After a long week I am back at home again. Its not been foreign travel this time, but another series of hotels and motorways. After a fabulous family weekend, going back to work is always a trial, and never more so than when I am travelling.
It is a constant source of joy and delight to share with the family, but sometimes the sharing can be not so fabulous - and this weekend was one of those ... the stomach bug they had all had during the week, hit me at the weekend. Driving the boys back home, the bug landed and by the time I was at my daughter's, I was not fit for much at all! I staggered home and then got myself ready for the next day's business engagement, and on Tuesday morning at the crack of dawn, I was off to my client.
The after effects of the bug lasted all week, and with hotel food and visits to friends my poor tum did not have much chance to recover.
But with all of that, I managed to survive the week, and only one thing slipped through the net - my youngest daughter was waiting for me to text her to keep in touch, and I was waiting for her!
In these days of modern communication we should be easily able to do this, and yet somehow, we don't always make it happen. Its so important to keep in touch with the family - keep the lines of communication open, no matter what. Its why I like Facebook - not just because I can use for my own social network, but because it enables me to leave the door open for my step-son, with whom I have an uneasy relationship at best. We had a fine time when he was younger, but my husband's divorce from his first wife was not amicable, and as such, there was a steady and constant feed of 'bad news' about us from his mother. It was difficult to overcome, and eventually, for various reasons, including the majority of the discipline coming from us, the rift became unmanageable. In his teens, the decision could be made voluntarily, and we began to see less of him as a family. But through social media networks, we can keep in touch in 'safe' environment.
And this weekend, I shall make up for the missing texts to my youngest, and visit her. And I look forward to seeing my youngest grandchild and see what she has learnt to do this week!
I hope to have something else news worthy to blog about soon - but until then, I shall leave you all to a peaceful weekend. And I shall placate my cats who are getting very suspicious of my suitcases ... LOL
Friday, June 10, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Recovered / half term visits
Well, I have made it through my first day back at work since arriving back from USA, and only a minor wobble in the sleep department. Thank goodness no one was with me, I keep the tiredness away when I am driving by singing ... loudly LOL
So its half term, which was great for my commuting today from Bedfordshire to Hampshire as there was minimal traffic. And its visiting time for the eldest daughter and the family from Staffordshire for the end of half term. The original plan was for them to come down on Friday and for the eldest 2 boys stay for another night with Grandma, and I would return them on Sunday, but the bug from hell has hit the clan.
First it was Dad, then it was the youngest boy, then the next boy up, then Mum, and now the eldest boy ... it really doesn't bode well. Fortunately it didn't hit the eldest girl, as she was part of the Maypole dancing team for the weekend and what a brilliant time they all had.
So proud of her for dancing so well - lots of fierce concentration faces during the dances, but she really enjoyed herself.
She also enjoyed the decoration of the perfect white shoes once it was all over - so keen, she didn't manage to clean them first ;-)
The pictures are a cat motif - she is very attached to my daughter's Tonkinese John-cat. To give him his full name - Lord John Marbury! yes we give our cats ridiculous names, but isn't that the joy of cats, you can call them whatever you want, without the embarrassment of having to call them in the park! And John-cat developed his name when the boys were little, and learning the name of the cat - this is "John" - a "cat" - and eventually John-cat!
So the bug may stop the half term holiday plans, and the inconvenient working thing meant I missed out on the Maypole dancing, and being an 'access' grandparent, I don't get to have as close a relationship with my step-grandchildren as I do with my daughter's boys. Its tough - you want to be inclusive and I definitely feel them to be part of the family, but thanks to the access arrangement, and me being on the 'step' side of the relationship, it is difficult to build the same connections that you have with children you see more often, and have seen more often since their arrival. Although having said that, the last time I visited when they were all there, you could have heard the happy yells of "Grandma" a mile away when I turned up at the door LOL And much as I love the youngest boy, I'm not as close to him either, as the distance means he sees me much less than his other grandparents, who live around the corner. But he is only young yet - about 16 months old, and we have plenty of time.
In fact, there is plenty of time all round - having brought up a 'blended family' (yeuch, I do not like that label - I was quite happy being dysfunctional LOL) I am secure in the understanding that there is plenty of love to go around, and that no blood relationship will ever be as strong as the ties of nurture. Kids know who love them and care about them, and that is what really matters.
And the delight of being home again has meant I have spent time with my youngest grandchild, all of 5 months old, and doing that amazing weekly (no, daily) development of skills - sitting up, commando crawling across the floor, rolling over, and being happy - giggling. She is a sweet, chubby, happy little girl and I am so proud of my daughter for being a great Mum.
In fact both my daughters are fabulous Mums - its very humbling to see them being so mature and coping so very well with everything and being such brilliant Mums with their adorable children (I may be just a little bit biased LOL).
Well that's my post for the moment - I make no apology for the banal burbling ... until I have something meaningful to say, I will simply use this as a public diary for thoughts and feelings, as I feel the need to share. And I must remember to ask my kids if they are happy for me to share names and pictures on here, and then I will get the doting Grandma bit out of my system!
 |
| Maypole |
First it was Dad, then it was the youngest boy, then the next boy up, then Mum, and now the eldest boy ... it really doesn't bode well. Fortunately it didn't hit the eldest girl, as she was part of the Maypole dancing team for the weekend and what a brilliant time they all had.
So proud of her for dancing so well - lots of fierce concentration faces during the dances, but she really enjoyed herself.
She also enjoyed the decoration of the perfect white shoes once it was all over - so keen, she didn't manage to clean them first ;-)
 |
| Re-designed shoes :-) |
So the bug may stop the half term holiday plans, and the inconvenient working thing meant I missed out on the Maypole dancing, and being an 'access' grandparent, I don't get to have as close a relationship with my step-grandchildren as I do with my daughter's boys. Its tough - you want to be inclusive and I definitely feel them to be part of the family, but thanks to the access arrangement, and me being on the 'step' side of the relationship, it is difficult to build the same connections that you have with children you see more often, and have seen more often since their arrival. Although having said that, the last time I visited when they were all there, you could have heard the happy yells of "Grandma" a mile away when I turned up at the door LOL And much as I love the youngest boy, I'm not as close to him either, as the distance means he sees me much less than his other grandparents, who live around the corner. But he is only young yet - about 16 months old, and we have plenty of time.
In fact, there is plenty of time all round - having brought up a 'blended family' (yeuch, I do not like that label - I was quite happy being dysfunctional LOL) I am secure in the understanding that there is plenty of love to go around, and that no blood relationship will ever be as strong as the ties of nurture. Kids know who love them and care about them, and that is what really matters.
And the delight of being home again has meant I have spent time with my youngest grandchild, all of 5 months old, and doing that amazing weekly (no, daily) development of skills - sitting up, commando crawling across the floor, rolling over, and being happy - giggling. She is a sweet, chubby, happy little girl and I am so proud of my daughter for being a great Mum.
In fact both my daughters are fabulous Mums - its very humbling to see them being so mature and coping so very well with everything and being such brilliant Mums with their adorable children (I may be just a little bit biased LOL).
Well that's my post for the moment - I make no apology for the banal burbling ... until I have something meaningful to say, I will simply use this as a public diary for thoughts and feelings, as I feel the need to share. And I must remember to ask my kids if they are happy for me to share names and pictures on here, and then I will get the doting Grandma bit out of my system!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
What time is it?
Here I am back in the UK, struggling to stay awake to combat the inevitable jetlag after 2 weeks away in the US of A.
Fortunately the journey was uneventful, the most excitement caused when the gentleman of military bearing sitting in the next occupied seat near to me began snoring melodically ...
This is the first year I have had to come back to an empty house after my business trips. Let me explain - my lovely husband spends half the year in our rented house in Greece (our choice) and this is the first year all of the children have properly left home. My eldest moved out when she was 16, then had a short re-appearance when she had her first baby, staying for 8 months, then off again. My stepson Nick opted to stay with his Mum once he hit 16, leaving us with my boy and youngest daughter - he moved out last year at age 21, and daughter moved out (for the second time) this year in the spring. So finally - empty nest syndrome has the potential to appear, and with a houseful like ours, dealing with family life with the 'mix and match' comings and goings, its been a very busy 24 years of children for me, and 17 years for my husband and I together.
All this means that when I return from a trip away at the moment, I come back to an empty house except for 2 rather demanding oriental cats, who, in the way of cats, smother and ignore me by turns!
Its rather strange, and somewhat inconvenient, as it means I have to go and get myself some fresh milk for my tea when I get back :-) There is much to do now, to de-clutter and downsize, and I have little or no interest or motivation if I am honest. I am putting this down to getting used to being alone in the house, and of course, as I work for myself, there is always work to fill my time if I want there to be :-)
But at some point, we will organise ourselves and move away from the big house we no longer really need. It has served us well, and I think its all part of my 'empty nest' too - can't feel so empty if its somewhere new :-)
I like the idea of new beginnings, fresh starts and new ventures - keep moving and keep trying new things. Don't be afraid of change, even though it is often unsettling, its what keeps us alert. Having said that, I admit to not liking changes much at all, but you learn to go with the flow in the end.
Well that was a little rambling post to say, 'I'm back in the UK' and to see if I could make sense whilst wrestling jetlag LOL - I cannot judge if this is any good - but the post may disappear if I thinks its rubbish when I am more awake!
Fortunately the journey was uneventful, the most excitement caused when the gentleman of military bearing sitting in the next occupied seat near to me began snoring melodically ...
This is the first year I have had to come back to an empty house after my business trips. Let me explain - my lovely husband spends half the year in our rented house in Greece (our choice) and this is the first year all of the children have properly left home. My eldest moved out when she was 16, then had a short re-appearance when she had her first baby, staying for 8 months, then off again. My stepson Nick opted to stay with his Mum once he hit 16, leaving us with my boy and youngest daughter - he moved out last year at age 21, and daughter moved out (for the second time) this year in the spring. So finally - empty nest syndrome has the potential to appear, and with a houseful like ours, dealing with family life with the 'mix and match' comings and goings, its been a very busy 24 years of children for me, and 17 years for my husband and I together.
All this means that when I return from a trip away at the moment, I come back to an empty house except for 2 rather demanding oriental cats, who, in the way of cats, smother and ignore me by turns!
Its rather strange, and somewhat inconvenient, as it means I have to go and get myself some fresh milk for my tea when I get back :-) There is much to do now, to de-clutter and downsize, and I have little or no interest or motivation if I am honest. I am putting this down to getting used to being alone in the house, and of course, as I work for myself, there is always work to fill my time if I want there to be :-)
But at some point, we will organise ourselves and move away from the big house we no longer really need. It has served us well, and I think its all part of my 'empty nest' too - can't feel so empty if its somewhere new :-)
I like the idea of new beginnings, fresh starts and new ventures - keep moving and keep trying new things. Don't be afraid of change, even though it is often unsettling, its what keeps us alert. Having said that, I admit to not liking changes much at all, but you learn to go with the flow in the end.
Well that was a little rambling post to say, 'I'm back in the UK' and to see if I could make sense whilst wrestling jetlag LOL - I cannot judge if this is any good - but the post may disappear if I thinks its rubbish when I am more awake!
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