Summer 2012 (Part One!)

Warning this is a long and picture heavy post mainly for my own benefit, with little or no mention of sewing/craft! You might not want to read on (unless you are nosy like me and always read to the bottom of the screen)

"None of us can make it rain - but we can all use less water"

I think the saying “be careful what you wish for” rang true this Summer in the UK.
No sooner had a near-country-wide drought been declared in April and households were banned from using hosepipes, than the rain began to fall, and fall and fall for about 12 weeks solid. The wettest UK Summer on record.

The Little Man either outgrew or put holes in the knees of ALL his school trousers in the last 3 weeks of term.  So despite the weather he was packed off to Nursery in shorts that were made from his cut down trousers.

teacher gifts - IKEA spice jars filled with chocolates and a homemade card

 

 

We said good bye to The Little Man’s Nursery Class and The Little Fella’s Preschool with a Prom!!!!! Both boys have been through the preschool so I have known the staff for 3 yrs. Gulp!
I found it very hard to say goodbye.

I love this photo- you can really see their different personalities.

The Olympic Flag passed through our little corner of Suburbia.  We were the first stop of the day, so we had to get out very early.  I was amazed by how many people lined the streets. The boys loved watching all the sponsers trucks passing by but were not very impressed by some man running past with a torch.That man happened to be James Cracknell Oh well at least they have a story to tell their grandchildren.


We attended the Blessing of my Cousin’s Marriage.  I felt honoured to be asked to do a reading. (Good ole’ Corinthians 13) and I made a card which I know I took a photo of but cannot find it anywhere!



We spent the best part of the Summer at Hurley.  On the River Thames between Henley and Marlow.  We spent 2 weeks here as a family and then the boys have been back and forth, staying with their Grandparents.


Playing with cousins, messing in the river, long walks to Hurley Lock for ice-cream, even longer walks to Marlow (3 miles each way) and never a single moan, The rain finally stopped apart from the odd day so we were able to get out and make the most of what was left of the Summer.


Whilst the boys were away The Husband and I painted the house and attacked the very neglected garden (we hadn’t stepped foot in there since Easter!, overgrown is an understatement!)

There was also the odd day out. Legoland (NOT my favourite place to go in school holidays!) Chessington World of Adventures, The Look Out Centre in Bracknell and Playground at Swinley Forest, Kids club at the local Cinema (£2.00 per child and adults free ) and of course the local park. (Luckily the MIL bought us all Merlin passes with her Tesco points which allow us free entry into the main theme parks, London Eye and some Aquariums. (How can those theme parks justify their admission prices??!!)

Evenings were spent glued to the Olympics – didn’t we do well? just shows what a bit of investment in the younger generations can do! We have even managed to get some Paralympic Athletics tickets, I am so excited to be part of something so special!

I didn't manage to get much sewing done, although I got into hand-embroidery and completed a couple of projects whilst in Hurley.

I finally have new curtains for the living/front/family room.  However, I have a very wide 1930’s bay window which requires me to sew two pairs together and take up as they are also a bit too long.  My time at the machine has been so limited lately that I cannot justify using the machine for anything else. So the curtains just sit there, looking at me, waiting.  In case you are wondering, it still works out cheaper for me to buy two pairs and sew them together rather than making them from scratch (which would be slightly easier).

So until they are done, things are going to carry on being quiet round here!

And well done to any of you that managed to read this far! Part Two is coming up next...