Pass the tissues

Hello, feeling a bit grotty actually.  I have the cold that has been circling around us all this week.  In the wonderful knowledge that I can also divulge my accompanying weepiness here with no threat of the "whats-the-matter-hun" response, I can tell you that I am in fact decidedly weepy.  Analysing this, I would say the route cause is down to a couple of things.  One, the fact that I became cross with my peeps just two days after they had given me lovely presents and two, the fact that yesterday was the first day I allowed both offspring to separate from Hubby and myself on our weekly visit into town.  I am aware this is a hugely overdue 'allowance' and it only lasted three quarters of an hour.  However, it is a milestone that highlights the passing of time and the amount of growing up that has been done.  Another tissue please.  

On top of this Hubby is back to work tomorrow and children will be back in school (Dan is revising for another exam as I type).   Although I am happy with my own company, I like my family at home where I know everyone is safe. So there's that in the mix as well.  And of course we have the blood pressure monitoring coming up.  Hubby's father could be feeling a little better and my Uncle's funeral is a week tomorrow.  So maybe more than a couple of things causing the puffy eyes.

I think Sundays do have this ability to encourage any underlying negativity and I'm sure I'll feel brighter after my pork dinner and Hubby's muffins.

Laters.. 

Pics

Good evening, more pics for you - I thought I might as well show you my attempts at getting the bee in focus..

 

Possibly 3 different bees actually, none of them as clear as I would like!



A few more pics before I call it a night...

Good Night :-)

Shipspotting

Hello, enjoying a lazy family week at home.  It is the half term school holiday and Hubby has taken the week off work too. 

Trying to remain calm re next week's possible timing clashes - no news yet as to when the funeral is taking place. Hoping it will not be Monday or Tuesday, as this is when Dan's exams are happening.  My appointment re the 24 hour blood pressure monitor is on the Thursday, to return obviously on the Friday.  So we are looking at a window of Wednesday if we are all to attend, plus avoiding any disrespectful beeps and deflation sounds from the b/p monitor...

Apologies I have missed a couple of blogging days..

Tuesday began positively with Suzie attending a brief session at school, just to add finishing touches to her computer exam work. Hubby, Dan and myself went for a pleasant walk whilst we waited.  I have pics to show you.  We had planned to go for a drive once Suzie was done, so despite all being fairly comfy after a bite to eat, we ventured out.

We found ourselves in very peaceful surroundings. I spent time obsessively trying to get my camera to focus on a bee that was frequenting the flowers.  The volume of hilarity being produced by our offspring, suggested they had discovered their 'second wind'.  I had not.

After many calm requests by both Hubby and myself to perhaps quieten down a little, and respect the fact that there was possibly actually someone in that ramshackle tent, things were still rather loud.  Eventually, the threat of pocket money withholding was understandably spat out by Hubby, and we walked back to the car in silence. I know, however, that Suzie has been saving her pocket money to buy Dan's birthday present with her own money. Therefore the thought of not receiving this week's installment would have been quite a blow.  So I was upset for her, cross with both of them, and cross with Hubby for using the no pocket money thing and to top it all I had no properly focussed photograph of the bee. I retreated to bed for 3 hours whilst the rest of the world continued.

Maybe we should have stayed comfy after our lunch, and yes of course they will both get their pocket money.

***************

Yesterday the weather was quite good in the morning.  We decided to take a picnic and go to see if any  boats  were visible from the coast.  Looking at  "Marine Traffic.com" I noted that there should have been two tankers and two cargo ships. Great, I thought. 

Hubby had checked the weather, and it wasn't going to rain until 4pm.  We reached the 'boat viewing' area at around 2.15pm.  It was raining.  As we attempted to get closer to the shore, the single boat that had just about been visible, literally disappeared into the mist.  So that was a fail. 

Anyhoo, we enjoyed our picnic and left our shipspotting to another day.

Will just have some lunch then I shall upload some pics.  But don't expect any boats.

Ok, here we go.  These are some pics from our Tuesday walk. If you look carefully, you will spot a canine photobomber in one of the pics.  Very cute, but not one of our menagerie.

  

 

 

Well, did you spot him??  I know he's not too clear... 5th pic back from here, think he's a sheepdog having a crafty look over the smaller wall :-)

Pets

Wow it has been a heavy sort of day, I have no energy whatsoever!  Both children fending off colds,  Dan suffering the most at the moment.  I am feeling guilty about asking him to clean his guinea pigs out, but they are overdue for a freshen up.

Here's a pic I took of them the other day.. just after Iroh had tipped their bowl over for the umpteenth time!

Iroh & Zuko

 
They are lovely piggies.

Dan's first guinea pig was a black, tan and white, short-haired lovely little chap.  His name was Vinnie.  I was very fond of him and although he wasn't mine, I like to think the feeling was mutual.  I would provide him with an extra portion of broccoli when certain peeps had gone for the school bus.  Consequently my peaceful morning cup of tea was not possible until the excited squeaking was dealt with.. as what began as a treat, became an absolute necessity! Loved him lots.

It was a very sad day when he left us.  It took time, but eventually Dan decided that in fact he would like another piggie. Or two.  This time though, he fancied some long-haired ones.  He pledged commitment to their wellbeing, so I began searching.  I found a nice lady in Telford, going by the business name of Caroca Cavies.  As promised, she let us know when the litters had been born and Dan chose the two he liked best. (As above!) 

Since then, I believe this lady is no longer breeding guinea pigs to sell. However here is a link to someone who seems to be breeding from an original  stock of  'Caroca Cavies' piggies ..  Cherry Tree Cavies in Stafford. Just in case anyone reading this in the UK is after long-haired guinea pigs, as the pet shops don't seem to have them.  

Going back to treat-giving, I was pleasantly surprised the other day when Hubby had taken it upon himself to pop to the pet shop to buy a packet of treats for the animals!! He himself has become very attached to the night-time ritual of placing the guinea pig house back in the cage.  (Dan takes it out of the cage every morning, otherwise Iroh in particular will not be seen all day).  So it has become the nightly norm to hand out treats to all members of the menagerie.  I give Domino and Humphrey theirs, whilst Hubby dishes out to the piggies (and rabbits if I disappear quickly enough - they are much less polite and create such a noise rushing to the front of the cage!).  Hubby's treat-buying is highly amusing, as his initial family plan did not involve pets - nevermind running a zoo!!

 

Presie Time

Birthday muffin

Birthday gifts and cards from my lovely peeps

Happy Birthday..

"...to mee-eee, HaPpY bIrThDaY to me!"  Yay, it's my Birthday!  Having a contented day at home with my peeps.  Sun is shining through the windows, Hubby has just cooked me some birthday muffins and the left-over Eurovision party food awaits, what a lovely day!

Friday night was spent with friends.  Very pleasant evening.

Yesterday we had confirmation that my Uncle has indeed sadly passed away.  Thoughts are going out to my cousin and I am hoping that the funeral does not coincide with any exam dates, in order that we may attend. 

Following some comforting cups of tea yesterday morning, we went out shopping.  Straight into crowds of people waiting for a display by the Red Arrows.  Super. Normally this is something we purposefully avoid  -  People!! We don't normally gravitate towards festivals or anything busy, and certainly not anything involving numerous aircraft swanning about above our heads.  However, we were there and the photographic opportunities over-rode my fear.  Kind of.. Hubby has instructions to delete the video containing my initial expletive-filled reaction. The display was stunning, however, and the co-ordinated swanning is unbelievably clever.

So here are some pics I managed to take.  We would have had a better view from a beach-front vantage point, but I would not have been conscious so that would not have worked.  Perhaps scoot over to the Shipspotting Section to understand more about my fear of overwhelming structures/machines ..or not... anyhoo  here are the pics..

Apologies to daughter Suzie, who disagrees with Instagram tweeking!  I am aware that there is much variation in sky colour, but I was trying to gain as much clarity to the aircraft as possible :-)