Oh Dear!

It’s quite shocking how long it has been since my last blog post.

What can I say?  The summer has been rather challenging and hasn’t left me much time or head space for writing and so I have felt that there has been little to blog about.

Summer is always difficult, trying to juggle work and childcare.  Although the boys are a bit older now and don’t need constant supervision, I can’t just abandon them for the duration – no matter how much they might like me to.

I did have a couple of weeks off, but unfortunately on my way to work my car died 20 miles away from home – literally – the engine conked out and I had to be towed all the way home.  Not a pleasant experience. It made me realise just how much I rely on my car, just to function, as I live in an area where you can’t do anything without having wheels.  The car was eventually resurrected because it was worth nothing for scrap but every journey in it now gives me the hibigeebees.  I’ve just lost faith in it.  

At the beginning of September my step-son got married which involved a degree of organisation and also an influx of guests.  My husband has a big Irish family who were staying in various houses around Chester and all needed to be catered for – they all give us such good hospitality when we go over there so only right to reciprocate.

And of course the summer wouldn’t be complete without the obligatory visits to A&E, and yes the plural word of visit is the one I meant to use – well that’s my boys.

So, the summer was stressful and exhausting but the wedding turned out to be a brilliant day, and didn’t my boys scrub up well?  Spot the child who caused one of the A&E visits.  As it was a rural wedding it wouldn’t be complete without a tractor either.

The Merrie Month of May

Oh I love the month of May.  One of the reasons is because it’s the month of my birthday, although I have to admit that as the years creep up, it’s not quite as exciting as it used to be.  I try not to look on my birthday as a reminder of the advancing years, but use it as an excuse to spoil myself.  If you can’t kick back on your birthday then when can you?

 

But the main reason I love May is the weather.  The nights draw out, the weather gets warmer (in theory) and finally, after the dark days of winter we can reconnect with the outside world again. 

And the first few days of May have been a blessing.  Although it’s a bit cloudier today, the forecast for the Bank Holiday is good (fingers crossed).  The only downside to being in the outside world again though, is that I can no longer deny the shambles which is my garden. 

Gardening to me is like housework – I hate doing it but love the results.  When I say gardening, what I really mean is weeding. I never seem to manage to finish the weeding before I have to start again. 

Over the last few days I have been tackling the front. As I live in an open plan estate, it is the part that shames me most as everyone can see the level of neglect.  I’m nearly finished and it’s looking so much better that it’s given me the incentive to keep going.

Maybe this year, now that I have more time at home, I might be able to make some progress. Who knows, I might even get the time to plant something!

Whatever, I’m hoping that at least we’ll get some good enough weather for me to sit outside without looking at the weeds and feeling guilty.

Fingers crossed that the predicted hot weather in May becomes a reality.  It will be nice to have a summer that lasts more than just a few days.