Auntie Knows Best

Today I had a work trip with my colleague Karen and we went over to Alderney to deliver some training on drug and alcohol and ACES.

The flight itself was quite entertaining – I reckon the plane took about 12 people and the pilot sat on the arm of the front seat and said “so, it it might be a little bumping on landing but hang on and it should be just fine.”.

It was a lovely day to go and visit, clear and bright but really chilly. The island is close to France and you can see it in the distance. It’s a funny little place; bleak and windy and there is very little there. During WW2 the all locals were evacuated and two work camps and two concentration camps were built by the Germans. I can hardly imagine just how grim it must have been out there in the middle of winter.

It is home to about 2000 people and one the main sources of entertainment seems to be drinking alcohol. We went to the pub for lunch and the vast majority of those in there were drinking pints.

It was a lovely day out. I would quite like to visit for a weekend but would not live there for love nor money!

I know I have already posted a pic of this book but I have now finished it.

It really is one of the best autobiography that I have ever read. I rather loved Michelle and Barack Obama before I read this but now I really admire them, their values and all they have set out to achieve. I loved to see how she wrote about her husband and how much she obviously loves him.

As much as this book gave me hope it also made me realise what a giant asshole the current POTUS is. How on earth could the American voters get is so wrong… then I look at the UK and their massive Brexit balls up and I realise Americans aren’t the only idiots out there.

This pic was shamelessly nicked from my husband.

I went out to an exercise class and The Little Miss decided that Daddy didn’t really need to do work alone, so she kept him company by running a make-up session for her dolly. This was the hit toy from Christmas although I find it hilarious to see how much she loves doing make-up as I don’t wear a lot.

This was actually taken on Saturday but today has been a manic day of running about at work, sorting out the kids and the choir.

The Little Mister started at Beavers tonight and he absolutely loved it. I was worried that he might be a bit nervous but he was happy enough once he saw a couple of people he knew.

He is a busy boy and can be horribly annoying and disruptive when he is under-stimulated. He is also getting really good at football and loves his new kit which Grandpa bought for his birthday.

Today I was tired, tearful and slightly hungover.

I struggled all day and The Little Mister has been incredibly difficult. He has been rude and oppositional and just hard to manage and I have struggled because I am not at top of my game.

I cried in church, cried in the car and cried at home.

My friend Emma asked me and the kids out for a walk around the headland. It was just what I needed; blustery and blowy and a bit of a reflection of my mood but I felt much better when I returned.

I am very grateful for friends who hold me up when I am feeling down and who will walk alongside me when I am struggling.

Tonight I went out with some girls with choir to a big do in aid of the Guernsey Music Centre who are celebrating their 40th anniversary.

Growing up I was incredibly fortunate to have benefited from significant amounts of music tuition and the opportunity to sing in choirs and play my clarinet in orchestras and wind bands.

The evening featured several different jazz bands, including the training band and it was brilliant. It made me realise how many amazing musicians we have on this little island and we are fortunate to have a system which trains and nurtures them.

I also felt pretty fabulous in this borrowed dress.

The Little Miss has taken to wearing her reindeer in the house, especially just as she is going to bed.

As demanding as she can be, she can also be incredibly fully and loving. We are very blessed to have her in our lives.

I am discovering the benefits of meeting clients outside of the office, especially getting then out and and about in the fresh air.

I have found that my clients are much happier to talk when we don’t have to look at each other in a formal office, so a cuppa by the beach or even a quick walk is pretty productive. Today one of my clients suggested I was going to ‘kill her’ as it was ‘too bloody cold’ but even she was smiling when we had a quick walk on the beach.

The tidying continues! This evening I am sorting the drawers in the bathroom. Plenty to throw out here and my obsession with using little boxes to tidy up drawers continues.

Nothing nicer than having the fire lit and chilling out in front of the TV. Bliss.