Final Summer term....

It's been a lovely Easter break, gorgeous weather for the last part, so I guess it was a little harder for Sophie going back and the prospect of exams ahead. She's only got 8 weeks left though of her first year. We've a meet up in London in the diary and she's hoping to pop back and vote in the European elections, as it'll be the first time she can vote! and then before you know it she'll be back for the summer. She's already got work lined up for a couple of months and trips back to Reading to see friends factored in, plus she gets to come on holiday with us.

With the lovely sunshine and added warmth, the garden was beginning to flourish. What a difference a week makes, currently sat her typing with 50mph gusts of wind, blowing any remaining blossom into touch! It's been sunnier than forecast but certainly not sitting out weather. Hoping my alliums stay upright in this wind.

I've made the most of the wet weather and spent my day off on Friday washing the kitchen floor, hoovering throughout, catching up and just a general tidy up now the holidays are over. 

Sam's got his Mocks next week, he's ensuring me he's doing some work, I guess the results will tell. Not sure if these are the grades that will go down on his UCAS application, as they no longer sit AS exams. He's pretty sure on wanting to take a year out, he is an August baby, so young for his year. We are going to go to a couple of Open Days, just to get him thinking about it all but as yet he has no idea what he wants to do, possibly Chemistry, so that's a start!

Here's hoping the weather improves - I need sunshine!!

Easter weekend

We've been treated to some gloriously warm weather after last weekend's freezing, blustery trip to Cornwall. I've still worked but on my days off, Sophie and I have been to Bath for the day and down to Taunton Sainsbury's, as it's bigger, there was 25% off TU clothing and I get a bigger discount this week.

Everything in the garden is coming into blossom and leaf, enjoying the sunshine too.

I worked Good Friday but had Easter Saturday and Sunday off, doing nothing but enjoy the weather and warm sunshine out in the garden.

Jeff and I did go further afield on Saturday evening, 

down to Exeter University to see.....

....The Specials. 

It was his 50th birthday gift to himself, to see The Specials Encore 40th Anniversary Tour. 

Not really my cup of tea but he enjoyed it and I guess a little payback for the numerous times I've made him come with me to see Take That over the years and in a few weeks time too, when they come to Bristol.

It really has been glorious weather, although all set to change by mid week.

Sophie has kept me company, whilst Jeff has been busy refereeing. 

Sam has been doing some revision for his mocks, catching up with friends and working his way through his EPQ, oh and a few days at his job, working. Sam goes back to school tomorrow, Jeff on Wednesday, so he's taking Sophie back to Reading tomorrow, as I'm working.

It's been lovely having everyone together at home and a real bonus being to eat outside the past couple of days. I will miss Sophie when she goes back.

I started a new diet approach today - the Fast800. I've an annoying stone I've faffed about with, trying to lose for well over a year now. Got in a bit of a rut with SW, so am trying something new and this is good for my PCOS too. Anyway I have a clear stretch of a few weeks, with nothing on, so am giving it a proper go. Ive trialled fasting and time restricted eating, I know what will work for me, just adding in the stricter food focus for a few weeks and will see if I can make a dent in this annoying stone!

Hope you've all enjoyed this glorious weather, fingers crossed there's plenty more of this to come over the next few months.

Dose of Vitamin Sea

After working all week, Sophie and I headed off to Cornwall for a couple of days...

First stop - St Ives!

Was a little on the cold side, well it was blumin freezing!

Certainly not warm enough to sit outside at our favourite spot, The Hub

Despite the wind, cold and sandblasting, it was lovely to have a change of scenery, breathe in the fresh air and soak up some much needed Vitamin Sea!

Pasties for tea with Granny, then on to Mum and Dad's for the night.

Then on Sunday, the reason we came down to Cornwall, my Auntie and Uncles surprise 80th birthday celebrations and it was a Surprise!!

I haven't seen them for a good few years or my cousins and their children! So it was lovely to see everyone and catch up, whilst celebrating - a lovely day 

Think that's all the celebrations for a little while xx

Golden Celebrations

So yesterday was a special day, well Saturday 5th of April 1969 to be precise, the day my parents got married - and together we celebrated, as a family, their 50 years of marriage.

I offered to host the lunch, went along the lines of a golden, yellow theme!

I love a theme!

By chance I remembered I'd stumbled across a few of their wedding photos a month or so ago - the perfect addition and place settings for the special couple.

I made it simple but delicious and always plentiful.

My Cornishware came into its own.....

.....looked a treat with all the yellow

And there was cake, of course there was cake - wouldn't be a celebration without cake.

Cut by the 'bride and groom' !!!

A four tier, raspberry and salted caramel cake.

The older I get, the more I realise what an achievement these milestones are -50 years of marriage these days is quite an accomplishment. I can't quite believe that Jeff and I will be celebrating 23 years married this August - doesn't seem possible.

So a pic of the happy couple, 50 years down the line x

With Granny, my Dad's Mum - 96 in July, another milestone worth celebrating!

Me and my Sis - her 50th this year, mine next - eekk!!

And the Grandchildren - Sophie 19, Sam 16 and Ella 10 - the youngest but edging ever closer to Sophie in the height stakes

And finally US! 

Jeff obviously was there but took the photo x

And Mike, Jo's hubby was playing Hockey.

So I guess their 55 year anniversary is next - Emerald!
Something to look forward to x

A quick catch up

It's been another busy week - Sophie home from Uni, Sam still at school, Jeff worked the start of the week doing the revision courses up at school and it was work as normal for me.

We did head over to Bath though on the Thursday, collecting Sam from school en route. Jeff spent his birthday money on a new pair of DM's and we finally....

....got around to going out for a meal, to celebrate his 50th.

A lovely few hours spent together - such a rarity these days x

Pinch and a punch.....

.....hello April!

How did that happen? A quarter of the way through the year already!

Farewell March, you were a good month, full of family stuff!

Trips to see Sophie and a day out in Windsor, a shopping trip to Bath with Sam, Jeff's 50th, Mother's Day..... the list goes on and April looks to be a pretty busy month too.

It was Mother's Day yesterday, I worked all day but was treated by my two x

Lots to be thankful for x