8.00 am: A cup of tea while I survey the garden in the morning gloom. Leaves everywhere - I need to rake the grass.
9.00 am: Try to persuade Angus to get dressed. This is unsuccessful and doesn't actually happen until about 10.30, and only after we've had a twenty minute battle.
10.00 am: I put some washing on and make the beds, taking extra care with mine, plumping the cushions, smoothing the quilt - I love making up the bed.
11.00 am: Arrive at the National Media Museum in Bradford. It's a fantastic place with enough for small people to stop them getting bored, like the interactive "blue wall" on the television floor, and lots for the grownups, like the superb history of photography exhibition. We hadn't been for years and it was just the sort of outing we needed on a grey, damp day when everyone is tired and irritable. Plus it's free. Free is good.
12.00 pm: We enjoy the Video Games floor. I say we, I mean John and the kids. Actually, I mean John.
1.00 pm: We're still here. We've had some lunch in the cafe and we're thinking about leaving soon.
2.00 pm: Wander back to the car park through the autumnal streets of Bradford. Having the camera out makes me look at the city anew, and there is so much beauty and spectacular architecture there when you look.
3.00 pm: After a quick stop off at Asda on the way, (hideous - so, so busy and the kids were a total embarrassment) it's home for a cup of tea and a crispy cake. These are amazing - John made them with the kids after school yesterday and I think there are about three left now. I'll post the recipe soon.
4.00 pm: I prepare the fruit for the Christmas cakes I'll be baking tomorrow, being very careful to pour all of the brandy over the fruit and none into my cup of tea.
5.00 pm: For a treat, Bella and Angus are allowed their tea (pizza and chips) on their laps on trays, and sit on the sofa in front of the tv. I know, I'm rewarding bad behaviour, tut, tut, but it made for a blissfully happy tea time and made my day easier.
6.00 pm: Bella and I snuggle up on the sofa in front of last week's Strictly Come Dancing. Bella wants Rachel Riley from Countdown to win.
7.00 pm: Bath time. I love that they are still small enough to be bathed together, and will sit there playing for as long as we let them. The favourite bath toys were the ones which are never intended to be bath toys, like these two.
8.00 pm: Tidy up. Cook some food. Choose a film to watch (End of Watch - quite good. Depressing.) and resume beer drinking.
Twelve photos for twelve hours. Not an original idea - certainly not mine - but lots of fun, not least because it makes me get the camera out and use it all day. As you can see, it's a pretty mundane old life round here and at times today was hard work. Tired children, grey skies and the blooming Redundancy Budget can sap the joy out of anyone's weekend, but when I look back there were many moments of laughter, silliness and joy tucked away throughout the day, here and there.
What a lovely family day. It's nice that so many snippits of your time together will count as sweet memories! Planning a similar day tomorrow here in Canada. Hopefully my 3 kids will cooperate - but even if they don't we'll still eat dinner in front the of TV, too! :)
ReplyDeleteI love it!!! 12 photos for 12 hours!! Why have I not heard of this idea?
ReplyDeleteYour day seems like it was pretty awesome to me! We had pizza too but I dont have those sweet little trays that you have.... so cute! I adore that picture of the man and woman above your bed, it's adorable!!!
And you cracked me up about the game room :) at least your husband hsd a good time!! Heeeeeee!!:)
Thank you for putting a smile on my face!
Have a lovely Sunday,
Tammy xx
I used to do photo diaries of my days when my son was a baby. It filled the time, especially when my husband was traveling for work. I did one at three months, one at six and one at twelve, and it's fascinating now to look back at what my life was like then. I would love to go to that museum, it looks like my kind of place. I love to make the beds too. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved this Gillian! I think it's these kinds of posts that capture what can easily be missing from family photograph albums but which just speak volumes and contain much that is to be treasured and enjoyed no end when you look back in a few or a lot of years time. E x
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. I especially love the photos of the feet - Angus and his one slipper on, one slipper off, and the tv-watching feet. My littlest always puts up a huge objection to getting dressed as well. It takes one minute - but like you say, it can take ages to persuade him to do it.
ReplyDeleteIt's not mundane, it's real life! J x
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post! A lovely record of your day, a reminder of happy times and that, in the context of the entire day, those little aggravating moments that we all have are really just a few minutes of our day. I'm waiting for that crispy cake recipe - yum! - and there is nothing wrong with a TV dinner now and again, especially if it gives you a little window of calm! (And snap! We have the same tv stand/console thing, you have great taste... ;-) ) Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteI love this Gillian, what a great idea. Your day looked great, especially the museum, your bed and of course Strictly. I miss having my girl to watch it with, watching with Finn is not the same as he won't talk about the dancing with me unless he thinks its funny! Swap beer for women and tea for coffee and the end and beginning of our day would look very similar.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post - thanks for sharing your day & your pics. Xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea - it's easy to miss what really makes up a day. And life is full of ordinary bits - it makes us appreciate the unusual more! I hope!!
ReplyDeleteA quiet day here - hopefully full of crafting as my son has just left to go on a school rugby tour. Enjoy your Sunday x
Your day looked anything but mundane! The battles with the kids will get less and I'd give anything to have those back! Sorry hope this doesn't look like preaching it certainly isn't meant to be, but I love reading your posts because they take me back to happy times with my boys and also to the challenges, which were many! It looks like a lovely day ... Can't get behind Rachel Riley though. Xx
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound mundane - it's a mixture of what makes up life - the everyday domestic necessities and the treats along the way. I must admit to being baffled by your love of bed plumping though! I've also just put some alcohol on fruit though mine is to use up the ever present pile of black bananas. x
ReplyDeleteJust think in 10 or 20 years you will be able to look back on life now, on ordinary moments that have gone forever. Thanks for sharing your world x
ReplyDeleteIt's a perfectly lovely family day lovely Gillian. If you think that's mundane then you should of seen mine yesterday ;o) I went to a goodbye eighties party for one of my lovely colleagues who is leaving to go and work elsewhere and I had a few too many tequilas....oops, I felt rather sorry for myself. Hey oh it was all good fun though and thank goodness for cups of tea in bed and the I player to make me laugh (the wrong mans) whilst crocheting a large granny square!
ReplyDeleteFortunately Alice was well entertained at a friends and ballet in the afternoon before I pulled myself together x Penny
I think this is a great idea and not one that I have seen before. I like to see the little bits and pieces that make up someone's day. Well done for making Bradford in the gloom look attractive!
ReplyDeleteIt looks as though you had a great day Gillian. I am very impressed that you are getting your christmas cake fruit ready. I have put make christmas cake on my list that I am starting for November, but that is as far as I have gone! I bet your kitchen smells lovely. Glad that John enjoyed the games.... xx
ReplyDeleteLovely post Gillian, I may well try that when I finally get a blog up and running! Love Angus pyjamas, ath Kidston if I'm not mistaken. The sun is finally coming out now here in North Yorkshire after a morning of standing watching football....well actually I wasn't standing out there I helped serve the teas, coffees, bacon and sausage butties in the kitchen but you get the idea :)
ReplyDeleteI think this is a wonderful way to highlight your day, much of the day is chore related, but you have captures the little moments that become special; over time.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Lovely family day I love the twelve hours in pictures I would love to give it a try sometime x
ReplyDeleteWe talked about going to the National Media Museum yesterday but didn't get there, it's on my list of places to go. These ordinary moments will be a joy to look back on in years to come.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, you did lots of good, family things! If it had been my 12 hours yesterday, it would have been views from the sofa, so well done, you moved about a lot more than me!
ReplyDeleteLove Claire xxx
I remember going to that museum when I was at sixth form doing art and photography but it wasn't called mixed media then because we all used to take our film roll to boots to be developed or do our own in the dark room - Oh dear showing my age!! A very family day I won't say nice or lovely because they can often be a bit fraught! Love to you Jo x
ReplyDeleteI love posts like this as I am so nosy - lol - sometimes its definately a case of pick your battles and tea infront of the tv for a chill out night is not a bad thing especially after a stressy shop. Wish I was closer that museum sounds fab - its actually reminded me of a local museum that has a good exhibition on with film characters and I think its £2 so thank you for that - thats a little half term excursion sorted :-) ooh more posts like this please :-) xxx (oh yeah and the recipe too xxx
ReplyDeleteThey say the best things in life are free. I think it's great to show an example to children that not everything has to cost lots of money to be enjoyed. More of the same please Gillian x
ReplyDeleteI would love a day like this. Their tea looks nice! Heather x
ReplyDeleteI was in Bradford yesterday ... if I'd had know you were there too I'd have waved. Actually I'd have nabbed you for a cup of coffee and a natter.
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that re. the Redundancy Budget thing. Chip up, it'll work out brilliantly I bet :)
Thank you for your lovely post, it made me smile to myself ... I think that your day looked great, and I can so relate to your honesty .. thanks for letting us all know that we are not alone in the struggles of normal life. And well done for making your own Christmas Cake .. Look forward to seeing that. We are also enjoying Strictly Come Dancing ...
ReplyDeleteThat was such a lovely post to read. Just a day in the life........!
ReplyDeleteMy christmas cake fruit is in the bag waiting, infact seeing you're picture has reminded me, we have no brandy!
Such a lovely idea - 12 hours, 12 photo's. It just details all those little moments, good or bad, that just make family life what it is. But one things for sure it whizzes by and you'll look back with fond memories.
ReplyDeleteKate
It doesn't look mundane at all from your photos, just like general family life and it sounds like a nice day, aside from the Asda bit!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to the NMPFT in aaaages! I went to Uni in Bradford and we had a few lectures / labs down there, it was fun :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your day with us, it's interesting to see what other people get up to x
ReplyDeleteI love this idea and might have to give it a go myself! Sounds like the perfect day to me!
ReplyDeleteA lovely idea... Isn't it the life of many people? And I don't want to spoil anything, but the dressing up part does not come better as they grow older ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love this "day in the life" idea... I should do this myself. All of your photos are lovely! I love your tea cup and pretty bed! And I see a glimpse of your fairy lights twinkling in the background. I love how you ended the day with a cold beer... perfect day!
ReplyDeleteGillian, your admission that your children's behavior was a "total embarrassment" at one point when you were out and about, caused me to chuckle in sympathy, and remember the time when my two little girls fell apart at a shopping mall. I managed to scoop up one girl with each arm and make it back to the car while they wailed and I imagined that all the adults around me were appalled at my lack of parenting prowess :) [They are now happy adults who don't wail in public, when I am around, at least. Honest!]
ReplyDeleteGracie xx
Hi Gillian, it was interesting reading this blog, it doesn't seem so much mundane as normal. The majority of life tends to be routine stuff with only a small % of excitement thrown in. It's this split that partly makes the exciting times so thrilling. The redundancy thing must be a challange, but I understand a chosen one. You seem to be "walking tall" as a family through it and what a precious blessing to have time as a family in a mad world that not only rushes but often has both parents working long hours just to keep the wolf from the door.
ReplyDeleteBella and Angus must have loved making crispy cakes with their dad - precious :-).
Keep going girly - you guys are doing a sterling job - Karen (Portsmouth x).
What a fabulous 12 hours filled with so many exciting and fun moments. Good to see someone else enjoys making the bed and making things look pretty, my little daily joy. How lovely to be snuggled up watching strictly, such special moments. Xoxo
ReplyDeleteGreat post.. I think if we al recorded our day we will find we have done more than we thought.
ReplyDeleteMight give this a go next week...Thanks.
Lovely idea, it helps remind us how it's all the small things that really matter, sounds like a great day to me :) xx
ReplyDeletehi gillian
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely family day.....so real!!!!!! thank you for sharing!
wishing your and your family a good week,
love and hugs regina
A lovely day, Gillian! Not mundane at all -just a normal family day, and what life is often made up of. Life can't be whiz-bang all the time!
ReplyDeleteWhat a 12 hours looks like you had a wonderful day. I love making up the beds and making them and plumped and neat xx
ReplyDeleteI like this post idea...very cute, I might have to borrow it one day. Love the look of that crispy cake, will you be sharing the recipe?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post- and even the most regular days to some are the most interesting to others. A great idea:)
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI love reading your post - its so refreshingly normal. I alsolove your bedroom - what is the print of the lady and man? - its so cute
Hi Amy, thank you. The print is from an online shop called Isa Form (http://www.isa.nu/shop/eng/index.html) and it's this one: http://www.isa.nu/shop/eng/iris-and-frank-p-459.html. You can personlise it with names, dates, hair colour etc.
DeleteGillian x