8 years

This handsome little chap is my nephew's dog. His name is Ollie. He is just over a year old and today is the first time I met him. He was a gift to J from his girlfriend L and although he belongs to J Ollie spends most of his time with L and her family.
But this weekend he is at my sister's. My sister's home is the house we lived in with my dad when we were teenagers. We had a dog back then too, his name was Ben and he was a big softie who adored my dad.
Being in the back garden of our old home playing with a dog was an appropriate place to be this morning as today marks the 8th anniversary of when our lovely dad died.
8 years. It doesn't seem possible. Our dad was there for us whenever we needed him, a pillar of support, full of love and the biggest hugs to make you feel safe when the world seemed to be against you.
What can I say, he was the best, loved and missed but forever in our hearts.

August

(My mum's birthday cake, nothing to do with this post, but everyone likes cake don't they)

How is that during the summer break when the children were younger and I was off with them we were busy with days out but I still found time to blog about it all and now they are older and mostly doing their own thing I don't seem to find the time?

Here we are at the end of week 5 of the school hols and not a thing about them has been recorded.
Let's do something about that right now.

T's summer antics are very straightforward. He has either been putting in extra shifts at his paid part-time job or extra shifts at the charity shop. Another month and he'll have been volunteering there for 2 full years! His focus, with exam results now in, is very much set on what to do come September. 
S's holiday began with a week at school. An activity week at her new senior school where the children did fun stuff such as cookery, team building games, bracelet making, a cycling proficiency course and a sports afternoon. The children were able to meet other new starters, a few of the teachers and get a good feel for the school layout whilst it was empty. G and I went to the sports afternoon family picnic and when we left S said 'Why can't school start again next week, I'm so excited.'
Other highlights for S have included sleepovers, lots of visits to the park with friends, a trip to town to shop and have lunch as part of a friend's birthday treat, hours riding around on her bike and two separate days spent with my mum whilst G and I had to work. Picnics in the park were a regular occurrence in holidays past but we've only managed one of those so far. Plus there has been a special treat of a trip to the theatre with Auntie D, J and G to see Cats and we have completed part of the zebra trail (post to follow).
There was a low point when S hurt her back, how it happened we just don't know but st one point it took half an hour to get her out of the car. Thankfully she is all ok now.
Squeezed in around all of that was a few days away with me and G in Eastbourne- that's a whole other post as well.

I must also mention all the Olympic watching which took part. Not by T and S but by me and G. What a fantastic result for Team GB. It was an absolute delight to watch athletes excelling at what they do and then conducting themselves so well during all their interviews, fabulous role models.

With the bank holiday weekend coming up and a extra day off next week I hope to get round to visiting all my friends and seeing what's been keeping all of you busy.

£9.75

It was my birthday on 21st July and those who have previously read my blog around this time of year will know that the gifts I receive from my sister C are all items which have been purchased from car boots, charity shops and the occasional jumble.

Likewise come October all the gifts I give to her will have been bought in similar places.

Our budget is £10, only this year try as she might C couldn't spend that last 25p and all that you see before you was purchased for the grand total of £9.75.

Missing from the post are 3 further things, a purple jacket which was in the wash at the time, a brooch and a cherry charm, these small items were in my purse for safe keeping.

First up is a fab selection of clothing.

The jeans I love, they were brand new and still had the tags attached and fit really well and are very comfy.

The blue top/jumper combo will be perfect for work.

The red cardi was another brand new item.

As well as the missing jacket there was this pale brown one which is has a great shape to it

and this patchwork one.

I know this wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea but I do love it.

Only thing is I'm not sure I would wear it.

But I do love it.

Then we have a pretty cream coloured bowl, a bowl of china cherries, a tile with a cute Christmas scene, a bird wall hook, two brand new boxed quizzes, a portable sundial, a matching pen and pencil set and a tin of fish shaped foil paperclips.

Final collection of goodies include a cat jigsaw, a set of heart shaped chalkboards, more new boxed quizzes, two handy hints books and a small felted purse. 

Yorkshire Puds All Round

For Yorkshire day there could only be one choice.
Mind you I could eat them every day.