And they think it's all over......

....it is now!
On Friday Sophie sat her last exam - Maths Core 4 and it was finishing in the vein of all her exams - very hard! I get the feeling and I'm sure it's said every year but the exams this year seem to have been really hard. 

Anyway she's done now, I feel exhausted from seeing her worried, full of self doubt, the tears, 5am wake ups, biting her lip..... needless stress in this day and age, their must be a better way.

I'm a believer in things happening for a reason though, what will be will be - doesn't make it any easier to watch but we will take things as they come. Either off to Reading, somewhere else through clearing or an extra year at home to resit and rethink!

With the end of exams, comes the Sixth Form Summer Ball. After Prom suit shopping on Friday with Sam and coming home with nothing, I was dreading a day at Cribbs on Saturday, dress shopping with Sophie but we found 'THE' dress, in the first shop!! Miracles do happen and she looked beautiful, a waist to die for x

The weather has been beautiful the past few days and if the forecast is to be believed, we've a couple of weeks of beautiful weather ahead. Perfect excuse to open up the kitchen doors out into the garden. The children now have the Summer ahead, although both are hoping to find jobs! Jeff breaks up on Friday, so getting through the final week slog and me? I'm still working throughout the Summer, the downside of set hours but I can leave lists for them all to do, they can hang the washing out and do the food shopping and the alarm can be set a little later.

With good weather, you get fantastic evening skies.

Robin update - all week the robin pair have been flying back and forth ....

....feeding their chicks, as I suspected. There are two I think, daren't take too long by the nest in case I disturb them but it's brilliant to see.

Will keep you updated - have a great week x

What a week ....

.....last pick up from school for the boy!

......last school run together!

.......last morning being shouted to get ready and last exam for Sam!

We went out to celebrate with a visit to GBK on Saturday evening. Sam was out with friends on Friday and Jeff was at a school BBQ, so it was just the three of us. He has a fabulous 11 week summer holiday ahead of him. He's keen to find a job but he's still only 15, so might be tricky. CV writing is top of the list, a return to swimming is there too, as is a room clear out and makeover for his 16th birthday present - the Lego is being boxed up and stored away in the attic!!

Jeff has been in demand all week, switching from A'Level Mechanics to GCSE Physics in the space of a few minutes!! They're so lucky to have him around to help. I do remember my poor Dad going to night school, to learn the current techniques of the day, to help me out with my Maths O'Level. There were lots of tears but I did pass and am ever thankful and grateful to this day, a timely reminder with today.......

....... being Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day to my Dad, Jeff's Dad and of course Jeff, Dad to our two.

Couldn't ask for better role models in all our lives.

Fatherly duties are apace for the robins too. Both robins have been sitting on the nest, they've become more active the past couple of days, so I'm wondering if the eggs have hatched. It was, according to Google, this weekend that the eggs should hatch.

My strawberries are producing a pretty decent crop this year, enough to pick a bowlful every couple of days. The raspberries and blackberries are full of flowers too, so I'm hopeful of a reasonable crop from them too.

I'll leave you with this beautiful image of Glastonbury Tor, taken at 4:30am from the bathroom window. A calming image which I hope will soon be reflected in our lives at home too. Sophie's found the exam stress and pressure a little overwhelming this time around. I know why, it matters this time, her University place depends upon how well she performs but I do think there is far to much pressure on them. I also think it unfair that some have unconditional offers, so have the pressure eased for them, knowing they have a place regardless of how well they perform. There is never an even playing field sadly but I have hated seeing her doubt herself and her abilities.

Anyway, here's to a new week ahead, last two exams for Sophie then she'll be done. Prom suit shopping for the boy and dress shopping for the Summer Ball are next on the 'to do' list!!! Heaven help me and my poor purse xx 

Pub In The park

Had the best night on Sunday at PUB IN THE PARK Bath

Jeff bought tickets way back in February, after a tip off the Scouting for Girls were playing there.

It's a 3 day event organised by the chef Tom Kerridge. He's put one on in his home town of Marlow for the past couple of years and has added on 3 more places, one of which was Bath (nice and close) Its a mix of food demo's from top Celebrity chefs and then music from a variety of artists.

First up on Sunday evening was The Rifles. I'd not heard of them but they were a great start, although being so middle class, most of the people there, stayed on their picnic blankets drinking their Pimm's.

The main draw for us were Scouting for Girls, a fave band of both Jeff and I. I think they originally were going to be the main event but annoyingly only got to play half an hour. They are just brilliant, third time we've now seen them live and 

we were proper groupies, right down at the front.

Squeeze were the main draw, having reformed this year. They were good but Scouting for Girls were better. They sang a good selection of songs that I knew (and didn't!) and 'Tempted', a favourite from Uni days, was a highlight for me.

The moment you realise Scouting for Girls are watching Squeeze play, just feet away from you!!

All in all, a great night and...

....I got to spend it with this one x

Following on.....

.......from last week and the garden progress.

 

We inherited a crazy paving patio which wasn't to our liking, so Jeff knocked down the wall around the edge of it last summer and then this half term......

.... decked and gravelled over it!

Ta-da the finished garden.

Just need to sand down and repaint the table and benches and the hard work is pretty much done! 

Fab job Jeff x

We've had a little visitor in the garden. This little robin arrived in February, started building a nest then abandoned it never to be seen again, or so we thought. A week or so ago it was back, in the same spot, busy nest building again and......

.... I peeked! She has laid 5 eggs. She'll now sit for 2 weeks before the eggs hatch

Very 'egg-citing'

She's built the nest in the back on the top red trug, in behind the geraniums and lobelia. It's right by the back door, so we're trying not to disturb her too much and fingers crossed we'll have baby robins in a couple of weeks.

It's been a stressful week in our house, exam pressure is getting the better of Sophie and Sam is still far too laid back for my liking but it is what it is. I was glad of my Wednesday night yoga to breathe and zone out for a bit. I've been going for 2 years now, Jeff the one - I never want to go (too tired) but always glad I have.

I think Sophie needs to do yoga, de-stress, breathe, it's such a hard time for her at the moment. These exams have been the worst, as she knows what she needs to get, to be able to go where she wants to go and do what she wants to study. I don't understand why exam questions aren't written to get the best out of students, rather than ask obscure questions and not ask anything on what they have actually studied for the past two years! We've had tears, self doubt, why work hard and revise all you've learnt, then not be questioned on it???? SIGH! I hate exams, always have, always will, I don't think they are the best way of measuring an individual's abilities but hey, we will will deal with the results as and when and what is meant to be, will be xx

I'm off out tomorrow evening, need a night off, will share pics later x

June..... hello!

How is it June already??

Not complaining, as soon all the exams will be over, stress levels will drop and hopefully we'll be treated to some glorious sunshine!

 

The week started off well, when I was working.....

....got a few days off and it's pouring!

Jeff's been busy all half term out in the garden, between the showers, doing the final bit of hard landscaping out the back. He's covered over the old crazy paving patio area with a mix of gravel and

decking, looks better already!

  

The allium flowers are changing into seed heads, still beautiful, just different. I think that's why I like them so much, they change and last for ages.

So half term is coming to an end. Sophie's A Levels start next week and continue over the next 3 weeks. Sam having completed 2 weeks of exams already, has 11 down - 10 left to go and in 2 weeks time will be done! He has a very jammy 11 week break ahead of him before he starts College.

I'm looking forward to exams being over and our holiday to Majorca a few weeks later. 

Let the countdown begin.....