A Perfect day at home

I was very much looking forward to this weekend, we have been so busy and just needed time to relax. Saturday proved just the opportunity.

The morning started off well with a yummy breakfast by the fire :)

Natural Greek yoghurt, flaxseed, cranberries & honey. Cranberry & raspberry tea. 

Megan's friend's dad asked when he picked her up for dance if she wanted to go to their house for the day, (which of course she wanted to), so Dave and I had the rest of the day to ourselves. It was a change of plan as I was looking forward to a weekend the three of us, but Megan was happy to go and I didn't want to stop her, on a plus the day was probably more restful than it would have been with the girls here!

After a bath and a lie down (hard work, breakfast and a bath!) it was time for breakfast round 2 - Dave whipped up bacon, scrambled eggs with spring onion, beans and toast. So delicious.

We had planned not to go out that day, but with Megan at her friends it was the perfect opportunity to get some food in as M finds shopping stressful. After heading very quickly to the shops, we got back and parked ourselves on the sofa for an afternoon of rugby.

Sneaky, low quality IPhone pic. It's difficult one handed!

It was a good afternoon. Cuddles with my man, half time leftover Indian food from the night before and a Wales win = happy Amy :)

Italy 9 Wales 26

In the interests of fairness (as this is now kinda a Welsh / English household), I should say that England also won their match against France :/ But that's enough of that and back to Wales!! ;)

Megan's future husband and man of the match, Leigh Halfpenny!

We weren't the only ones relaxing. Harley stayed like this all day!

Megan returned home late afternoon and it was then time for a snack and more cuddles on the sofa watching her programmes for a bit before bed.

A perfect day, even if I now have to detox :)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, is it really Monday already??

A xx

Friday's letters

Dear Friday, I am so pleased you are here! This week has been so busy that it seems to have flown by, but I am very tired and am looking forward to a (hopefully) peaceful weekend. As Dave has been so busy this week and I've only spent two nights with him in the last seven, I can't wait for 4.30 this afternoon when he finishes work and comes home for the weekend. We all need the rest, Dave and I have been out quite a bit over the last few weeks, work has been hectic for us both and Megan has been very tired from school this week. Apart from dance for her tomorrow morning, we plan on spending the day relaxing and watching some rugby (may not be so relaxing depending on the Welsh result!), and eating delicious food :)

We will not be dressed up this weekend - pjs all the way!

Dear Spring, Where have you gone? You graced us with your presence for all of two days, teasing us with your sun and (slightly) warmer temperatures and then disappeared once more...please come back soon, this arctic winter seems never ending and the icy cold is playing havoc with mine and Megan's skin.  Loving my Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough lip balm that I bought when I was in America to keep my lips smooth in this biting wind.

Dear Megan, I'm SO proud of you passing your cycling proficiency test in school.  Who'd have thought you could come on so much in such a short space of time with the extra difficulties you have. Well done!!!!

Dear Healthcare Assistant, Thank you for being so good taking my blood this morning and not leaving a bruise! After four bottles of blood being taken I was feeling faint (I didn't have breakfast!), but so happy not to be bruised!

Tidied up hair, my favourite Joe Browns cosy jumper and bad skin due to the icy weather 

Dear Sian,  Thank you for cutting my hair at short notice yesterday.  So glad that I popped in and you happened to be free.  I really appreciate that you spent your break doing it, even though I haven't washed my hair since and will be spending my weekend in pyjamas!! You're a gem!

I hope you have had a good week and enjoy a lovely weekend :)

A xx

Counting my blessings - This 'n' That - Downton Abbey

There seems to have been so many upsetting stories recently (generally, not specific to myself) and I am in a contemplative mood. We do not know what life has in store for us around the corner and it should be a reminder to us all to love those around us, be grateful for the time we do have and enjoy life to the full.  I feel extremely blessed to have some wonderful people in my life who love me as much as I love them.  I have a wonderful man who loves me unconditionally and despite of circumstances which others have run away from, and to be watching my daughter grow up into a bright if somewhat feisty young lady.

This quote hit home and is very personal to me at the moment...

On a brighter note, all Downton Abbey fans should check out this video that my lovely friend Deb posted on my Facebook wall!  I am so desperately waiting for series 4 and this gave me a giggle in the meantime! Thanks Deb :)

That I am shamelessly going to plug Revd Dr Trystan Owain Hughes' new book The Compassion Quest, which is officially published today.  

''Commitment to social justice without being motivated by compassion is politics without heart . . . Trystan Owain Hughes writes brilliantly and with excellent directives on how to live out compassion in a society that, at times, seems indifferent to the hurts of others. This is a book that was waiting to be written.'' --Tony Campolo, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Eastern University, Pennsylvania, USA.

I feel lucky and privileged to be able to say that I have got to know Trystan over the last few years at Cardiff University, where he is the Anglican Chaplain. Hee is truly one of the nicest people that you could wish to meet and his guidance both in my faith and outlook on life has been invaluable to me. Trystan's previous book Finding Hope and Meaning in Suffering holds a permanent place on my bedside table and I find myself constantly referring to it when I need to get my mind back on track and focussed on the positive things in my life.  

I am very much looking forward to reading The Compassion Quest and cannot recommend highly enough that you check out Trystan's blog or website for more information :) 

I hope this week is being good to everybody and am especially sending out extra love to Katie this week.

A xx

Welcome smiles :)

 

Lately my ten (going on sixteen) year old has been very challenging. Someone is growing up quickly and I'm sure hormones are kicking in. Things can be tricky with her on a regular basis with her social and sensory issues, but to be quite honest, recently I have been struggling with her attitude and behaviour and at times it has left me close to breaking point.

Imagine how pleased I was when I came home on Monday to a smiley, happy daughter! Her school had an inset day so she had stayed with my mother for the morning whilst I worked. When I walked in they were looking at my parent's California holiday photos and she was quick to tell me that she had helped my mother prepare dinner and had been planting seeds for the garden. She also knew that I had bought her a present so that probably helped!

Megan is an avid reader, which I had always wanted her to be. From the time she was born I would read to her (as my parents had done to both myself and my sister) and she has always enjoyed looking through books and telling stories. She has always reminded me of my sister and I with books, but I swear this girl has taken it to a whole other level! I cannot keep up with the pace that she reads books.

She is a huge Jacqueline Wilson fan and I picked up her new book Queenie on the way home from work for her. Being a new release it was only available in hardback, so cost more than I'd usually spend on it, but it was so worth it to see her face light up.

This is how she spent most of the night....

Although she asked if she could cook dinner! who was I to stand in the way?? This Italian chicken medley was put together - note the garlic bread!! :)

Followed by a make - up game with her dolls. Yes, that is a Christmas stocking hanging on the fireplace and no, I do not still have the decorations up! It was all part of her game!

 

I know I have to accept that my little girl is growing up and although she is now old enough to help cooking the dinner etc., it was lovely to have her play with her dolls and snuggle up reading for the evening.

I guess I'm just not ready for her to grow up.

A xx

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