Well that was one hellava week. I’m not sure I could cram much more in. We’ve been busy. Coupled with it being a week where parenting has felt like an odd mix of pushing a boulder up hill, while treading carefully on egg shells. Neither lends itself to the other. All good. Just using all the skills I have ever acquired. Diplomacy and management especially.
We’ve clocked up a fair number of miles between us this week. On a school week too. All good. Seeing family and expanding minds is always good. A sigh of relief as we reach Friday evening. Although I do now have a household of tired teens/tween who would happily swap a nagging mother …..well, for anything, I guess…..even though they’d deny it.
Last weekend, we headed off to the Lake District, once the children were home from school. Took just under six hours with stops, which seems crazy now I write it. It was my niece’s wedding. I’d sorted out suitable outfits for everyone, except Eldest Teen, who seems to revel in the roulette of ordering last minute. Fortunately, she won this time and her dress arrived just before we left.
We stayed the two nights in a cottage up there. It was perfect for us. The views were wonderful and, on the morning dog walk, we could hear cuckoos and curlews. In the morning, Mr TTC went off to be a Park Run tourist. We all tagged along to watch support. I was expecting some hills on the run, seeing as we were in the Lake District, but it’s more of a lake side run.
The wedding was in the afternoon. It was a lovely event. The setting was perfect. The rain took a break. The new couple looked so happy. It was lovely to see my family. My eldest sister, mother of the bride, died a number of years ago, but I know she would have loved the day and I’m quite sure she was with us.
The next day, we stopped off at my brother in law’s cottage. First time we’ve been there. He has found such a beautiful location.
A nice respite, before we hurtled back down the motorway home.
Next day, there was a flurry of packed lunches, spending money and (optimistic) sun tan lotion added to bags as the teens headed off in different directions to Cardiff and London. It set the tone for the rest of the week. Youngest packed up and headed off to camp. There was also a day trip to Burnham on Sea for one of them and a more local trip for another. More spending money and packed lunches (and sun tan lotion). Each trip involved dropping them off and picking them up, until I felt the car should probably sport taxi plates.
Finally today, we took Eldest teen and her friend to the Bath Uni Open Day. Top tip for Uni Open days. Take a friend. One of their friends, obviously. They both definitely got more out of it. It was a really good day. She is inspired, although I don’t think Bath will make the list. Mr TTC and I were ready to sign up to a Biology degree then and there. Sigh. If only. I’d quite like to go back to being a student.
Thank goodness it is Friday. Youngest is back from camp and is tired. I think he had a good time. Judging by the state of his washing, if nothing else.
I’m up for a quiet weekend. Might need to block a few holes in the fence, as the rabbits are dangerously near my kitchen garden. I need to check the woodburner, as another hornet has found its way in there. Huge one too.
Tonight, I’m going to sit out on the swinging bench and watch the bats come out of our roof (Mr TTC counted 126 last night), as the sun goes down on the summer Solstice.
So that was our week. So busy. We even squeezed in our 21st wedding anniversary. Don’t ask me how.
Happy Solstice, everyone. Blessings to you all.
Joining in with Anne’s Word of the Week linky. My word has to be “miles”. Oh. In case you were wondering, the sun tan lotion bottles remain resolutely unopened. Next week looks hot, so I predict the seals should be broken soon.
Raisie Bay
It sounds like things have been really busy!
What a fab trip away for your niece’s wedding.
It sounds like the kids have been up and about all over the place!
I bet you are looking forward to a quiet weekend. You deserve a rest.
We don’t usually go away for weekends, but it makes me think we should do it more often. I am definitely ready for a quiet weekend, although I’m not sure it will be!
Busy but wonderful, a wedding and a trip to the lake district! That’s a lot of miles you’ve clocked up though, I’m not the best traveller and we have a trip to Cornwall planned in August. I’m thinking we will start out really early and take all day to get there with plenty of rest stops on the way. Or if we are ok in the car then we can get there early…but at least we’ll have that choice. Problem is getting husband up early enough on the day. I’d love to go back to uni days, I love studying and learning new stuff, but I don’t seem to have the time for anything (I do spend a lot of time sleeping/recovering.)
Thanks for linking up to #wotw Have a lovely weekend and I hope you get those sun lotion bottles opened. x
I hope your trip to Cornwall goes well. Stops sound a good idea. Ah to be a student again. It was lovely to see it through Eldest’s eyes.
Lake District is a lovely part of the world and staying in a cottage sounds bliss. Happy solstice to you too X #wotw
A lovely part of the world.
It does sound like you had a busy week, but fun busy! Congratulations to your hubby on his Parkrun. I wish they had more of them in the US!
I’ve heard that Park runs and other races are slightly different on your side of the Pond.
What a busy week but such a lovely one at the same time. Your weekend away sounds delightful! I’m about ready for a nice little break somewhere pretty. x #MMBC
It was busy. I’m looking forward to a quieter week, to catch up.
Sounds like hectic time. Shame the Mother of The Bride was not able to attend, times like that you really miss your mum, but I am sure she was smiling down on you all.
Now if you could just entice the rabbits into the wood burner instead of the hornets life would be fine with some free food cooked up specially #WoTW
What a thought. I’m 100% sure that my children would refuse to eat it. We think something else might have got them now. Remains have been found.
You have been busy! I have never been to the lake district, I would like to go one day.
#MMBC
I hope you go one day. It is definitely worth a visit.
Blimey 126…… We have about 10 and that seems a lot! I bet looking at UNIs is so daunting? Jack will be staying at home and doing his foundation degree as an apprenticeship and I am a little relieved I am not sure I am ready for him to move out yet? The lakes are gorgeous aren’t they? And it sounds like the wedding was too x
I love the idea of apprenticeships. Eldest is just not finding suitable ones. The bats only stay a few months as it is a maternity roost. Our attic is perfect for pup raising. We had 150 last year, so hoping that we just miss counting the others.
Wow, you really did pack a lot into your week. The Lakes are so beautiful, we only live an hour or so’s drive away but don’t visit often enough sadly. It must have been nice to see your niece get married, weddings are such a wonderful excuse to catch up with family x
You are so fortunate to live near by. It’s always the way though, isn’t it? If you live near by, you visit a place less. Always another day.
I’ve never been there but it looks amazing. What beautiful photos and a lovely way to catch up with family xx #wotw
It was lovely to catch up.
I’m glad that your niece had such a lovely wedding. Staying in a cottage in the Lake District sounds like the perfect way to spend a weekend (aside from all the travelling to get there!) Sounds like your teens have had a busy week – no wonder you feel like you’ve been a taxi service! Happy anniversary to you too. Hope you managed to have a quiet weekend after all the busyness of last week 🙂 #WotW
It was lovely. All of it really. I’m sure I’ll miss the taxi role one day.