Exciting times

 I have had a sleepover at daughters house on Monday no reason other than to spend time together, loads of laughter, for all their excitement, they are not too manic. Molly was awake by 6.50am, which is later than in previous stays, so a more normal time, I had forgot the joys of waking up with a tiny person stood at the bottom of your bed, we had an enjoyable time together before her brothers woke up. AI at its best she loves this image.

I'm back reading, this book was different a new author to me, I read it on my Kindle apt, how quickly life can change, it starts with a murder? in a quiet family area, the police think they have it all sorted. Book 81 read this year. I am reading the Billy Connolly a bit at a time, savouring his words.

Sunday was a dull day spent at home, we were invited to a neighbour for coffee and homemade shortbread, I took a cauliflower stalk with me, for her chickens, later we caught up on missed TV.

Monday I was at daughters by 9am, so plenty of play time, the children are keeping their bedrooms and toy room tidy, so it was a day of playing, they had McDonald's for a treat for lunch.

Tuesday morning  we drove to ours to give little ones a different place to play, they both have colds again, Will spent the day at his best mates house, hubby made a marmalade cake which we shared, later I relaxed, hubby was out in early evening so I caught up with a couple programs I like to watch.

Today we will walk to the village, if there is room we will stop for coffee and cake, if not home for hubby's homemade treats, all my homemade mincemeat is gone, we did enjoy it. Spending time with the children has made me feel very festive, chasing away the blues.

Non bucket list

In my recent post I mentioned my bucket list, I don't really have one, I have done  brave, stupid, fun things in 2014 doing a treetop go ape challenge with a double zipwire over a lake. 

Here in 2017 I did a stadium tour with a difference, we went up onto the roof of Croke park, Dublin, I was not aware when we agreed to go with hubby's son how high we would go, we followed the path used by workmen to keep the roof intact, it was scary and brilliant. I'm not sure I would have agreed if I had know the details.

Helicopter ride in 2013

I have visited the Spinnaker Tower many times, scary walking on the glass floor and then in 2014 I abseiled down the outside, raising money for local hospital.

Here in Tenerife being above the clouds, such a fantastic feeling, I almost wanted to try and lay on them.

At this point I should say I was for years not very good with heights, hubby and I started working towards me getting better, also I can't swim so I'm not good with deep bodies of water, I really dislike being in or on the sea. In 2013 I went on a inflatable rib in Portsmouth harbour, I worked at the area office of Sea Cadets, where I failed to say I was afraid of water, my boss was successful in helping me with that fear. This crazy behaviour started when I reached 50, before that age I was a feet on the ground woman.

In 2009 I got over my fear of motorbikes and for a couple of years I was pillion with husband, not everything is thrill seeking. I have seen in 2024 the Trooping of the Colours, and in 2015 have been to a garden party at Windsor Castle, The Queen was present, a beautiful memory.

I can add the chimney lift, Battersea power station and Tower bridge to my mad list which I did on my recent trip to London, I don't have anymore mad things to do, I'm sure if the opportunity arises I will consider doing more stupid stuff as well as nice things, the only no-no would be anything underwater, not ready for that experience. 

Last look

 From the top of Battersea chimney, the old power station is now a shopping complex and newly built up area, there is a glass lift inside one chimney, we were lucky only 6 people in our's loads of room to view London..

Inside 

loads of the old mechanics of the building on show.

Iconic view, 

old and new

Fun on Tower bridge, 

we walked across the two towers under the top section.

Uber water taxi,

a great way to get around.

Millennium bridge, we walked across twice.

The Golden Hinde

Poppies at Traitors gate, 

Tower of London.

My birthday lunch was in China Town.

Liberty's

This is my final London post, I took so many photos, we made so many great memories, we planed our day to walk away from our hotel and then jumped on the underground to get back, its much easier now you don't have to purchase tickets, just tap your card at beginning and end of every journey. 

We do love to walk everywhere, we again found lovely spots, things not always in any guide, different places to eat, our hotel has a brilliant restaurant, we did not use it preferring to find different places when out and about. Nothing beats turning a corner and finding a treasure, we stumbled on The Golden Hinde.

Thanks to Steve

Our trip to London was brilliant, 4 days gave us plenty of time to wander, we averaged over 16,000 steps each day, Steve on his blog Shadow and Light found this statue on his walks, situated close to St Paul's cathedral. Well worth the walk to find it, a friendly local told us it's only here for this year, afterwards it will be replaced.

On another post Steve took an evening cruise, we have had many lunchtime cruises, the night cruise was much nicer, so many landmarks lit, here is just a few. This was just after 6pm, so not too late.

So thanks to Steve, we had two different adventures, its good to see a different side to the capital city. We caught the lunch time National express coach home for a much needed rest, no plans for the rest of the day, my knees and feet are happy to be still, a takeaway for tea and an early night. More photos next time. 

Thank you everyone for my birthday wishes, it been a fun week, I know I am blessed to be able to have such a good time, the weather was kind, we did not use our coats at all, my scarf and gloves were not necessary,  just a few spots of rain on Friday. It was cool enough to walk around in just our fleeces, sadly most of the Christmas things were starting next week.

70

 The date on my birth certificate states this month I reach my 70th year on this planet, I'm a Septuagenarian Bloody hell (sorry if you don't like swear words), I could not think of another way to make my thoughts vocal, how quickly this milestone has snuck up on me.

What to do when you are this age (note I did not say old), much the same as before. I'm sure all of you will agree with me as I say I feel no different in my mind, I do have a slower fatter body, which changes how I do some things (or not do many things), I'm still me, just with more memories, less items on my bucket list, not forgetting the ability to poke fun at myself.

    

I'm very blessed, we have a good family, siblings are well, most are older than me, our children have good lives, grandchildren are thriving. I have a warm home, food to eat a loving husband, too many people in this world can't say those few words. Health helps, being mobile and able certainly makes each day easier.

We are on a midweek break in London, my choice, hubby wanted to go somewhere hot and sunny, I didn't want to go near any airports, so we hopped on a National Express coach, read for just over two hours, staying at the same hotel near the south bank, very central.

Sunday we have a lunch time meal booked with daughter and children, last Sunday we went to see a Tribute band, ELO, which we loved, so a whole week of celebrations, I had already asked for no gifts, hubby paid to get my emerald ring strengthened, I had been told the stone settings were weak, I will be happy to wear it again, he also got tickets to see Adam Frost next year, he is my favourite gardener, something to look forward to. 

and for fun......

Changes

Boys first day back on Today, they do not go to the same school, Will's school is fantastic, but not the best place for George, Will did not want to change school and leave his friends and daughter is happy to go to 2 locations every day, Will now is not walked to his classroom, but left at the school gates (school rules for his age group). Molly will go to George's school, her start along with all the new intake is delayed for 2 weeks. Typically it poured with rain on their morning trip.

Another birthday for hubby, he spent the morning at our local hospital having a few more test, he should be getting final results soon, later daughter and little ones popped in to see him, I made party food with a dairy free cake, so everyone ate the same, these days 'free from' food taste so much better. We are loving the cards made by Molly and George, little hands always make the best designs.

Queen by Candlelight on Wednesday evening at our local venue, part of hubby's birthday, another great show, perfectly timed just a day after his celebrations, Queen has always been his favourite group. This group Candlelight are not a full tribute band, they do not imitate the group members, it would be hard to sing like Freddie, they do a great show, we both enjoyed the night as did everyone else in the full venue. We saw them last year do a Elton John show, seen here. 

  We drove to an British garden centre, way the other side of Portsmouth, I had been earlier in the year when it had just reopened and decided our favourite one was better. BUT this centre sells veg plants, so worth a trip, I got the 3 winter veg I wanted for £12, they will go into the raised beds soon. Hubby suggested we get our flowering winter plants as they were on offer and good quality.  The tulip bulbs just launched themselves into our trolley, and were too pretty to put back. We did not stop for coffee, we had a homemade ginger cake at home, really moist and definitely less people. 

It's been a busy week so far for everyone, hospital visits, school days, very much a normal life for us, I am sad the school holidays have ended, we have had so much fun together. I have no memories of my grandparents, my mum's mum was the last to pass when I was a young toddler, so I do feel strongly about making memories with them, I love to hear my daughter reminiscing about my mum, she was a very hands on Nan, we have loads of lovely photos to keep her memory alive.

The weather has completely changed and we are having storm after storm, my mum's words sound in my head, 'be careful what you wish for' The winds on Wednesday had trees in neighbours property rocking like mad, all stayed standing, we are pleased our Magnolia is now much smaller. I have started wearing socks again, and often my fleece, it's cooler, I'm not ready for Autumn, so I am hoping for another warm spell sometime in September.

Good random stuff

 I have the book I created for my older brother, I will visit him in his new placement later this month with my brother Martin, so far Martin has been unable to find many photo's in Derek's house, his wedding album has disappeared, family have sent me copies of photos to use. Derek has settled in better than we hoped, it is a secure place, but within the grounds there is plenty of freedom. He still wants to go home which is impossible for him, he is much stronger now he is eating better meals and taking his medication. 

Molly had her 4th birthday on Wednesday, hubby and I collected her from pre school, which she loved, back at her house, she opened our gift, it was dressing up as Elsa from Frozen, one of her favourite films, and birthday cake for everyone. Daughter always makes a collage of birthday photos. She is sharing a birthday venue on Sunday, her pre school friend's birthday was the same week, so a joint party.

We are not drinking enough water in the day, by the evening we start to drink more, which leads to nightly visits to the loo. Our water bottles are years old and needed replacing, daughter recommended these metal bottles, she purchases the same brand, George chews all his straws in his bottles, this brand sell the tops of their bottles separately. I am now filling ours each morning and we drink the contents, almost a litre by mid afternoon, the metal bodies keep the drink cold, a perfect solution. 

I had a surprise parcel arrive this week, hubby chose the design and made it to look like me (I wish), it's always lovely to get a surprise, I just have to decide where to hang it. 

Daughter sent us a copy of George's end of year school report we have often spoken on how he has grown in confidence, speaking more and showing determination, so to get a report mirroring our thoughts is wonderful. He loves going to school, most mornings rushing out of the house to see his friends. Daughter is extremely proud of him, he may have a disability, but it's not going to hold him back for long.

The tennis has been top quality games, we watched both men's semi finals on Friday and ladies final on Saturday, sadly a very one sided match, later today we will watch Sinner and Alcaraz battle it out. 

We were up early on Friday, went to Lidl before 9am, laundry on line by 10am, I cleaned our bedroom and shower room on Thursday evening, it was still too hot, but it's done. Saturday we had Will, George and Molly here, daughter sat and relaxed whilst they all played. Hubby and Will did boys/army things outside and Molly and I crafted inside, I got her a new stencil where she could sketch clothes and colour them in, George decided he wanted to dance, later I babysat whilst mummy had a night out, I watched the Live aid concert from 1985,  still wonderful to watch 40 years on.

Weekend

Molly's graduation photo, it was identical to Georges day last year, if it works best not to change it when working with young ones. Molly was almost the youngest one there, she is four this month and happy to be going to school. 

Playing in the garden on Sunday with new badminton set, huge rackets which helped them hit the shuttlecock a few more times, this was before the huge rain storm which made us all rush inside. 

Will never wants to be in photo's and I always respect his wishes, Sunday was very different, at Capel Military show with mummy and Grancha (hubby), Will is army mad and is always reading and watching items ref WW2 and the modern army, studying all the equipment used. He was very hands on through the whole show ground.

This was shown back in February wearing his 8th birthday gifts. 

Living so close to this lovely family brings joy to my heart, watching them grow and become little people is such an honour, daughter is a great mum, she allows them freedom to be themselves, they bring laughter to our home with every visit.

Molly starting school this September means we will see less of her, missing cake and drinks mornings, with a look at local shops, this past year we have seen less of George, he is still a nana's boy and will always come to me for cuddles and chatter. 

Family has always been everything to me, growing up with 8 siblings, we were all close and when anything happens we always close ranks together, it's the same with hubby's family as they go through these coming weeks.