2018 REVIEW OF THE YEAR!

2018 was a busy year - always tricky how to capture it's 'moments'. 

So for this year, I've done little collections of moments for each of us,

First up Sam!
Quite a major year for Sam.The first half of the year was probably his worst ever - revising, then exams but by the Summer he'd done his last school run with Sophie, wore his last school uniform and was done with school. He had a good summer, starting with the last school Celebration Assembly, Prom, then holidayed in Majorca. He then pretty much enjoyed his summer off, with friends. He turned 16, PASSED all his GCSE's, even French, got a Sunday job! and started the Blue School Sixth Form, studying A'Level Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Amazingly he's got into a 6:30 alarm, out the door by 7:20 to get the bus, routine in the morning, without too much complaining. Hope it lasts!

Now Sophie.

I guess this was Sophie's year!

Like Sam, pretty much the first half of the year was spent revising. Once exams were done, school was over, she went to Cornwall with friends for a few day, in our car!!! Came home to the Summer Ball, then we flew out to Majorca. She pretty much spent the whole of August working, whilst waiting for the dreaded results day. But she did it! She got an A and 2 B's, the offer grades needed and accepted her place at Reading University to study Economics with a placement year. Couldn't have been prouder! Of course that meant her leaving home in late September but she's loving life. What more can you want for your child 

Jeff is enjoying his last year of his 40's, seems to have more energy now than he did in his 30's. He's still running, spinning, swimming, playing football and refereeing! He spent a good chunk of the first half of the year revising too, with Sophie and Sam. They're both very lucky to have his help and support. Once exams were done, he enjoyed his summer watching the World Cup, gardening and holidaying in Cornwall and Majorca, where he met up with an old friend and colleague Tappers! He got presented with an Award, in recognition for all his hard work and his contribution to football at Millfield, as he's stepping down (a bit) to take on a new role as Assistant Head of Year 10, always busy in term time. We enjoyed a few concerts together but will share more on that in a bit and have a few more booked in for next year. 

ME?

Well I had a good 2018. Always cheer leading from the sidelines, they'd say 'nagging', 

  I'd rather say 'encouraging' and 'supporting' Sophie and Sam through the stresses or not! of revision and exams. All their hard work paid off, both with fabulous results and they looked handsome and beautiful in equal measures at their subsequent Prom and Summer Ball. Sam turned 16 in August and Sophie celebrated her 19th, her first birthday away from home! 

Other highlights for me were the allium's we planted last Autumn, such a beautiful display. A robin nested by the back door, sadly the fledglings vanished under a cloak of mystery one night but it was fun whilst it lasted. We enjoyed the most fabulous Summer with the 'heat wave' and had two lovely holidays - a few days in Cornwall and a week away in sunny Majorca, could be the last altogether, will have to wait and see! Although I did encounter my second jellyfish sting and still have the scars now to prove it! Jeff and I enjoyed a few good outings together, will share more later but the one night I will remember, Jeff wasn't there!! Nick Heyward was!! Nick Heyward was the lead singer of the 80's band Haircut 100. Their album was the first I ever bought and Jo got us tickets to see Nick in Bath together and I only got to actually meet him 35 years on!! 

But the biggest thing for me this year, by far, was adjusting to Sophie leaving home and going off to University. I miss her but she is settled, she is happy, she has good friends, she's doing well with her course work and is loving life - nothing to worry about!!

 It's been a year for seeing 'stuff'. In February we all went to Birmingham to see Imagine Dragons, first proper concert for Sophie and Sam and it was amazing, brilliant American band! I dragged Jeff to come and see The Band, Musical with me in Bristol - he secretly really enjoyed it, written by Gary Barlow, his love affair with Take That grows! In the summer we went to Pub in the Park and saw The Riffles, Squeeze and for us the best bit, Scouting for Girls. I then saw Nick Heyward with Jo in Bath and Sophie and I squeezed in Mamma Mia 2 at the cinema, the day it was released, the day before we went on holiday. And finally, a few weeks ago, Jeff and I went to Portsmouth to see Deacon Blue, who were brilliant, although frighteningly, it was their 30th Anniversary tour! Feel old!!

We have more to look forward to  in 2019 - The Specials in April, Jeff's choice for his birthday. Take That with Rick Astley as the bonus support guest. Jo and I are off to see Matilda when it tours in Bristol, then a few days later we're off to see Sophie Ellis Bextor with a full Orchestra. Later in the year Jeff has booked us tickets to see Lisa Stansfield and Jo and I are going to see Dr Michael Mosley speak in February. Lots to look forward to and it's rumoured Scouting for Girls will tour, so keeping an eye out for tickets. 

The Tor and it's ever changing view delights me daily - here are the best pics

and the sky has been stunning, both sunset and sunrise in equal measures.

The garden has been abundant in fruit, veg and flowers 

- my favourite space in the sunshine! 

A few of my favourite pics of the year -

 Us at Imagine Dragons : Snowball fights : first apple blossom : Sam up at the Tor 

 Me & Nick! :  taking Sam to his Prom : Sam prom ready : Sophie waltzing down to the Ball 

 The Pepper Pot at Portreath : Cala Boquer, Majorca : Granny's 95th : The first fig 

 Saying goodbye : In Reading together again! : Face Time : Jeff and I freezing on the Somerset Levels watching the Murmurations. 

And finally my Favourite Family Four x

I hope you've had a fabulous 2018 and wishing you all, an equally fabulous 2019.