This photo was posted by a so called friend on mine on Facebook this week! It was taken when I was in 6th form about 13 years ago!! Not quite sure why I’m posting it but I thought those of you who haven’t known me for quite that many years might like to have a laugh!
Oh to be 18 again…although maybe not with that hair!!! Enjoy x
Thursday…
This was going to be another one of our ‘big’ days. We were told about a local place called ‘Fisher’s Farm’ about 40 minutes from us. It looked great, perfect for the girls (animals, playgrounds, rides etc). Sian was so excited about the day in fact throughout the the week she kept asking us ‘Are we going to Fisher’s Farm today?’
So anyway we kept an eye on the weather during the week but decided that it was going to be almost impossible to guarantee a sunny day so we’d just go for it! We were about 10 minutes from the farm and the heaven’s opened and unfortunately rain came out and a lot of it! As we drove with the windscreen wipers going full blast we tired to prepare Sian for the fact that we might not be able to go! Eek! We made it and sat in the car park along with many other worried looking parents! But after a few minutes there was a patch of blue sky so we all jumped out of our similar looking family cars and headed for the entrance!
We were there for hours and had a great day! The sun came out and we all came home a little pink! UK weather!?! The animals were lovely. Both girls love spending time with them and if we weren’t about to move I think we might have come home with a couple of guinea pigs! The place was brilliant. Ticked all the boxes 
As you’ll see from the photo’s we all had fun. I think the highlights where the Splash area - where I was able to appear the all organised mum and produced swimming stuff for both girls. It was left in the car from our trip to the Ilse of White! Ssh don’t tell anyone! I got soaked myself though as I followed a slightly wobbly Abigail around! The bumper boats were worth the long queue & the many slides dotted around the place were great!
The day was also our 9th wedding anniversary. We arranged for babysitter and headed to the cinema for the evening. The last time we went out was back in February and it cost us a new car!! It was lovely to out together and unbelievably it was our first trip to the cinema (other than to a Disney film) since we moved back. Hard to believe we used to see a film almost every weekend. Oh those were the days! We saw ‘The Dark Night’ which was dark but excellent! We got home to discover the lovely Abigail had played up somewhat but both were asleep hopefully dreaming of their lovely day!
Friday… The last day of our hols. Unfortunately the skies were full of rain clouds so we decided to go to Guildford to do a bit of shopping and treat ourselves to a Pizza Hut. Since moving back - a year ago this week! Scary!! Anyway since moving back we have cut pizza pretty much right out of our diet; hard to believe I know. So this really was a treat! It was of course very yummy 
This afternoon Graeme needed so time to write his sermon for Sunday so Sian & I dropped him and Abigail off at home and we went to collect our long awaited photos. 4 weeks ago we went and had some professional photos taken after winning a free session there. We had a great time and managed to choose just 5 photos for the 138 that were taken! Today they were ready so we went and got them. They are really good and we’ll probably get them onto the computer at some point so I’ll post them then for those who might be interested!? So that was our week, well 5 days, at home! It’s been good fun! Here are a few morephotos for those that enjoy them - there are some from Wednesday and yesterday.
Tuesday…
After our busy Monday we decided to have a quieter day, especially as it was raining! That’s what you get for taking a holiday in the UK, but anyway… After a lay in - yeap we didn’t get woken up until after 8am we had the morning at home. Playing together and watching Cbeebies!
As Abigail only had a 30 minute nap on Monday we all felt she needed a nice long sleep in the afternoon so while she went to the lovely land of nod Sian & I went to the cinema to see WALL:E. It was really good, funny in places and you could, if you were the type, get a lot out of it as far society and the environment are concern but I try not to be so I wont!
The day ended with me getting all the girls toys out, sorting through them all, throwing some, packing others and leaving them with a few to play with over the next 3 weeks!!
Wednesday…
When we moved back last year Graeme and I bought a years membership to the National Trust as we soon noticed we were surrounded my many of their places. Over the year we visited quite a few of them and today we visited one more! We went to Claremont Landscape Gardens in Esher. It was really nice there. We got to have a nice walk which included a children’s trial - always good for keeping Sian entertained. It’s a garden full of history as many of our Kings and Queens would come to the gardens. It was strange as you walked around it you could imagine royal ladies of the pasts walking the paths in their huge dresses!
From there we headed to Guildford as Sian wanted to spend some of her holiday money and Graeme and I needed a proper coffee!!
This evening Graeme and I did some more packing. We’re slowing filling up the back of our lounge, soon we’ll have to start filling up the garage! I don’t really enjoy packing as it always feel like you’re never going to reach the end but then you know you have to (and soon!). Never mind almost time for bed…here’s to tomorrow!
Today was the first day of our holiday at home! Basically Graeme’s taken the week off and we decided rather than going away we’d stay at home at visit lots of local(ish) places. So today was day 1 and we headed to The Isle of Wight.
The last time I visited the island I was about 16 and Graeme had never been before so we were looking forward to our day. It did mean an early start we were all packed up and on the road by 8.15. We headed down to Portsmouth and managed to get on an earlier ferry which was great. The girls really enjoyed the crossing.
We’d already decided that we would head for the Needles. Somewhere Graeme had always wanted to go to and I love lighthouses so it seemed as good a place as any. It’s all kitted out of families so the girls had a great time. Sian finally got to test out her ‘backseat driver’ skills on the junior driver track and Abigail was very brave and went on the pirates ship!
As you’ll see from the photos we had fun! We’re now home the girls got to sleep in record time and Graeme and I are vegged in front of the TV!
Tomorrow’s wea
ther is looking rather wet so I think we’ll have to stay closer to home. If we do anything interesting I’ll let you know
No I’ve not been exercising, although I do need to but that’s a whole other subject! No, today Graeme and I put on a BBQ at church. It’s something we’ve been planning to do for ages so it was good to finally do it.
It was one of those events that had loads of reasons for being done. Firstly (and in no particular order) we have to raise £150 for the corps and the College candidate fund so this was a good way to raise it. It managed £120 in one evening so we’ll really chuffed with that, just £30 left to get. Secondly we said to the corps that we’d organise a summer social event so that we could all come together other than on a Sunday so again another good reason for a BBQ. Finally it was an opportunity to invite friends & family as wellas people who come to other things we put on at the corps during the week. A GREAT reason for a BBQ!!!
Graeme and I have been advertising it to everyone, talking to them about it hoping that people would come and we weren’t disappointed. There was 36 of us in total which is great when you think we get about 15 people to a morning meeting, so we were really pleased!
It was great to have everyone there enjoying the food we’d prepared and chatting away to each other. People seemed to have a good time and it was wonderful to have some people there who only ever come to coffee morning come to the building on another day.
I think one of the memories I’ll take with me is almost at the end of the evening there were 8 of us left. We’d eaten as much as we wanted packed away a lot of the chairs, tables etc and we just sat, talked together and relaxed in each others company! For me that was special.
It’s now time to sleep and this post might not read as well as I’d like but if I don’t write it now I probably wont! This evening was our last ‘event’ before we move and in many ways it’s such a shame as I feel we’re just starting to build some good relationships with people and see some doors starting to open. I know God has all things under control so I just have to trust that He will send others into these peoples lives and be able to bring them through to either faith or a deeper faith in Christ.
Time for bed, I’m shattered! ZZZZZZzzzzzz
Here are a few photos from the last few days. It’s been a fun time. On Friday Sian took part in her first ever sports day. The nursery had their own races and Sian came 2nd! We were very proud and cheered loads! She’s now finished at the school which we’re all a bit sad about as she’s loved this year there.
Abigail continues to do well with her walking. She seems to prefer walking solo at home though as when we’re out she wants a hand. This morning at the corps myself and another lady were trying to get her to walk to us but she wouldn’t. As soon as the lady went out of sight Abigail walked to me! Cheeky! I don’t think she likes an audience at the mo.
So here are a few new photos (especially for Evie!), enjoy!
Today Graeme and I had our last interview at DHQ regarding our entry to college in 8 WEEKS!! It went well, wasn’t too stressful just a case of going over a few final points. We are blessed with such a supportive group of people there. I’ll miss them!
Anyway, it’s starting to hit me that soon I’ll be a cadet and all that goes with that. Still can’t quite believe it’s all happening, I’m not sure went it will sink in maybe once we’ve moved?
Last week as I was preparing a sermon for Sunday I stumbled across a quote I’d underlined in one of my fav ‘Christian’ book ‘Too busy not to pray’ by Bill Hybels. It said:
A ‘prayer warrior’ is a person who is convinced that God is omnipotent - that God has the power to do anything, to change anyone and to intervene in any circumstance. A person who truly believes this refuses to doubt God’
For those of you who aren’t aware of the connection our session name at college is ‘Prayer Warriors’. So you can imagine my surprise when I found this!! It did make me smile as God really does know what’s going on and has a great sense of humour too!! Not sure why that surprises me, it shouldn’t really!?
So I guess I need to start getting my head around all this and do my best to live up to this name! Any prayers gratefully appreciated!!
I should have posted this last week but Abigail has found her feet! It took us by surprise as Graeme and I were sat on the floor with her. I stood her in front of me, said ‘walk to Daddy’ and she did!! 3 steps! Blew us away!!
Since then she’s slowly gaining confidence. Tends to have a walking day and then takes a day off! Tonight she was into it and was walking on and off throughout the evening. It’s great to watch. She has a huge smile on her face and when she finally lands on her bum she sometimes applauds herself! Bless!!
So that’s her latest milestone and a pretty big one. I guess talking is next?! Oh my!! :-s
I was in 2 minds as to whether today would be a good day or not! This was mainly due to the fact that Graeme had to working this morning as it was a collecting day in a neighbouring town. He doesn’t often have to work Saturdays but I think cos I’m home with the girls I really look forward to my Saturdays when we’re all together! Anyway I had made a long list of things to do this morning to ‘pass the time’! I wont go into them as they weren’t that interesting but the girls were great and all went well.
The plan was to pick Graeme up at lunchtime and then head to a nearby National Trust place - Hindhead Commons and The Devil’s Punch Bowl. We have driven past it quite a few times but today we finally made it in and it was well worth it!
We had a picnic on the grass which Sian in particular enjoyed and then we headed off for a walk. Now with the girls as they are at the mo you never quite know how long you’re going to be able to walk before someone starts complaining but we did fairly well! We did have promised ice creams at the end which probably helped!
Sian had her first experience of wild fruit picking as there were blueberry bushes at one point so we stopped for a while and enjoyed!
Once home Sian helped Graeme count the money - a memory I have from my childhood! Then it was time to re-pot Sian’s sunflower. She planted the seed at nursery and then it was given to them to take home and look after! THANKS and EKK were my first reactions!! Those of you who know me well know I am useless at looking after plants! While we were on holiday it had some professional love and care from a couple who love gardening which I think got it through the fragile stage! We are all faithfully looking after it and enjoying watching it grow I’ll post a photo once it’s flowered.
So that’s been our Sunny Saturday and here’s to a Sunny Sunday!!
I’ve been meaning to put this photo up for a while but keep forgetting so seeing as I’m on a role with posts I’ll put it up now. It was taken at the end of May so Oliver’s got bigger as babies do, but the rest of us haven’t changed that much
