Auntie Knows Best

The week started with two bank holidays – Monday was for the King’s Coronation and we had a nice day doing stuff in the garden and getting bits and pieces done. Tuesday was Liberation Day and we headed down to Cobo for a swim in the murky weather, the kids stayed in for ages and then in the afternoon we went to the local parish celebrations and watch the cavalcade before heading off the L’Eree where they had a few more things going on. We had a lovely chilled out afternoon.

On Thursday I wasn’t very well with a nasty cold so stayed at home and took as many cold and flu remedies as I could find because on Friday I was singing at a concert. I just about made it but had very little voice left by the end of it!

Our friend Tom arrived on Saturday as he and The Mister, along with my sister, were running GU36, the Guernsey Ultra which is a 36 mile race; the first 16 miles are on the cliff so it is a bit brutal. It is a nice event to be around, the atmosphere is lovely and it is very supportive.

The Sister did well, coming in first woman in a time of 5 hours and 55 minutes. The Mister finished, in one piece in a time of 6 hours 58 minutes which was faster than his last time. Unfortunately Tom had to pull out at 26 miles due to problems with his calf. They all did so well though.

On Monday the kids and The Mister took part in the World Aid Walk which is a 20lm walk raising money for several charities. It was a glorious day, sunny but with a brisk wind and the whole event went really well. I was busy selling t-shirts and helping out whilst they all worked and I cruised about on my bike. Fun.

It was quite a busy week at work but everything was gearing up for the big celebrations at the weekend for the Coronation of King Charles III.

On Saturday morning we all went to my friend Emma’s house to watch the big event and we had lunch together. I even made a caake with a Crown on it.

We had a great time and I thoroughly enjoyed all the pomp and ceremony of the event, but I especially enjoyed the choral music. Just lovely!

This week has mostly been characterised by washing and absolutely loads of it!!! It has been back to work and back to hard work and the holiday is a distant memory!!

The weather was absolutely beautiful on Saturday and Dad came for lunch. He and Eric had some quality time together as usual.

On Sunday morning I sang at a local church with choir. It was quite fun to do a more formal church service for a change.

On Sunday afternoon we had to go to the AGM for The Little Miss’ Scout group and that was fun and the kids had a go on the zip line and the high rope. They did well, especially The Little Mister who is quite scared of heights. I am always proud of them when they give it a go.

On Tuesday we took a trip into Manchester to go to the rather fabulous Manchester Museum which has had a recent massive makeover. The Mister was especially pleased to see the giant spider crab is still on display. We booked tickets to go and see the Golden Mummies Exhibition which was fab. I was very taken with the portraits of normal Egyptian (although probably pretty rich!) people. One Tuesday evening The Mister’s brother and his girlfriend headed off the the airport as they had an early flight the next time. It has been fab to see then both and spend some time together.

On Wednesday we went to pick up the inlaws and we headed to Chester for a few days. Despite the drizzly weather we braved a guided tour with a Roman Centurion who was called Cassius. It was great fun and the kids enjoyed it. We also popped into Chester Cathedral which was lovely.

On Thursday we took a trip to Chester Zoo. We had a fabulous day out but the site is vast. We managed to persuade the mother-in-law to let us borrow a manual wheelchair but on reflection they both could have done with hiring a mobility scooter to make the day out a bit more manageable. A great day out but very expensive.

On Friday we went to see a tourist attraction called Sick to Death which was about terrible illnesses and the development of medicines. The Little Miss was so traumatised she didn’t even make it down the first corridor before she had to leave. It was a tricky day as the inlaws were knackered and everyone was a bit grumpy.

On Saturday we left Chester, dropped the inlaws at home and headed down the mototway to Poole to get the boat the next day. We were home by about 3pm on Sunday to lots of unpacking and washing.

A really good but tiring holiday.

Well this week didn’t quite start as planned. The Mister and I had been watching the weather reports closely because force 8 winds were predicated for the day we were due to sail overnight. At lunchtime on Tuesday our boat for the next day was cancelled so I spent a while on hold to Condor and then before I knew it we were booked on the 5.30pm sailing that night. My poor boss watched me pack up my desk and leave before me even clearing it with him! It was that or wait until Friday night! I packed within 2 hours and my sister had to take the cats to the cattery and my friend came to clear out and clean my fridge for me!

So, On Tuesday evening we ended up on the boat trying to book a Premier Inn on the south coast for that night but pretty much everything was booked due to it being the Easter Holidays so we ended up in one in Eastleigh which was fine for the night. So, we had a couple of extra days which was surprising and on

ON Wednesday we went to RAF Cosford whih was really good but too many planes for me but The Mister enjoyed it. We then headed up to Stoke and stayed in another Premier Inn.

On Thursday we had a brilliant morning visiting Gladstone Pottery Museum which is where they film the pottery programme on Channel 4. It was so interesting and a fascinating look at bottle kilns and the pottery industry.

In the afternoon we headed up to Hyde to see The Mister’s parents and his brother and his girlfriend who are over from America. We are staying in the nearest Premier Inn which was OK – we have done a bit of a tour of them this week!

On Friday we went into Stockport to visit The Hat Works Museum. It was fascinating, especially as both of The Mister’s grandmothers worked in the hat industry. The whole place is being refurbished so they are running pre-booked private tours. It was really good. We then visited the Air Raid Shelters which I found very interesting as there were about 3000 Guernsey children evacuate to the area.

The rest of the week has been spent with seeing a lot of the family and we had some of the extended family visiting on Sunday. I am pleased for The Mister that he has had the chance to catch up with them. We have especially enjoyed seeing his brother and his girlfriend – she and The Little Miss have bonded over colouring!

It has been a very busy and stressful week at work. Despite it being a 4 day working week it really felt much longer!

However, there were a couple of high points. On Monday my friend Hannah came to Guernsey on a day trip. We were very good friends when we were at school but I haven’t seen her for at least 20 years. We had time for a quick cuppa and a catch up and it was so very lovely to see her.

We had a busy week at school with cake sale, house matches and mufti. I also made it to another round number on Basil the Bike.

Easter weekend was lovely and Good Friday was sunny but breezy. The Mister managed to cut the lawn – a huge challenge as the grass was so long and I cleared up the pots and planted to potatoes. Eric supervised from his reclining position on the bench.

On Saturday evening The Mister and I went to see GADOC perform 9 to 5. It was brilliant and I loved the costumes- very early eighties with power shoulder pads, peplums and pleated skirts. They made me think of my Mum!

Easter Sunday at church was just lovely and I was particularly moved with the practice of flowering the cross. It was very moving.

Hallelujah! He is risen.

On Saturday The Little Mister took part in touch Ruby competition which was really good although they lost every match (I think!)

Every week is busy but this week we had a few additional extra activities.

In the afternoon The Little Miss went to the Guernsey Music Centre to try out a load of instruments and see which one she fancies learning. She was determined to like the flute the best but came away with the clarinet as her favourite….. I am obviously delighted as this is the instrument I learnt to play. Fingers crossed she gets it!

We also had numerous swimming awards and on Sunday The Mister ran the Guernsey marathon. I think he found it rather a tough run today but he managed to finish in under 4 hours.

Roll on the end of this week and the start of the Easter Holidays. I am knackered!!!

This week The Little Mister had hos Grade 2 violin exam – he has been practicing hard for weeks. I think he was a little bit wobbly so we will see if he has passed. We promised him that if he worked hard he could have a treat and he requested a meal out at China Red so we took him and his sister and our lovely friend Kayleigh out. It was a delicious meal.

Eliza went to Cubs this week and they had an Eygptian night so they all dressed up – her friend James went as a Sphinx which really made me laugh.

We also had parents evenings and both kids are doing really well. The Little Miss’ teacher waxed lyrical about hos marvellous she was and how helpful, compliant etc she was at school. Of course when we got in the car she refused to get out of the front seat and was shouting her head off. Oh! The irony!

I also went to the Eisteddfod exhibition and took a pic of my friend Elise’s gorgeous embroidery, I went to two partied on Saturday night and The Mister took a photo of my which my sister described as ‘making me look a member of the case of Willow’.

On Saturday morning I went to weights and worked hard and The Little Miss and I have matching shoes. A good week.

This has been a busy week but one full of good things.

The Little Miss took part in the Eisteddfod and she recited a poem – she did brilliantly and had lovely, kind comments from the adjudicator

The weather was good enough to have lunch in the garden at the weekend and we had a handsome, but stupid, male pheasant visiting the garden.

On Saturday I managed a fab cycle, swim at Horseshoe Pool with my friend Emma and then a trip to church for a green event which was lovely. So many people to catch up with.

The weekend ended with Mothering Sunday. Always a day of mixed emotions but one in which my sister and I talked a little about Mum whilst going out for dinner and visiting her grave with the children.

We have so many blessings and so much to be grateful for.

The week started with a nasty tummy bug for me and a day in bed accompanied by remaining two fur-balls. The Mister and I also had to go and collect our lovely Betty cat and bury her. There was some comedy moments when we got her back home and realised that she was absolutely frozen solid so that hole had been extended a little before burial could be completed. It shouldn’t have been so funny but it was a little bit Monty-Pythonesque.

The week has consisted of jigsaw puzzles, sewing on Cubs badges, music centre and a Cubs football tournament. We had Grade 2 music practice every morning and some tantrums over this but mostly it was a standard week.

I also went to a ladies weights class, and bought new leggings which made me happy and it was International Woman’s Day and I wore a tiara in the office.

I ended the week by having a run in with our granite fence post. The wall won.