Two months have flown by since I last sat my toosh down in front of Ayres Rocks blog spot and I am hopeful that I can once again make a more regular appearance after my poor show of late.
Since my last entry back in June, we have returned home, still unfinished, still with boxes left to unpack and a piano in storage but certainly livable and definitely more spacious than when we departed back in March. Already our lives feel transformed with the boys now having their own rooms which couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. We have a power shower which is mighty hard to step out of first thing in the morning, a beautiful new carpet under foot which runs throughout all bedrooms, the landing and the stairs which has improved the flow, but most importantly we have a kitchen breakfast room which means the return of a dining table after nearly 2 years without one. It has been really detrimental to our family not having space for it over the last 24 months as there had been nowhere to sit and share an evening meal during which to discuss the goings on of each others day. No large table to sit and prepare my lesson plans or for Jamie to do his homework and no table for Stanley during his 'toddlerdom' to learn table manners. So we welcome the return of our four-legged friend. No not our dog Tia (although she obviously came home with us) - our country pine chunky table and chairs.
The solid oak floor sits piled up in our lounge. Dean said it needed 4 weeks to acclimatise to the room temperature before he could lay it. I'm guessing the said pile may become beautified with Christmas decorations in four months or so as Deans work schedule looks absolutely manic, but we shall see. We need to finish painting in the kitchen, splash backs behind the cooker, kick boards fitted to the bottom of the kitchen units etc, but I have to say, Dean has done an amazing job. A massive thanks to my little brother Bill who has plastered the house from top to bottom single handed for us. My other brother Craig came down for a week to push the painting on and my dads talents were wasted really as he was the guy that got lumbered with tip runs, mixing up muck etc but a very important role none the less. What a great family I have xxxxx
Since being back on 'the street', we have been largely blessed with great weather and the infamous Kilk mist has been kept at bay. Jamie has been able to play out with one of his best friends which is one of his favourite past times at the moment and he has finally nailed riding his bike, so there is no stopping him now. Stanley's curls seem to be dropping out which is making me feel a bit sad as he had an admirable and beautiful mop top going on. I had his hair cut last week as I thought it was the length that was pulling it down but alas, they've not sprung back yet. I remember my hair going funny when I was about his age and mum recalls having to cut it all off, really short, I mean really really short. His hasn't lost the condition though like mine did so maybe its just his baby curls falling out :-(
Dean has been away up country for nearly 2 weeks and has got another 5 or 6 days to go yet before he returns. He has been 'crafting' for three previous customers he has worked for on and off over the last 7 years back up in Hertfordshire so its nice for him to be asked to return to familiar faces. I decided not to run any summer holiday classes this year as with all the upheaval of the renovation work etc, I really felt like I needed some down time and quality time with the boys. I definitely think I made the right decision. We've enjoyed flying kites, beach days, feeding the ducks, cooking, camping in the garden, library visits, splashing about in Bideford Park - all the simple things in life which have brought us a lot of pleasure. I'm still working hard on all the marketing for both Deans business and mine, but I can do this when the boys are in bed (well, when I'm not on facebook or watching the TV!). Speaking of which, Ive got a stall at Bude Carnival tomorrow, meeting and greeting, making and decorating shakers etc so Id better get off here for now and get some preparation done. I'll be back...............
