Skipping Sad News...

Sadly this March my wonderful Mother in Law, Joan passed away.

We were broken hearted, 

she was a very private lady and it simply hasn't felt right to create a post here about it.

That is not saying we did not love her or that we do not miss her, it is just respecting the person she was.

After such heart-ache we spent April quietly at home but in May we needed something to lift our spirits.

I have a firm belief that the sea has theraputic properties...not just the actual waters but for me the smell of the sea, the sound of the waves and the feel of the sand.

So we took a Day Trip to Bournemouth.

We arrived and it was chilly, very cloudy but we were happy enough

And then the skies began to clear

We had the beach to ourselves and we splashed till every single one of was wet through!

Loopy our very own mermaid was the wettest of all and had the best time in the shallows

Bob took on the hard job of keeping watch

we all felt the sun on our cheeks, the sand in our toes and joy in our hearts

We wandered along the beach front to the town and I couldn't help but day-dream about spending a summer living out of one of these

Just to prove that I really was there!

We had a lovely day, we wrote names in the sand for the sea to wash out and headed home tired n happy.

***

Living Debt Free...

Has anyone managed it?  Anyone in their 40's especially?

Somebody asked me today why we dont just get a new car...not in a snotty way but just asking why Im walking to school now.

Truth is in theory we could get a car, but we would have to take a loan out to buy it, our savings are non existent.

Since having Fonzy we have seen our income drop almost year on year and our expenses increase as the kiddos keep on growing! 

It may be pie in the sky hoping to live debt free in modern UK?  It certainly wont be happening as quickly as I'd like but considering everything I am feeling pretty pleased with how we're doing so far.

That is why we cannot afford to replace the old car straight away.  We are saving up, but I would rather put the money to a new sofa {ours is broken, usable but by no means comfy} and a couple of days at the seaside 

making memories like these

This week has seen us walking to school in some cruddy weather, not pouring rain but windy wet miserable weather.  Today Friday saw me feeling incredibly tired...so I'm starting on some multi vits and my left knee is still protesting so I'm also thinking  cod liver oil as well? 

Week 2 and Im adjusting, slowly, to the new routine...it helps to know that there are others out there who are juggling nursery/school runs on foot who aren't thrilled with it all either!

Day Tripping...

To the seaside...Shell Bay

With hindsight not the best choice for a day trip, that little bit further along the coast from the Cliffs at Bournemouth, ques for the Swanage ferry, no local shops for the older teens

but

we still had a great time!

It was so WINDY!! We set up a camp to block some of the wind, but even with the wind break it was blowing 

The kiddos were busy burying eachother

They found a water pocket under where we were...

We held out own mini Olympic long jumps...

Even H got involved...

although it obviously didn't last long...

The sea was pretty choppy with all that wind...

but that didn't stop our mermaid...

she spent almost every moment we were there in the sea, splashing, rolling, running!

The older kiddos got bored on the beach after just a couple of hours so we headed down the road to Swanage for an ice-cream.

On the way home we stopped at Poole harbour for fish & chips

We finally made it back home around 10pm, a good days day tripping!

***

Out with the old and in with the new.

What lies ahead of us? Who knows!

I wanted to have words of wisdom today but there are non, my little brain is quite frazzled and in need of our trip to Brighton tomorrow to clear the cobwebs.

Ice cold sea breeze, I can almost taste the salt in the air just thinking about it!

To those who pop by to see us I wish you a joyful 2012.

Thank you for popping by and hoping to 'see' you again...

***

Cawsand, Cornwall 2011...

A few gorgeous snaps of the holiday the older ones took last week...

all photos courtesy of my sis

The sunrise as seen from their front door on the first morning

The view to the left...

The view to the right...

The holiday cottage... 

Exploring the rock pools...

 In another life I'd decorate my door like this...

and live in a street like this...

In the sea...

In the pub, learning the art of darts!

and a spot of shopping...

A night-time BBQ on the beach outside the front door...

They went fishing day and night, rock pooling daily, the ferry to the shopping centre, the beach daily (well hard not to as it was outside the door!) and by all accounts had a lovely, lovely time!

Up to day 28 of the Holidays...

We arrived home late last Wednesday evening and awoke to a very wet and wild Thursday.

Luckily RV and Loopy had summer camp which left Fonzy and I time to crack on with the tidy up at home.

We also popped out to get a few groceries.  Wet got soaked.

Friday by complete contrast was sunny - go figure what the weather wants to do, I've given up trying to guess it.

As it was sunny we hit the pool, spending a great couple of hours in the water before chattering teeth drove us homewards for lunch.

Saturday was a day at home, catching up on laundry.  RV went soccer training with a new team which he thinks he wants to play on this season...we'll see.

The best surprise of the day was the older 2 coming home a day early due to bad weather.  Don't tell them but I've missed having them around.

Sunday was a damp start which brightened up and we hit the boot sale!

Widdly woo I do love a boot sale!!

Today we've tidied the garden up a bit, throwing out a few broken beyond repair bits and generally trimming and weeding.

Busy doing nothing but working the whole week through...

The New Forest...

To cut the motorway part of our trip to the seaside a bit shorter we come off early and go through The New Forest

The horses and cows roam freely here, they decide the flow of traffic and the speed.

Our kiddos love getting up close to them, although a couple of years ago we were mugged of an ice cream in the village car park by one very greedy pony.

These two looked like they were waiting to cross the road...

The heather that covers the floor creates a very pretty carpet of lilac and purple

We didn't stop this year but have in the past hired bikes and trailers for the little ones to go off around the many bike trails through this part of the New Forest.

The older girls have also in the past spent most of their holiday pennies in the little witch shops that are in the village!