Stress free living

It seems like forever since I returned from our recent break in Italy; it is in fact only four weeks ago. It has occurred to me recently that I have simply been living life in the fast lane and somehow (not sure how??) I've managed to get into that state of affairs whereby you have so much packed into each wonderful day that you don't enjoy any of it. Life just becomes a whirr!
IT'S STRESSFUL......
What I have come to realise is, that when life is in this stage you merely exist in order to get through one activity and on to the next, there just isn't time to stop and ponder and wonder, no time to absorb and appreciate.

Hmmmmmm!!!!

This cannot go on.......life is a very precious gift that we have been lucky enough to have been granted and it is here for us to enjoy. Dashing from one experience to the next does not allow us to assimilate the experiences, it barely gives the senses the opportunity to be turned on.
At the beginning of the week I made up my mind that I have to slow down and do the things that I like to do. I also have to learn to say 'no'. This is my life, I need to be in control.

Whilst sitting for an hour or so (child free) at the beginning of the week, soaking up the wonderful rays of vitamin D, I found a rather lovely exercise in a book I've borrowed from a friend; it's a daily ritual encouraging the individual to wake up and focus on the wonderful things and people in you life. Ten minutes each day just lying in bed, thinking about the day ahead. I'm also trying to focus on the positives in life. Mostly I am a very positive person but every so often, I have to realign and remind myself. It's easy to allow the negatives to take hold, they creep in very slowly, but once they take hold life takes a rather dull outlook. Not something I want to be part of my life.

So I'm taking things easy and so far things are looking good this week as a result.
I've had time to spend outside pottering about in the garden. It's working out really well. I'm so pleased I set my thoughts into actions and got myself motivated on the garden project.
The salad bed that I built at the beginning of the Summer, is looking fabulous and LOOK! My first Sweet Peas have started to flower. Simple things hey but really lovely. There is something really special and totally romantic about having freshly picked flowers on the table and Sweet Peas are some of my 'all time favourites'. I tried to grow them in this same patch last year; dreaming that they would grow up the window and I could admire them from inside and out, but it was not to be. I planted them too late and only picked a single flower before they were claimed by the first frost. This year I cheated and bought the plants and popped them into my newly created salad garden nice and early. It seems to be paying off :-)

The nasturtiums have rather taken over my salad garden and seem to be inhibiting the growth of the salad. As they are so delicious and peppery themselves I don't mind too much. Might have to re-think slightly next year though so that I get the best of both worlds, salad and nasturtiums :-)...the flowers are out on them now too and have added vibrancy to the bed.

Sweet Peas. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago and like the nasturtiums the flowers on these have become more abundant.

The field is looking amazing too! Last year I tried very hard to get something going in our communal garden but there wasn't much enthusiasm for my cause. This year however....well this year I had a better set of plans and somehow I have managed to inspire my lovely neighbours too. It really is truly amazing what can be achieved when you work as a team. I reported on the improvements made by my lovely friend with a mini digger but now there is more to report. We now have four vegetable beds established and (get this) vegetables planted AND....the war against the rabbits seems to be working. So far they have been deterred by out fencing efforts and have left our immature offerings alone. Yeah!!!!!
Next year we plan to extend the four beds and dig a further four but for now the area is covered to keep the light out and hopefully to keep the weeds down.

Thanks to the lovely Angela, we have some vegetables growing :-)

Yesterday I tackled the weekly grass issue and set to work with the mower and strimmer. I DO now understand the excitement chaps that is involved in using a strimmer! There is something highly satisfying about blitzing ( occasionally entirely decimating) an area. Fear not! I am a lover of wild areas too and have left many of them to just flourish in their own little ways. It's rather lovely having the mix of 'manicured' and 'wild'.
Two other little projects that we have been working on are firstly establishing a fire circle (it has long been my dream to have a fire circle to share with friends), it's there in place. Just needs to be utilised!
Secondly, I've been working on encouraging the children to build a really cool den.
I once heard a programme on Radio 4 about the importance of the den in a child's development. The building and emerging from the den stage was likened to the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly. My boy is definitely still in this stage....he doesn't stop so he must be a caterpillar!
So, I've pointed out a whole stack of long lengths of wood that were small sucker trees until last Autumn and the gazebo that has been feasted on by hungry rodents in the garage; which I thought might make a jolly decent covering and I've left them to it in the hope that they will create something to enjoy. Will see what happens!
Other than that, my lovely grandma came to stay last weekend and she (much to my initial horror) set to work clearing the weeds from my front garden. Nobody understands that I actually quite like the weed coverage of my flower borders. Some of the weeds are edible!! Okay, so I came around. Weeds are prolific so I can pick them somewhere else. The garden was rather choked with ground elder (not a good weed really - it does have a tendency to suffocate everything else). Whilst in 'clear out' mode, the dog rose by the front gate disappeared too! I have to admit that as I drive up towards the house it does look better now that the rather large mass of spiky untidiness has gone. My attention is now drawn to the rather pretty red rose that was hidden amongst the ivy and dog rose ramble :-)

Today I was rather excited by my latest mini project. I have honestly NEVER been a fan of geraniums, but last year they caught my eye as I popped into the Coop one day and I bought a pack of six baby plants. I never actually got around to planting the poor little darlings into any kind of pot and although they survived remarkably well and I enjoyed their loveliness as I emerged through my back door. Like almost every other plant I have ever owned, unfortunately they were only to see one season! I was rather taken again this year by their vibrant colours and I was so tempted to buy them, however, I resisted the urge until today......today the local market had them on special offer and so I bought twenty or so baby plants in a variety of shades. Geraniums were everywhere in Italy in bright terracotta pots and they looked so amazing against the red brick buildings. I've had a collection of pots stored in the garden for years just waiting for this moment. Today their moment of use came to fruition.

Don't they look pretty!
*Must just remember to water them!!

I've been working on a new Summer blanket....this one started to take shape at the beginning of Spring when colour started to emerge once again after the sleepiness of Winter had passed. The shop lighting wasn't great; I realise in hindsight, I am aware of that now when I take this little passion out and about. It's such a stark contrast from my muted ripple blanket. I'm not actually sure that I like it!

What do you think? It is rather bright! Not sure whether to carry on or to quit and make my creation into a cushion??!!
Now thinking I should have opted for greens with a hint of colour........oh well, the joys of colour selection!!

I am soooo loving having some time just to be. Midsummer has already passed. I'm going to enjoy the second half :-) XXXX

Can you spot kitty? She's been sunbathing almost non-stop for the past two weeks :-)

Tuscan dream

We've just returned from ten days in the beautiful Italian region of Tuscany (the middle western area).
It's funny but I feel a little guilty raving about what a wonderful time we had and even admitting to having been. It was an extravagance that I don't usually have. I haven't been abroad for about three years since my little trip to France for lunch. I have long been promising the children a trip somewhere warm, somewhere beautiful and a new cultural experience. So this year they held me to my promise.

As always, I arranged our adventure myself. There is so much cash to be saved by cutting out the middle man and it really isn't that difficult to do. For five of us to fly to Tuscany and the rent of our lovely rural farm house, it only cost £750, (£150 each)! I thought that was a really good deal.
My secret? It's the sites Wimdu and Trip adviser. A good friend of mine recommended Wimdu to me a couple of years back. She uses it to find accommodation mainly when she's travelling alone. Basically, Wimdu consists of folk who let out their homes or holiday lets or even rooms within their homes; to travellers. If you are a single person, it makes complete sense to stay in the home of a family so that you have a point of contact, you can ask them for advice about the best places to visit, someone is always looking out for you and you get to experience the culture first hand. It's a win win situation.

Our little Tuscan farm house was solely let as a holiday retreat. It was set just a mile or so outside the little village of Riparbella and overlooked olive groves and fields of vines. I became totally emerged in the atmosphere of the early rising folk who set to work tending their crops. The temperature reached 36 degrees in the middle of the day, I cannot imagine having to engage in physical activities in such extreme heat!

We hired a little Corsa; as we were in a rural location. Again if you book well in advance this isn't an expensive thing to do and it is great having freedom to come and go as you please. Having said that, it might be another adventure altogether negotiating the public transport system!

Riparbella was really conveniently located for visiting many local sites. Driving wasn't a problem once you got used to the road system. The only downside to travelling were the windy roads. There are main roads but not to all places, many of the roads were really very wiggly, consisting of several hair pin bends; this means that it takes much longer to get anywhere as you have to stay in a low gear and really concentrate!

Tuscany is soo beautiful! Think, red brick buildings, terracotta pots and bright coloured geraniums....arrr!! I found myself snapping away with my camera frequently, trying to capture all the loveliness so that I could savour it to devour at another time.
Let me share some of those gorgeous views with you......

Quaint little cobbled streets

Beautiful red brick buildings 

Stunning views

Small boy catches crabs

Street sellers eating a living

Incredible architecture in Florence

Glorious 'White Sands'

Den building in our garden

Fishing in hidden pools.......

Bryn's birthday treat!

Hidden alleyways......I loved the terracotta, shutters and laundry hanging to dry over the streets below.

Don't mind if I do!

The Duomo in Sienna

Inside the Duomo

:-)

Imagining a spot of sailing.....

Washed up on the sand

Loving those geraniums...

Feeling the water washing over my toes.....

Arrrrrr....bliss!!

A little walk in the park

After four months of pretty hit and miss walk training the big day of the 2015 London Moonwalk finally arrived. Yes, four months of pain, sweat and enduring the winging of my tag along children climaxed with one big night of fun!
The excitement had been brewing all week and the realisation of the fact that I would have to walk a very long and enduring 26.2 miles after a regular jam packed day of activity. You see, you train for the walking but you don't train to do it when you are ready for bed at a time when you are most exhausted.
I had planned to grab a quick hour long power nap between one and two on Saturday lunchtime, but like a child with a new toy, the excitement was so immense that there was no way that was going to happen!

At 7pm after dropping the children with a very good friend, my lovely friend Kat and I took the train into London and had to walk a good two miles to join the long queue into Moonwalk City. I didn't really want to waste any energy but part from hailing a cab, walking was really the only option; besides we thought of it as a warm up!

Kat had even remembered to polish her halo!

The queue was long but pretty well organised, see the large pink 'nipple tent' in the distance.

Clowning.....

Lol!!!

Once in the tent the smell of food wafted under our noses. The Moonwalk crew have thought things through really well and have a tasty hot carb filled meal waiting for you when you arrive. On this occasion it was actually only a little over an hour between eating and walking. Probably not ideal but it didn't take long for things to work their way through and the energy to be absorbed and transferred.

Waiting and preparing to go.....

On the start line.

The initial start was somewhat of a bundle. Everyone was desperate to get out there and do what we had turned out to do. We found ourselves walking half a minute faster than we had trained, that wasn't going to be sustainable......we pushed ourselves to get into a steady pace and pretty much managed to keep it up.

I was rather thinking of the whole event as one large nighttime sightseeing walking tour and it was just that. I imagined sharing some wonderful photos of the glorious sights with you but that was not to be. I was totally focused on walking.....I was on a mission. I took two photos near to the river....here's one!!

I gave up after that.......

Looking back everything is a blur....I passed amazing historic sights without even realising it......
We were so far ahead this year that even the many volunteers out helping hadn't woken up to their duties at the point we passed, they were there and some of them cheered us on but many just blended in.
There were many moments when it didn't feel like we were doing a marathon walk at all. Walking out in front meant that you left the atmosphere behind - most bazaar.

Our first mission was to reach Tower Bridge before it raised. Apparently it has only raised once before in the 19 year history of Moonwalks and Saturday night it was to raise twice! Luckily we made it. The wait even though it would have been brief, would have meant we would have lost time and cooled down. Not good.
The 18 mile mark is the hardest; although this time round it didn't feel too bad. From previous experience this is the time to lessen pain with the aid of pain killers. They help the inflammation caused by the exertion but also mask a little of the pain and help to give you a second wind. That second wind never ceases to amaze me...it's always rather funny! At the moment that most are flagging, you suddenly perk up and step into overdrive and zoom.....it's like a scene from Turbo!
Being out in front meant we didn't have to contend with masses of walkers that were slower than us. That was until the 22 mile mark where the Half Moon walkers joined us to finish the stroll. They silenced as we passed them, (I sense in awe of the fact that we had walked twice the distance they had in the same time), we passed on encouraging comments in our stride :-)

We cruised in along the home straight and across the finishing line in 6 hours and 6 minutes, knocking 4 minutes off my personal best :-) and we finished in the top 40 :-) :-)  :-)
That's determination for you.............No, not the competitive streak at all!!!!

So 4.36 am....what are we to do in London at that time of night??

Breakfast!

A huge thank you to all of those who sponsored me and offered kind words of support and encouragement :-)

Day after: Sore bottom and thighs rather tight whilst tackling stairs but feet feeling jolly fine and not a blister in sight :-)!

All just a walk in the park....

The Boy

                                   'Boy'

 
It has a funny sort of ring to it that word!

I was looking at my Small Boy today and marvelling at the wonder of him. One average seven year old boy, one bundle of mischief wrapped in a covering of innocence.

Everyday I am confronted with new challenges with regards to my boy. But his charm and cheeky nature shine through and make the challenges....memorable, bearable. Mostly!

Sticks......they seem to be all over the house

Today was just an average sort of day in the life of one Small Boy, another everyday adventure waiting to uncurl. 

The morning started with the usual session of 'aggravation of sisters', that happens most mornings and can last anything from one little teeny incident to the entire day. During this period the house is filled with the sound of screeching and complaining.....'Muuuum'.....grrrrr!

Lunch presented the usual.....'Muuuum, Fenton has tipped half the bottle of ketchup on his plate!' Hmmmm......

An after lunch walk along the canal was an enjoyable experience. The Boy is totally in his comfort zone when in the big wide world surrounded by nature. He shares a love of wildlife with the rest of us and a fascination of fishing like his father. He always insists on creeping up on unsuspecting fishermen and insisting on finding out the state of the catch for the day. 
The ducks sat happily on the bank sunning themselves in the afternoon sunshine, but only for a short while. We watched sympathetically as the poor birds jumped in fear of their lives, plunging into the chilled water below and shaking their tails in a state of discontent at the sudden awakening.
The boy cannot help himself!

Stopping off at the local shop on the way home. The Boy very happily trundled off by himself to buy bread and sugar whilst we waited in the car. He isn't phased by the need for independence, and is more than capable of locating the goods and going through the motions of paying for the items as needed. I wonder in hindsight whether he lay down on the shop floor and looked under the shelving units. He's always on lookout for money and frequently finds quite a bit. (Much to my embarrassment).

Racking up at a friends house on the way home for a brief visit, The Boy, fiddles and searches out all the gadgety things. 'Can I have a look in your camper van?, can I take this truck home, where's the loo'.....we set off for home with a number of large batteries for his electric scooter.........the list goes on!

Mess!

Old fuse board, partially dismantled and abandoned.....

Attempts at making a Go-Cart

Upon arriving home, The Boy happily tinkered with his new/second hand scooter, changing the batteries and forming a pile of those that were flat. I stood back and looked at my front garden; which increasingly seems to be resembling a 'scrap yard'. Items outgrown and further bits of treasure/junk discarded randomly.
'Stig of the dump' sprung to mind. He'd like that story, would he relate more to Stig or Barney?

A leisurely walk this evening brought out further excitement in the the life of the Boy. A family stroll down to the lake, (which is just five minutes from our house). A month or so back, the excitement centred around the mating of the toads. Concern was expressed for the females who often had up to ten males squashing them at one time. Of course the Boy rescued several back then from suffocation and doom. Tonight the excitement was more focused towards the large number of tadpoles swimming around and then.......a dead fish. 'Noooooo, Noooooo.......Yes', the fish (identified as a perch) was hooked out and wrapped up in his coat ready for the journey home. I expressed my disgust and offence being vegetarian at the nasty nature of this act. 'You must understand that I do not eat meat and it is important for me to learn about these things. Besides, I want to dissect it and then watch it decompose so that I can add the bones to my collection!' Ewwww yuck!!!

Arrrr (sigh.......)