Divergent times! Spring 2019

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 40^th 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 30^th 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.

https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/thousands-attend-rocky-s-road-event-in-aylsham-1-6162842?utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3uza5J8kD5wONxLSeYjfbbdERlF4TAIxWmx5tW3Bx-AIObG1GRolPRovE

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 :)

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