hours later and it means that 22yos gets to stay here for a few days before heading away again and Rick, 22hos and 13yos get to go to Scout camp this coming weekend in all the wind and rain while 11yod, 6yos and I get to stay at home in the warmth.  How good is that!!!  I had my written offer of a place on the Return to Nursing Practice course from the university so that was exciting and means it is all getting closer.  Still a few weeks to enjoy time together before life goes crazy!

swimming, sewing and goodbye to a dog

On Wednesday I went swimming for the first time in ages.  I am a useless swimmer as I don't put my head under water but think it will be good for me to go and do some other exercise than running and also hope it is good for the shoulder pain.  There is a lunchtime dip session at the local pool and a couple of friends go sometimes so Rick and I will go each once a week.  Having said that, the friend who was there on Wednesday looked impressive in her swimming, but, like with my running, I will have to just do my own thing and not mind how bad I am.  I managed 18 lengths before my shoulder started to play up and I was actually really pleased with that.
Yesterday evening we made the sad decision to have one of our Springers put down.  She was 15 years old and had begun to really struggle so it just wasn't fair to see her miss out on so much that she loved when she was fit.  It was a hard decision (Rick struggled more than me with it I think) but definitely right.  We do miss her though, and I think the other Springer does too, although the border collie likes the move onto a bigger bed I think.

I think the above is a beautiful picture of Missi when she was well and enjoying life and that is how I will remember her.  Dogs are so unconditionally giving - I couldn't be without one.
Today I had a sewing workshop day with a local textile artist who is also a friend (linda-woodfield.co.uk).  I got on with a quilt I was making which I managed to finish both the top and bottom of so only have to pad and quilt now.  I also managed to start on a bargelo quilt and managed to sew all the strips together of that.  So altogether a very productive day.

     
Throw into the mix packing for camping and a couple of good hard games of badminton this evening and you have a very busy day.  No video tonight though as Rick was up at 6.30 am to do 13yos's paper round, then did a 17 mile cycle ride, then looked after the children all day and he will be up in the morning to leave at 7.30 am for a 60 mile cycle race he and some friends are doing about 25 miles away.  I'll be running the running club 5k handicap and spending the rest of the day finishing packing!!!  

6.1 mile run and Jubilee Tea

This morning my friend and I took our children for a 6.1 mile cycle/run.  The children cycled and we ran.  It's a route I have done a number of times and I really like it.  It's hilly at the start and quite tough and then ends with a lovely 3 miles along a lane running by the estuary.  It was really sunny although quite breezy as well.  13yos cycled next to me which was nice.  My friend is much faster than me so in reality she probably ran 7.5 miles as she kept coming back to keep me company.  Really good training run for my off road 10k a week on Saturday and before I start to up the mileage.
This afternoon we had a nice posh tea party at our house to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  We had traditional cucumber and salmon sandwiches, and jam and cream home made scones with strawberries.  It was a pleasant way to celebrate the life of a really remarkable woman and our pride at being British.

  

swim club championship and fellowship tea 3.5.12

Today was the swim club championship at the club where 11yod and 13yos are members and I am the chair.  As usual it was a great afternoon with some really competative swimming and good feeling all round.  The swimmers impress me so much with their attitude to encouraging each other and that is one of the massive strengths of being a small rural club.  What they lose in access to competitions they gain in their attitude to encouraging each other.  The trophies were given out and new captains announced, and 13yos is the new male captain which shocked and pleased him.  I am sure he will make a good one.
In the evening we went to a small Christian outreach locally where Rick was speaking and the children were singing.  Good evening of fellowship and singing.  Good finish to a really busy weekend.

coastal walks and half marathons

Yesterday 6yos and I started our ambition of walking around the coast of our county (and took Rick, 13yos and 11yod with us).  We walked along the coastal path for three miles on some stunning cliffs and overlooking miles of sea.  It was really beautiful.  The wild flowers were at their best and we saw loads of interesting insects and birds.  We found a caterpiller web which was full.  There was a breeze but it was quite warm and we sat on the cliff top and had a picnic and a coffee.  It was a lovely time, one to cherise and hopefully the start of our coastal walks for the future.
Today was a half marathon and fun run.  13yos and 11yod had swim club first thing so I picked them up from there at 9.30am.  Rick cycled the 25 miles to the run.  He was running the half marathon which set off at 11 am.  His time was good and he came in second of our running club which was also good.  13yos ran a 2 mile race and he was up against some really good runners.  Being a swimmer, running isn't his first sport but he really held his own and came in 5th.  11yod ran 3.5 times round the track in her race, and at least 4 runners only did twice round as it all got confusing when they were lapped.  She plodded on though (bit like her mother!) and finished the whole thing.  I was really proud of her for keeping going.  6yos has to be the star of the day though as he won his race and was really fast.  On the final strait it looked like someone would pass him but he picked it up to come in first.  He was really proud.  He has the competitive spirit of some of his older siblings!

Picture above shows the Williams runners today in their race T-shirts.  I didn't run as I'm not ready for the half marathon and the 4 miles didn't seem worth the money.

   
6yos after winning his race, with a friend and below, me making sure 6yos gets to the start of his race.