Beautiful baby news

So excited this week to have news that two of my friends have had beautiful baby boys added to their families.

Polly and Mark have become parents to little Ben who was born on Boxing Day and who looks just adorable.

George and Joe had baby Harrison Joseph born 14 January 2014 weighing 10 lbs 2 oz (big boy).

Really delighted for my friends and so excited for them both.

Ooh lovely babies!!  Can't wait to meet the little fellows.

George and Joe's Wedding

I have had such a busy week I haven't yet had chance to blog about last weekend and my best friend's wedding.

David and I drove down to Cornwall on Friday morning.  It took us six and a half hours to get down there but when we arrived we checked into our room, at the Royal Duchy, which had a lovely view of the sea.

We then went to find George in the spa area and enjoyed a drink with her and her sister Sam.

 

 

Later that evening we went out for pizza and pasta with George and her family.

I wasn't feeling too great so decided to get an early night in readiness for the wedding the next day.

Had a good nights sleep and we enjoyed a delicious breakfast. 

Spent the morning helping George and chatting as she had her hair done.

Then David and I got changed into our wedding outfits.

 

George had all three of her daughters as bridesmaids and her niece Abbie.

Mary and Abbie looked beautiful in their twenties style dresses and headbands

The service was held in the same church that Holly was Christened in last year. 

It was a lovely service and George looked absolutely stunning in her dress.

The wedding breakfast was absolutely delicious and we enjoyed sitting on a table and chatting with George's family.

The evening was great fun with two great bands and lots of dancing.

All good nights come to an end far too quickly don't they?

The following day we had another yummy breakfast and then I had to bid farewell to my beautiful friend and her new hubby so we could drive the seven hours home again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Black Cloud Lifted

Have been feeling like I am under a black cloud the past few days.  I think it is a combination of tiredness (Nat has had a nasty cough and has not been sleeping well the past week) and also the situation at work.  We had all expected to be called into consultation about our jobs last week as the outcome of the review into our business area (which started last July!) was apparently agreed at a board meeting on 4 February.  However, by the end of the week we had not heard anything so I contacted the project review manager and asked if they could please give us all an update.  I picked up an email late Friday evening announcing that there has been a delay and they won't be in a position to update us until the beginning of March.

It is really hard to stay motivated at work and not to feel anxious about what the future holds.  I think I am in a better situation than most as because of my faith I can put my trust in God and know that he has a plan for my life, that God only wants good things for me and that he will see that plan fulfilled.  I guess I am just nervous about whether or not I am going to like the plan or whether I am going to be taken completely out of my comfort zone.

Anyway was feeling very fed up Monday and Tuesday and just couldn't shake this miserable feeling.  Think I really just needed another ten hours sleep.

However, yesterday I received a text from my lovely neighbour Nia asking if I wanted to pop over that evening for food, drink and games with her NCT friends Sadie, Helen and Amy that I met at her Halloween party.

I was horrendously tired but felt like a fun evening out was just what i needed and I was right.  It was really good fun.  We chatted, ate food and nibbles, drank copious glasses of wine and played taboo which was very amusing.

Had a great evening although didn't leave until gone midnight. 

Didn't do much for my lack of sleep and tiredness but had a really good evening and today feels like a much brighter day!!

Might also have something to do with the fact I am now on leave for the rest of this week and for half term next week and so I don't have to go back into work until 25 February.

Three meals out

 

It has been a busy weekend.  On Friday I met up with the mum's from the parenting course I recently did.  It was nice to see those that could make it and to catch up on all their news.  We met in the cafe at the Emmaeus Community centre in Portslade. I had to take Nat with me and he was fairly well behaved.  I left him at the table while I went to order our lunch, when I came back the girls told me he had been telling them all about Father Christmas giving him a chocolate.

The other night the local Rotary club came down our street with their float and huge inflatable santa.  They play Christmas music and ring all the door bells to collect money.  When they saw Nathaniel they called Father Christmas over with a bucket of chocolates and let Nat choose one.  He was so taken with the experience that he has been telling everyone he sees all about it.

Anyway the lunch was delicious.  I had some hot fruit punch to drink and some lovely spicy butternut squash and sweet potato soup.  Nat had a tuna sandwich and then we shared a slice of lemon cake.

After saying good bye to the girls Nat and I popped into the Emmaeus community shop and I managed to pick up a couple of bargain items for Christmas presents.

Yesterday afternoon Seb and I popped into town to go Christmas shopping and David took Nat shopping with him.  I did quite well and only have two more people to buy for.  I am not sure whether everyone will like what I have bought them as we are on a bit of a budget this year but I am just relieved to have found something for everyone.

Decorations in our downstairs toilet  - tasteful . . . NOT!
And I am still waiting for someone to come and
 replace the broken window.

Last night we were invited over to dinner with David's friends Olive and Keith.  We had a really lovely evening.  They were about nine of us and it was nice to meet all their other friends.  The house looked all cosy and Christmassy with an open fire burning and lots of candles and lovely holly wreaths.  Olive had cooked the most delicious curry dishes - all fairly mild which suits me just fine.  There was a very tasty rice dish, a lovely chicken curry.  My favourite lentil dahl and another lentil and spinach dahl and a prawn curry too.  Then all the usual trimmings - naan bread, pappadums, chutney etc. For desert there was a nut strudel, fruit salad or strawberries.  We were enjoying ourselves so much we completely lost track of time!

Today we went to Church.  David was serving on the welcome team so we arrived early and the boys and I enjoyed watching the band rehearse.  The hall looked really lovely with low lights and Christmas fairy lights hanging from the ceiling.  I sat with my friends Chitrani and Gill which was nice as I haven't seen either of them for a couple of weeks.

This evening we went over to my parents house for dinner with them their students Diana, Carlos and Ehab. 

All in all a very relaxing and pleasant weekend but my good intentions of being restrained and trying to lose some weight before Christmas have been completely abandoned.  Talking of which I feel a bit peckish . . . . anyone for a mince pie?

Tea with a friend

A very pleasant and enjoyable Sunday today.

David and I had a lie in this morning waking only just in time to get to Church!

We had a lovely family lunch and then this afternoon my old school friend Alison (Ali) popped over for tea and cake.

We had a lovely chat catching up on the last few months since her wedding and honeymoon (and looking at all her lovely wedding and honeymoon photos).  It was a really really pleasant afternoon and we promised to make more of an effort to see each other more regularly in the New Year.

Made a start on writing some Christmas cards this evening.  I had to rewrite my Christmas card list as I simply can't find my old one.  Had to stop to tackle the huge pile of ironing that seems to magically replenish itself no sooner than I have hung the freshly ironed clothes in the wardrobe.

The 'Nice' list!

I do like weekends.  Such a shame it is Monday tomorrow - not my favourite day of the week as it is my longest day at work but I have my sewing class to look forward to tomorrow evening -we are taking up our hems tomorrow!!

Have a great week!

Halloween & Bonfire Celebrations

 

Saturday morning was an early start up at 4.30am to be driven to Newquay airport for our flight home.

It was quite a stressful flight as although we took off slightly early we ended up circling for ages when we got back to Gatwick.  Nat was getting very upset and difficult and kept trying to take off his seatbelt.  Finally, as we started our descent, he fell fast asleep.

Anyway we eventually met up with David and soon made our way home.

It is lovely to be back home and with my husband again - although, we had a really really nice break away!

Saturday afternoon we went to a fancy dress Halloween / Bonfire Night party at our neighbours Nia and Kyle's house.



 

Kyle

Nia

We weren't too keen to go in Halloween costumes but found a happy compromise by going as a vicar and a nun!




Father David

Me as Sister Mary Bernadette

 

The party was great fun and it was great to meet Nia and Kyle's lovely friends.

 

Kyle had built a bonfire in the garden and we had a few fireworks.

Nia had cooked some delicious pumpkin soup, Chilli con Carne and Wild Rice and some really tasty toffee apple cookies and ghost meringues.



Nat as a pumpkin

Seb as a scary monster

 

After the party we went along to a local Firework display which was a half hour display of fireworks set to music - really really good and a fantastic display.

A November Mawnan Morning

Today, after cooking breakfast for Seb, George and myself,  I returned the hire car and was very relieved to get it back to the car rental place without any bumps or scratches.  They gave me a lift back to the cottage and it was a lovely drive back looking at the beautiful countryside in the crisp autumn sunshine.

However, back at the Cottage while we bundled oursleves up in coats, scarves and wellies it soon started to rain.  We decided to brave it anyway and walked into Mawnan village to buy milk from the grocery store.

Then we stopped at the Cornish Maid where I had a cup of Earl Grey Tea and a slice of Bakewell Tart, George went for the Chocolate Brownie.

We popped into the charity shop and bought a Bob the Builder DVD for Nat and a lovely little heart decoratation for me.

Nat took this photo!

Next Seb and I went to look at the local Blacksmith at work.

Finally we walked back via the park and we enjoyed playing on the roundabout and the swings.

Back at the cottage we had Tomato soup for lunch and then relaxed and played with the children for a while.

Nat and baby Holly

 

 

Finally we headed out again around the corner to Carwinion Gardens where George persuaded the owner to serve us with little pots of cornish icecream.

 

We headed back to the cottage eating our ice-cream and then hung out for the rest of the afternoon and I prepared dinner for this evening.

We had a nice meal with George and Joe and I called David to say hi and to check how he is getting on without us.

Not long now only one more day and we will soon be home again!

Cornwall at Half Term.

Yesterday morning David dropped the boys and I at Gatwick airport so we could catch our flight to Newquay Cornwall.

The airport was really busy, even though it was early, with lots of holiday makers getting away for half term.  We checked in our bags and the pushchair and by the time we were through security we saw our gate was about to close in ten minutes. 

of course when you fly with the cheapest airlines you always have furthest to walk to get to the right gate.  We made it with just minutes to spare.  So glad we didn't leave home any later!

We soon boarded the plane although Nathaniel was quite disgruntled.  He took one look at the tiny plane we were due to board and then looked at a bigger jumbo to our right and declared that his plane was the bigger one.  I half feared he might run accross the tarmac and refuse to get on the plane we were destined for but he unwillingly climbed the steps.

The flight was less than half full but unfortunately for our fellow passengers all the seats immediately in front, behind and to the front right and front rear were filled.  I think people felt too polite to ask to be moved away from the only young child on the flight!

We sat in our seats, the pilot announced we were likely to be taking off slightly earlier than scheduled.  Nat was getting impatient so I told him, don't worry we'll be going faster soon.
We taxied out to the runway and then  . .  . we sat there not moving for 25 painful minutes where the only sound was Nathaniel repeatedly saying "go faster now mummy?  Go faster NOW mummy!  Mummy go faster now?" 

Anyway eventually we were in the air.  Can't say I enjoyed the flight as it was a little un-nerving after having been on much bigger planes before. I said a few silent prayers as we were taking off.

Nathaniel was hard to entertain although it was only a short 50 minute flight.  i think he was already feeling quite tired.  He didn't want to read any of the books I had brought to entertain him.  He did enjoy colouring a picture for baby Holly for a while and then the rest of the flight I had to sing nursery ryhmes with actions including Humpty Dumpty which he insisted I repeated about twenty times while he squealed with laughter.

I think the other passengers might have been quite relieved to disembark.

George, Joe, Chloe, and Mary were all waiting to greet us at Newquay airport which is a fantastic small airport with only one luggage belt so no long trek back to arrivals.

It was so great to see George again.

We had a sandwich and a drink in the airport and then headed off in a brand new seven seater Landrover which Joe had borrowed to test drive for the weekend.

We headed over to the Cyder farm so that Nat could look at the animals and we all enjoyed a tractor ride around the Cider Orchards.

After that we headed back to George's and she showed us around the cottage we are staying in.  At the bottom of their garden is a beautiful little cottage which George helps manage rentals for.  She is allowed to use it for personal use three weeks a year and has let me and my family use it over October half term which is so kind and lovely.

After the quick tour we headed back to George's for coffee and cake and Baby Holly came home.  Nat enjoyed playing ball with Holly.

Later in the evening we went down to the FerryBoat Inn for some delicious pork and applesauce or Chicken and Stuffing Baps and a drink. The Baps were lovely and there were two fantastic singers with their guitars singing all the music that I really love.

Me and my beautiful God-daughter Chloe

Seb and his cute Russian looking Chloe!

After that we headed back to the cottage where I put Nat to bed and we all watched the end of Mr Poppers Penguins.

We were all quite shattered so we all had quite an early night.

Holly's Christening

We ended our visit to Cornwall on Sunday with an early start to pack and load our car before getting ready for Baby Holly's Christening.  The church service was lovely but quite long for Nathaniel who was very well behaved albeit a little fidgety.  George and Joe both looked stunning in their outfits but Baby Holly stole the show in her pretty little dress, she looked adorable.  Holly's sister Mary also looked very pretty in her outfit.  Chloe went for a fashionable chic look in a blazer and short skirt.

It was nice to meet some of Joe's friends and family as well as to see George's mum Sally again.

After the service we had a short drive to the Royal Duchy Hotel where the reception was being held.  It is a lovely hotel on the seafront with fantastic views of the sea and coastline. We were greeted with glasses of sparkling Rose wine.  The Children had a separate games room with a pool table, games and a Nintendo Wii.

The adults sat or stood chatting in the lounge bar where the cake, gifts and cards were displayed.

The food was served on tiered plate stands with smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, the most delicious fruit scones with Jam and clotted cream and several different types of cake including, chocolate, fruit, ginger and carrot cake.  Nat enjoyed helping himself to several slices before we realised what he was doing!

We had a lovely time soaking up the atmosphere and chatting to George and Joes friends and family.  I also made some last minute arrangements for one of George's closest friends (also from Brighton) to mind Nathaniel on Tuesday as I had been left with no child care and she has recently qualified as a child-minder.

Unfortunately we had to leave the reception before the end as we needed to make a start on the journey back to Brighton.  We said our goodbyes and surreptiously changed out of our Christening outfits into jeans and something more comfortable in the middle of the car park!

The drive home was rather long and painful.  It was raining most of the way and Nat had a short sleep but woke up screaming and inconsolable.  I had to lean into the back and hold his hand to console him which was not particularly comfortable.  Although we seemed to have a much clearer run for most of the journey we managed to get stuck in traffic just outside Salisbury and sat for about an hour without moving.  We finally managed to take a diversion and followed an alternative route.  We stopped for about half an hour for a drink.  I then swopped seats with Seb and jumped into the back of the car to try and entertain Nathaniel for the last leg of the journey.  We finally got home about 9.30pm and after unpacking the car we ate some dinner and bundled the boys off to bed.

It was a fantastic week away but we are still trying to catch up on our sleep and get ourselves sorted out again.