Back to School

Name labels sewn on? Check.

Uniform ironed? Check.

Packed lunch made? Check.

PE kit ready? Check.

It's back to school for Bella today as she enters Year 1 or "proper" school, as John calls it. Last night, as I tucked her in, she asked me to stay for a few minutes. We chatted about this and that, mostly about what she would do at school the next day. I wouldn't say she was worried exactly, but she just seemed to want a little extra reassurance.

Bella settled so well into reception last year, largely because she went to nursery in that school and was familiar with the other children, the teachers and the building. I was primed for tears (hers and mine) but it soon became clear that she was fine. More than fine in fact. Each morning I was dismissed. Sometimes, when I dropped her off, I would linger in the classroom and watch her with her friends. I love watching her when she doesn't know I'm there. Then she would see me and give me a look as if to say "Why are you still here? Go away. I'm busy."

This morning she was fine. I knew she would be. After the initial flurry of hanging up coats and bags, changing outdoor shoes for indoor pumps and putting lunch boxes on the special Lunch Box Trolley I kissed her goodbye and left her. It felt ok. My beautiful, busy, chatty, growing-so-fast little girl. I love her so much.

Settling In

The post-holiday come down has not been nearly so bad this time as it was after our stay in the Cotswolds. It helps that next week the schools go back and I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I have a to-do list as long as my arm. Looking at this photo of Bella makes me inordinately happy and I am holding on to those memories of family time and sea air.

Today has been spent doing chores - washing, sorting, more washing - settling back into our home. Quiet play inside and out, cooking, eating. I think I've just about caught up with emails and blogs. 

I've loved seeing how many of you are already feeling inspired by Autumn, or Fall. I know it doesn't officially start until 22 September but, for me, as soon as the new school term starts my thoughts turn to all things Autumnal. Quilts, apples, jam, falling leaves, darkening evenings, the smell of bonfires, planting bulbs, woolen scarves, blackberry picking, chutneys, making my Christmas cake, Harvest Festivals, pumpkins, Halloween, Bonfire Night, soups, lighting the fire, collecting conkers for nature displays, new school kit, crisp sunny mornings, the slow build up to Winter and Christmas. I love it. What makes you feel autumnal?

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Have you seen this limited edition Lyle's Golden Syrup tin? Isn't it great? I will wash it out when it's empty and use it to store pens or buttons or cutlery - or maybe flowers. It sums up rather neatly how I have felt this summer, and especially this week while watching the Paralympics. I am in awe of those athletes. To live with a life-changing injury or disability must be so challenging, the constant struggles and hurdles, day in day out; that in itself deserves more recognition than we give it. But to train for and compete in the Paralympics as well ...they have my respect.

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A few weeks ago the lovely Bee from the linen cloud blog nominated me for a Liebster award, given to blogs of less than 200 followers. Bee, thank you. I have been a little too relaxed in my response and now see that all the blogs I would have nominated have already been chosen by others, such is the interconnectedness of the blogging world! So, bending the rules slightly, can I say that if you visit here and take the time to leave a comment then I would choose you, you are all my Liebster, or dearest blogging friends. You know who your are. 

A Few Postcards and A Catch Up

Well hello there!

I feel as if I have been gone for the longest time, but it was only a week, and what a glorious week it was. We've just returned from a break staying with my parents, a very relaxing and surprisingly sunny end to the school holidays. Indulge me while I share some photos of happy times and places that I love... (Warning - photo overload ahead...but there are good things if you can make it to the end.)

On Monday we spent a leisurely afternoon at a farm tea shop with my parents and my Grandma. 

My grandparents used to live nearby and knew the farm owners and my sisters and I would often visit as children and feed the horses and look at the animals. I remember seeing a cow give birth there once.

It is still a dairy farm but has now branched out into ice creams and cream teas.

We took the train to Chichester on Tuesday. I still underestimate how much little people like train journeys!

We met my very dear friend Abigail and her daughter for lunch. Chichester is the nicest town, full of lovely shops, gardens, parks and cafes. 

We (well, just me really) are always plotting ways to move to West Sussex, but it is SO expensive!

It rained on Wednesday but I didn't really notice because my Mum, my sisters and I went shopping while the children were in Daddy Daycare. And we had Moules frites for tea.

On Thursday we had fantastic day out at Beaulieu, where we rode the monorail before my camera battery died. Not captured on film is the car museum, open top bus tours, parks, playgrounds and the beautiful abbey.

On Friday it was really cold first thing, and felt like Autumn was in the air. We decided to feed the ducks and have a pub lunch. Then the sun came out and by lunchtime it was glorious.

This place is precious to me. I could look at the view every day. I don't know why I love it so much. It just feels peaceful. Even when we went last February, in the freezing cold, it was beautiful. I guess some places are just like that. Do you have a place or a view you love that much?

We paddled. The sea was warm and shallow and clear. Perfect for big and little people.

Looking for crabs...

...and a lunchtime tipple.

My trusty Saltwater sandals did me proud this week, on sand and pebbles, for paddling and walking.

Well done if you made it to the end of that photograph marathon!

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I'm sorry I have not visited many blogs this week. It's been busy, what with one thing and another, but I will catch up over the weekend to see what you've all been doing.

Also, something rather lovely happened this week - I reached 100 followers! I'm still slightly baffled that you visit and read and comment, but I do love that you do! So thank you very much. To celebrate this happy occasion, and to share the blogging love which I have recently received, I am plotting a little giveaway. Details and photos to follow when I get round to finishing the bits and pieces I am making *stitches furiously*.....

Beside the Seaside, Beside the Sea

We have spent the most glorious day on the beach with my family. It is the August bank holiday here in the UK, and we are enjoying a three day weekend. I feel that by spending it at the seaside, I have spent it properly, which I realise is ridiculous. Despite gloomy weather forecasts predicting wind and rain we had hours of sunshine today.

It was a bright and blustery day with big, scudding clouds and constantly changing light. Not warm enough for swimming, but certainly warm enough to be outside all day. The views across the Solent were crystal clear. You could almost see the individual houses on the Isle of Wight across the water.

I could not stop looking at the clouds today. Look at that bright, silvery light.

Bella surveyed the view. John says she has copied that stance from me.

My parents have a beach hut on Hayling Island. We have had a beach hut there since before I was born, and many sunny weekends of my childhood were spent there. It was wonderful to take Bella and Angus there and see how utterly happy they were. Although, after an initial exploration of the beach hut, they ignored it continued with normal beach behaviour; running around, digging holes, throwing sand everywhere and shouting.

The inside is like a shed but much prettier. I can imagine how fun it would be to really go to town with decorating the interior of a beach hut - whitewashing it, making cushions and curtains and tablecloths in matching fabrics...it's probably just as well we could never afford one.

We flew kites...

...explored the fun fair...

...and bought ice creams.

By the end of the afternoon, the view had changed completely. The air was hazy, the light grey, and the wind cool. 

John taught Angus the universal male art of throwing stones into the sea.

Happy days.

The kids fell asleep in record time tonight. Also, John has really caught the sun. He has hilarious streaky red arms, neck and face from careless sun cream application. He is radiating heat. He had to go and find some after-sun in Mum's bathroom. Of course I am distracting him from his discomfort by laughing at him constantly, good wife that I am.

I hope you are all enjoying your holiday weekend, whatever you may be doing. 

Out and About - Saltaire

We had the nicest day out with my some friends and their children during the week. Bella  and Angus and I went to a park near Salts Mill, which is a huge old building converted into shops, restaurants and a fantastic David Hockney gallery. It is worth a visit just to see the Hockney art and to browse some seriously nice interior design shops. The mill is in Saltaire, a beautiful village on the outskirts of Bradford, which is deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of imposing Victorian industrial architecture with views right up on to the moors.

We met at the mill, then walked over the canal to the nearby playground. The children ran around and shouted and shrieked while we drank coffee in cardboard cups. A local youth group turned up and started doing some graffiti art much to the amusement of all the small people. We had an impromptu picnic lunch from a local deli and Mr Whippy ice creams from the ice cream van. Then we wandered over to a beautiful wide, open green space next to the canal. We bought more coffees. The children fed the ducks and played football and rode their scooters and bikes up and down the flat, wide pathways. The Victorians knew a thing or two about building public parks. It threatened to rain all day but didn't. 

I love days like that.

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Tomorrow we are off to my parent's for the week, for a dose of Southern air and the seaside and lots of family time. Rather annoyingly, the weather forecast is wet and windy so I'm no sure how much beach time there will be. I may camp out in the beach hut anyway, with a cup of tea and some crochet. 

Bella the Photographer

A couple of weeks ago we had a very lovely relaxed and sunny day at Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds. We took the camera and Bella took all these pictures. I encourage her to use the camera as much as she wants (providing she is careful!) and love watching her snap away. As a child, I remember having to really think about every photograph I took on my first camera so that I didn't waste the film, and then the feeling of surprise and excitement, or disappointment, when the photos came back from the developers.

How different it is now. Bella clicks away, taking as many as she wants, as do I, knowing that they can all be edited when we get home. She has a camera, a little pink plastic VTech, but I think she knows that it is a "toy" and that our camera is where the real fun is to be had. 

I love to see her different perspective on the world through the camera lens. I often wonder what she really intended to photograph. In the above shots, it is the Abbey, my sister lying on a blanket, Angus's arm, her feet, and me doing some crochet. All very random, yet she managed to capture so much of what we experienced on that day; beautiful historic buildings, lounging in the sunshine, bare feet and bare arms, and a little recreational crochet.

Does anyone have any tips on how to encourage and nurture this interest in photography in children? Or maybe I should just continue to let her use the camera as much as she likes.

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I will delay showing you my Christmas crafty nonsense until at least September, when we can pretend that it is Autumn. It was very amusing to read your wildly different comments and feelings on the C word. Clearly not everyone shares my love for early festive planning! But that is ok.