Goodbye Bank Holiday - Life Lately

So yesterday was the last British Bank Holiday of 2014 and characteristically it poured down with rain. To be fair it summed up the weekend perfectly as I've spent most of it in bed with a flare up (I'm attributing part of the cause the weather), but it also seemed like the end of summer. It has got pretty chilly in these parts over the last week or so and although we've had a pretty good summer weather wise, it's been hot and sunny for a fair amount of time but I'm really not ready for it to end. Ok, it's the cliche that it's gone too quickly but I really don't know where the summer holidays have gone with only one week left until Megan returns to school.

Now bank holiday has gone, the next week will be spent preparing for the new school term. Today the dreaded school uniform and shoe shopping where Megan will get frustrated that nothing feels right (she is touch sensitive) and there'll be no shoes that she likes.

It has also dawned on me that I haven't shared much about our summer here so here's a few things about life lately.

My iPad has been overtaken with Megan's selfies - I've deleted over 100 still 245 to go. Future blogger or what? Her latest obsession is also YouTube. She wants her own channel but I'm a little unsure at 12?

We visited the coast last week before the weather turned. I just love West Wales and being by the sea.

We are trying to house train this little monster! The last of our baby bunnies is coming to live indoors and he's a bit of a handful and is getting a bit spoilt. He has been keeping me company whilst I've been bed ridden though.

We've been enjoying some yummy breakfasts - a fave when my nephew comes to stay is pancakes, Nutella and strawberries. With only a week left before the normal routine returns I think we'll be getting a few more of these in.

So, before it's time to face the world (in all it's wet Welsh glory) I'm going to lie in bed with a cup of tea and make a list of everything to get done this week. How did you spend the bank holiday? Is summer already leaving where you are?

Goodbye Bank Holidays - see you next year!

Amy

xx

Linking up with IBOT, Random Wednesday, Daily Diaries

Random Thoughts

You know those times where so much is going on in your head that you can't think straight or make sense of anything? Yeah that's me right now. So much has happened since I last updated this little space that I don't know where to start. I get a moment of clarity and then it disappears! So here's some random thoughts that are going through my head right now....

I'm hating this storm. I'm a big baby and hate heavy rain and am scared of thunder and lightening. Right now we have all three. I should be counting my blessings that we only have the tail end of hurricane Bertha but it's scary enough and I'm hiding under the duvet alone when all I want to do is cuddle up and feel not so scared!

I'm not ready for autumn. Don't get me wrong I love the crispness of the air, leaves crunching under foot and the new seasons fashions but I'm not ready for summer to leave. It's only August and I'm praying that once this storm clears we'll he back to the beautiful summer weather for a lot longer.

I'm loving having my car. I can't believe I managed so long without it!

I'm nervous / anxious / excited about an opportunity that is coming my way. Now is the time to take it but I'm a bit overwhelmed and don't know what to expect on Friday when I meet to discuss it.

I'm feeling grateful. For the first time in ages it seems as though things are coming together. Events lately have proved though that life is fragile and I don't want to take anything for granted, but I'm also thankful for what I have and the people in my life that make it what it is. I'm grateful for the Big man upstairs sending people into my path who understand, appreciate and bring out the best in me again, whether that be creatively, compassionately or even my slightly crazy side!

What random thoughts are in your head recently? I'd love to hear them!

Amy

xx

Linking up with IBOT, Random Wednesdays

Creative moments

Hello lovelies - I'm back from my little break and catching up on everyone's posts. I'm glad that I decided to have a week off as although I've missed this little space I needed to get my head in gear. As you can read here, a very good friends sister passed away in France last week, which hit me incredibly hard and I needed to sort things out in my head. It still doesn't make sense and it's made me re-evaluate what I'm doing but I'm glad to be back.

I got the inspiration to write a post last Wednesday so went with it, only to realise that my daughter hadn't charged my iPad and it died before I had saved the main bulk. It was then I decided to leave here for a week, I need to run with my creativity when it arrives and I've felt lately that I've been forcing it at times, which has lead to frustration and some not so good work. So now, I have taken next week off from the museum to spend time with Megan on her school holidays and to take some pressure off. I have work to do at home but when an idea comes to me I'll be at home to roll with it, even if it hits me (as quite often it does) when I'm lying in bed at night, I won't need to worry about getting up with the alarm the next day. How do you work? Can you switch on your creativity or do you have to roll with it when it arrives?

Amy

xx

Paris with a heavy heart

It's common knowledge in these parts that I adore Paris. I love the beauty, architecture, the food and lifestyle. Most importantly, my memories in the city have been made possible by the most wonderful friend that a girl could have. I never turn down an opportunity to visit yet this is one trip that I wish wasn't necessary.

I've debated hitting delete on this post as it's not the cheery one that I wanted to post today. However this blog is supposed to represent my life and life isn't all sunny and rosy and today, as although the sun is out and it's beautifully warm already, my heart is breaking for my dear friend Henri and his family, as his beautiful sister who lost her fight with cancer on Sunday night. She was courageous and dignified until the end and fought with all that she had to stay with her family. Life is so cruel, a husband has lost his wife, my sweet friend and his brother have lost their beloved sister. A parent should never have to bury their child and two young children should never have to grow up without their mother. 

I frequently struggle to make sense of this world and this is one of the hardest things to accept. Their family are good, decent people through and through, not a bad word is spoken by any of them. My friend is the sweetest, kindest soul, who has helped me down many a difficult path, without judgement and without question he has welcomed me into his home and has grounded me when needs be. Nobody deserves this, but in particular, she did not deserve to leave this earth so young. This family do not deserve to be grieving as they are.

My heart broke when my phone went off late Sunday night. It was one of those times when you feel sick to your stomach when you see who it is because you know what awaits when you answer it. So now, it is my turn to step up to do what he has done for me so many times. How you help someone through something like this I am not sure, but I know that this trip to Paris will be my most important and emotional.  

I can't even contemplate how she must have felt knowing that she was leaving her beautiful children behind, the thought of leaving me daughter to grow up without me doesn't ever bare thinking about. All I want to do is hold her and Tim close to me and never let them go. Make sure that you tell those around you that you love them, the sad reality is that you never know when the chance may be taken away from you.

Repose en Paix Anne, tu êtes enfin sorti de la douleur. Gros bisous xxx

I will be back soon with a more cheery post, but please bare with me as I help my friend through this devastating time.

Amy

xx