These past few weeks of many miles of travelling to work,
from the lush fields in Norfolk along some pretty direct thoroughfare with
limited gridlock, into a heaving city of both heat and movement. There is a sense
of smoky air as my personal space is invaded and surrounded by an extreme raft
of jabbering languages, sadly witnessing the very poorest of people dragging
themselves through life. Then I come home to a brighter blue sky where air
moves seemingly easier as fresher, the peacefulness is almost deafening. Out on
our bikes down the country lanes we see no traffic, watching the sea swirling
crops embracing the subtle changes in the colours around us. Having the
opportunity to experience the countryside in this way gives a sense of some
quite inconceivable freedoms and a seemingly quintessence life. The contrasts
of my daily life moving between the richness of countryside to the riotous
busyness of major city life is an amazing divergent of life styles, I marvel at
the extremeness of my contrasts, but certainly enjoy my homecoming every night!
The bevy of birthdays continue, celebrating Jerry’s mum
Pat as she enjoys the prestige of being 80 years old. We are out for the day
wandering around the gardens of Felbrigg Hall in early summer sun with a
complimentary afternoon tea, preceding a pleasurable evening gathering to say a
glorious birthday returns to their mum.
Then it was Jerry’s birthday a peaceful occasion as Dylan
was away for his school residential at Holt Hall, Jerry minded a whole lot less
than me, that Dylan wasn’t around! An easy day, tranquil walk and an evening in
our local for some exquisite food with pink rhubarb gin and tonic to follow,
very mellow! Dylan’s encounter of living with his class mates was captivating
for him both positively but also negatively as ‘Billy snored!’ (LOL). A tired
boy came home exhilarated with his adventures whist blissful to be home.
Followed by my dear old Ma’s birthday in a rainy June,
unfortunate as it didn’t bode well for an ‘old lady trundle’ around the Norfolk
coastline so she was dined at The Ivy and celebrated at Theatre Royal watching
‘Educating Rita’ instead. Sara then had a gathering around her outdoor bar patio area,
again dodging the rain, as we all celebrated Sara’s mellow leverage into her
birthday age. Very pleasant too as my brother made a surprise visit with his
family.
Milo and his lovely lady took themselves off to Orlando
post studies and had a marvelous time doing all things ‘Disney’. It appeared
the most outrageous segment of the trip was the torrential rain, as each rainy
episode was recorded and shared with us. In his absence we mused over the
cinema savoring the new ‘Aladdin’ with Will Smith, then for Father’s Day ‘Men
in Black International’, what an easy way to mark the occasion, both great
movies.
Not forgetting the cheeky trip to the cinema one Friday
morning to see ‘Red Joan’ followed by lunch and sneaky cocktail before the
school run, a naughty date!
Certainly had an eventful Saturday starting with trying
to get Dylan to a party at Long Stratton then off to Theatre Royal to watch
‘Horrible Histories Show’. It started with a magnificent accomplishment
of male brute force as the sat nav instruction was ignored and we had to go
off-roading to get around the closed road just outside Long Stratton, impressing
our 9year old passengers. Once arrived at the party, we absconded for
refreshments when one of my hardly worn pink wedged sandals fell apart so
purchased a tube of super glue and fixed in the tea room. As we walked back the other sandal
fell apart this time in two places. We then dashed to Norwich with a worn out
boy as he had over-partied in the soft play, to the park and ride bus, melting
in the warm day. Watched an absolutely magnificent horrible histories show at
the theatre, highly recommend. The day ended with a bonus when getting home to
find instructions almost completely followed in the washing and drying of two
loads of bathroom towels by number one son, astounding!
Dylan has recently joined Cub Scouts in Gt Ellingham, walking in the steps of Grandad Kevin being the pioneer of Great Ellingham scouting. So for me I found surreal walking across the field to the scout hut and seeing Ellingham emblem took me back to all those years ago when scouting was a major part of our home lives. Dylan is thoroughly enjoying the experience, getting invested at a weekend camp on a canoe, quite remarkable. Then in September the scout group celebrated its 40th year (marking the start of dad starting the Scout Group) and we attended the family camp together where the older young people were very interested to hear from dad what were the beginnings of the troop. Good to hear the interest and attention dad bestowed.
What a thrill to be in the audience of ‘Take That’ in
Norwich, as Jerry and I enjoyed the spectacular show celebrating their 30th
anniversary at the Football Ground. Rick Astley opened the concert and Lulu
presented a ‘blasting’ interlude, all supporting an absolutely tremendous and
awesome performance of great showmanship, so pleased we were able to share the
experience.
I then took myself to
another concert with Dylan, nothing like Take That to see ‘Dan TDM’, a you-tube
gamer!! The show was an interesting format very much suiting the pre-pubescent
audience who were aligned with one of three teams to belong to. The show had
a story line to knit the competitive elements of cheering on the teams to finish
watching the most supreme gamer play to save the world, being Dan TDM himself! Corny
but thrilling to watch such excited young people marvel at their idle and the
skills he displayed. A long day when lots of available ‘merch’ (merchandise) was
brought but worth it for the ‘mummy points’ I’m hoping I may have gained.
Then in July we supported Paul (my sister Katherine, her husband)
in his stupendous venture to raise money for Kidney Care UK in memory of his
dad Peter (aka:Rocky) who accessed the support of this charity almost all of Paul’s
lifetime. Paul organised and delivered a one day music and car festival raising
in total £4.5K with an attendance of over 2K+, see the video and local newspaper
clip describing Paul’s most impressive effort.
And so school came to an end with all activities including
sports day, school fete, PJ day, Roman projects, band performances etc.
Make your own Roman shield, magnificence effort
Home grown tomatoes, Dylan guided by Grandad Kevin
Sharing relaxation time with Roger & Rachael
Home is always set for battle!
Ending with baby Ada, daughter of Callum & Hannah (Sara eldest son), an absolute delight.
Then we prepared ourselves for our astounding and hugely amazing trip to Australia to meet up with much loved family members, a trip we waited for with bated anticipation which I will share on my next posting :)
If you have enjoyed my words and pictures, even watched the video’s then please do let me know by replying to my email message or leave a comment on the blog if you can.
These last couple of months have been
filled with anticipated pleasures, which actually means Jerry undertook disbursing our finances. It seems to me after many many years Jerry is hearing what I am musing
over; fearfully he is virtually inside my head and just to add from the outset,
I’m not complaining its taking a bit of getting use to; an upbeat hubby:)
Perhaps to put into context and qualify a little. For
quite a number of years we, and particularly Jerry, have been under an extreme
stress of worry when we had our pension SIPPS blatantly stolen from us by
companies the government recommended people should consider investing in, and
Jerry managed this for us both. In time it became evident these companies were
not legitimate and stolen all of our investment, so we started a process with
the Financial Ombudsman which has taken years to come to a conclusion. The
upshot being the Financial Ombudsman ruled in our favor pursuing conversations
with the scamming companies which enabled them to wind-up their businesses into
liquidation, the upshot being we had absolutely no access to our investments.
The next advice was the Financial Ombudsman would pass our file onto the
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) who would be in touch. Time
passed Jerry became ill, I believe triggered by the enormous stress he was
under through worry, and FSCS did not contact us. Once in our new home we
picked up what had happened to the process with FSCS who confirmed they had not
had any information from Financial Ombudsman we had to make a formal claim
ourselves in order for FSCS to then do their own investigations. So last summer
when Jerry went through his course of radiotherapy I then applied to FSCS,
fortunately not as difficult as thought. Nine months or so later we hear we
have been awarded very reasonable compensation for our losses, hence the ‘load
has been lightened’ off particularly Jerry’s shoulders enabling him to live a brighter
life at this moment in time, which has a positive impact on us all as we enjoy
a brighter more joyful hubby/dad!
So I was bowled over with a new car, having made a
passing comment how I would enjoy a sporty convertible as nobody ever was in my
car with me. Jerry had been quietly researching for some time before it was
suggested I might like to have a quick trip into Norwich and look at car or
two. What he actually meant was, ‘… I’ve looked at this car, it’s the best for
you around, I need to check Nic you can cope with a slightly bigger car and its
automatic (I’ve never driven an automatic)…’ There I stood outside the Audi
show room being shown a beautiful Quattro TT Roadster which means a 2-seater
convertible, with my menfolk drawling beside me. It has taken a bit of getting
use to and initially I found the worry of driving it overwhelming so suggested
for the first week Jerry had it to take Dylan to school, which thrilled Dylan
as he swanked into school blowing away any passing views of our seemingly poverty
means having had to live in a caravan, that Dylan had had to put up with from
time to time! Dylan revealed in the opportunity. This time gave me a bit of
head space to talk myself into to ‘get my act together girl’ and drive the
following week the 146 mile round trip across country on the A14 through the
road improvements. That first trip was exhausting as I felt the strain of my
nerves in my muscles constantly thinking I must keep both hands on the steering
wheel, needed a few cuppas once I got to work to then worry about ‘…OMG I’ve
got to get home now!... From that point on me and my ‘SUZI Roadster’ have
become one.
Absolutely love the drive now so much so, my next job is in
Tower Hamlets East London at the very end of the M11, I drive this every day
being a total trip drive of 186 miles. This role came about through my own
network of past contacts working in the same health economies, a bit of ‘who
you know’ and being instantly available the role fell into my lap. So with the
light mornings and light evenings and a handsome car, parked in a loosely
secure parking area with a shortish tube ride into work, I’m driving and
delight in my own bed every night. A blissful contract opportunity.
The next major purchase Jerry pursued was our hot tub
which we had been musing over for some time. It sort of all fell together with
it being Dylan’s birthday and wanting to get him his own den in the garden. So
the conversation went, a den needs a concrete pad well we might as well extend
for the full length of the garden to be ready for the hot tub, OH I say!, as I’m
presented with a brochure and wiped into the hot tub shop where the discussion
is about colour as previous conversations have already selected the hot tub which
suits us. Blimey, whistle-stop tour of hot tubs! The concrete pad was
constructed, garden re-engineered and then quicker than expected hot tub
delivered and positioned, just after Easter. Wow what a lot of fun we have had
as a family, it’s the seating altogether in the same space outside in the tub,
familiar to that caravan feeling again! Its undoubtedly improved my end of the
day feeling after that long work drive, I slip into the tub for a relaxing
unwind benefiting from quality sleep even if it has been shortened a bit.
We have enjoyed a bevy of birthdays around our late
Easter spring, starting with Dylan as he turned into a 9 year old boy and
relished his ‘Dylan’s Den’, a space consumed with Lego, Playmobil and all stuff
that’s for boys with no requirement to tidy up unless he choices too. Heaven, I
can see the lounge carpet again and walk across the carpet pain free as the
danger of boys little bits and pieces are removed!
I’m hoping sharing the video of Dylan’s day will allow
you to embrace his celebrations with us, enjoy.
Following Dylan’s birthday in the Easter holidays we took
ourselves off to Winterton-on-Sea for a few days in the most dinky divergent holiday
homes we have ever stayed in, definitely going back to this splendid bit of
Norfolk coast and holiday resort. The video says it all.
Mother’s Day became a weekend of saluting ‘motherhood’ as
we took our own respective glorious mum's out for the afternoon for tea,
relished locally with the most stunning bouquets to offer. Then the next day I
had my own special occasion at BewilderMUM, frolicking through the mystical
surroundings of the Twiggles and Boggles, capturing a moment of play as Dylan
grows out of Bewilderwood theme park.
Easter was a blaze of extraordinary warm weather and I
made a request to my menfolk we had a day together celebrating being together,
left to Jerry to choose what we did, so we end up going for a meal – no
surprises there food is not far from most of his thinking! So walked down to
our local and had a charming, relaxing afternoon with very tasty food suiting
all our palates on Good Friday. Then Easter Sunday was a charming bigger family
muster at Stone Barn kindly hosted by Vanessa and Stevenfor an all family favorite Egg Hunt, running
around their sizable garden looking for ‘warm’ eggs. We always enjoy as all
the small people and babies with bigger kids and parents come together and
catch up.
Good Friday: Milo and Dylan
Egg Hunt: Megan Ben & Katherine
Egg Hunt: Emily Callum Hannah and baby Ada
Egg Hunt: Lily Vanessa & Sara
Egg Hunt: Jake & Jerry
Egg Hunt: Nicola & toddling Maxwell
Egg Hunt: Megan Sandra Kevin & Lauren
Egg Hunt: Steven & Callum
Egg Hunt: Megan Lauren snoozing-Sandra Kevin & Nick
Egg Hunt: Llewella
Egg Hunt: Grandma Sara, Dylan with Ada, Finley & India behind
Egg Hunt: Esmae & Lucia
Then we caught up for Rogers birthday too, celebrating
his double number years, which always bit of a stark reality moment as it makes
me realize my own age as I am only six months behind Rog, a moment of ‘oops I
am older than I thought’! It certainly was a birthday of cake and more cake
quite overwhelming on the sugar scale.
Finally a trip out with my dear old Mum to Dover, which
we have done a few times now. To one of the most peaceful and scenically quite
inspiring places to visit the grave of Ivy May, her own mother who died when
she and her sister were young children. The only sounds are the birds all
around in the woods on the edge of the cemetery, quite an untroubled place. And
then we find a cup of tea travel down Dover High Street and come home. Very
special to do with my Mum.
