Proud mimi.

It's early in the morning.  Very early.  Hannah leaves at some ridiculous time for one of her jobs.  Each Monday and Friday, when she's around, she turns up at various green spaces to register ladies in an initiative from Nike - yes the one with the swoosh not a tick, as they quickly inform their employees - to get women exercising.  Before THEY go to work, so of course it's early.  Anyway - it wakes me when she leaves and I can't sleep.  

This particular morning I picked up Kai's report.  His progress report for Nursery.  It was laying on the table after we'd all read it and re-read it, discussed it, analysed it etc last night.  I'm always a touch cynical about reports as I realise there's a protocol for writing them and total honesty is not one of them.  I have memories of comparing my girls reports at certain stages and even with 3 years between them they were so similar in wording as 'set' phrases were used that it was hard to think that my children were actually as different as chalk and cheese.  But, last night and now this morning, I can't help but feel extremely proud of some of what's been written about my little man.  Here's some of the things that make me extra happy.


Kai is a bright and independently minded child who has been a pleasure to teach.

He is a popular boy with many friends.

Kai is able to share and take turns.

Kai can be extremely caring, looking after others who are upset.

Kai has excellent self care skills.

Kai is confident and intelligent enough to direct play and lead the games. 

Kai has good language skills.

Kai has well developed mathematical skills.

Kai is curious about and interested in the world around him.  He has an extremely questioning nature.

Kai has very good physical skills.

Kai will persevere in an action to master a skill.


As his mummy works, and as this little boy sleeps, his mimi thanks God for the blessing of this precious child.   When I found out my 17 year old girl was pregnant, a very very dear friend Kim Hagans said to me.  A child is always a blessing and never a consequence. 

Kim, you were so right.

Two Trips and One Pink Palace.

Wow!  It's pretty much been a month since I last posted on here.  Time is just flying by and I wish I could report that a multitude of important jobs have been carried out alongside tons of creativity, hence no blogging time, but that would be a great big fat lie.  Apart from the absolute essentials which have to get done otherwise my husband and children, much like the dog when he's hungry, would be pawing and whining around my legs.  Annoying enough to make me do the necessary.  I had dreamt of decorating my bedroom, which has been waiting for at least 2 years since Alan and I moved up there, but managed the bathroom. I had dreamt of crocheted blankets, patchwork lampshades, and bunting galore but managed to start two blankets and not finish either.  Remember those blogs which fed my envy but were also  supposed to excite and inspire me to greater things - well I'm still looking and the envy still exists but along with irritation that they manage to 'do' things whilst I manage to covet!


Mind you I have had 2 trips, to the Pink Palace in the last month which is excuse enough and makes me blessed beyond measure. The first one was me taking my mummy and daddy there for 5 days and the second, from which I have not long returned, was a holiday with the 2 best boys, Alan and Kai.  Both trips were good times, enjoyable in different ways.

The first was, in fact, a real first as I drove there and back, which is a miracle in itself. I've never driven more than 2 hours before - so to complete a 5 hour journey one way was empowering beyond measure.  So proud of myself for doing that one.  Proud especially because I managed to do this with my darling daddy  continually telling me when to overtake (which in his world is all of the time) for a good part of the journey. Still they had a wonderful holiday and the weather was not bad either, but that would be because the rain god Alan was nowhere around.  The locals have started asking Alan to stay away due to his ability to bring rain to Cornwall immediately he ventures over the county line.  Sure enough, this last week had rain every day.  It didn't stop us though - we just purchased a cheap sun (that's a joke), wind, and rain (more like it) beach shelter and we were made.  Kai couldn't resist the water every day and Alan had to be his constant companion.  Which basically meant I read a book.  Yayyyyyy!  Here's some photos - you'll notice there was a little bit of blue sky at times.

The boys rock pooling.

They got one! And here it is..........

Kai, of course couldn't resist going in. 

 They both then needed to dry off.  Yes there was some sun that day.

Only others can't have been expecting it as we were the only ones in the sea and on the beach. Notice Kai doesn't even have a wet suit. 

From then on the beach tent came into it's own. 

The wet suit became a regular feature.

And Alan's luminous jacket revealed itself once more.

See what I mean.  We WILL go to the beach and play!

And I will watch from under a towel!

It was fun and Kai was a star.  He only started missing his mummy on the 5 hour journey home.  "Aren't we there yet?"  On the minute, every minute, all of the way home!