My Christmas blooper

Putting the star on top of the Christmas tree is a great family tradition for us and each year the children take turns. Steven puts up the tree, I do the lights and then they are lifted (normally by Steven) to put on the star. 

But last year when it was time to put the tree up we were waiting for Steven to arrive back from work and the children were just so keen on getting the star up. I suggested we wait for Daddy but they just kept begging and begging. 

So here is the hard evidence of what happens when you give into small young and very excited children! Actually listening back to Zak's commentary on Bella and I trying to reach the top of the tree and finally crashing is just hilarious. Check out little Blake who harmlessly gets wedged between the two sofas.

Click here to see Bella and myself in action.

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No harm came to any of the participants in this short film but the presents underneath didn’t come off too well!

Enjoy

Lots of love as always
Claudia
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It’s the little things that mean so much…

Last weekend I visited a lady called Margaret who lives not far from me. She’s a lovely elderly lady that I met by chance whilst waiting for a prescription at the hospital pharmacy (not the nicest of places to sit and wait).

We sat and chatted and I learnt that she had a great love for Terrier dogs, particularly Highland Terriers. She told me that during the war she was evacuated to a farm with her son where they had several Scottie Dogs. She had always wanted to own her own but never had the opportunity as her late husband hated dogs and that now she is in an elderly home she couldn’t have one as they didn’t’ allow pets. I told her about my poorly daughter and that she has a massive love of dogs but we won’t let her have one just yet and she’s so desperate for one.    

We waited an age for our prescriptions but used this time to chat away about pets and her memories or staying on the farm - eventually she was served and went on her way with her carer. 

Easter fun on the beach at Sandbanks

We have just spent the Easter holiday at Sandbanks in Dorset, in a hotel right on the sandy beach. What fun we had making sandcastles and playing beach cricket. Steven kept whacking the ball right up into the sky and seeing if I could catch it. It went plop onto the sand every time (I blamed the sun). Then Zak our son had a go and caught it every time.  The sea was cold but it didn’t stop the children from wading in.  I got buried in the sand by Zak who was on track to dig a hole to Australia. See the photo of us in the hole.
 
The atmosphere amongst all the guests was so warm and friendly because the sun was out and it lifted everyone’s spirits. There is something magical about the British coastline and I now long to live by the sea. At night I was just zonked, after spending the day running around and swimming in the pool with the children and then monitoring their activities during the evening's entertainment. By the time it got to 9pm I was ready for bed, but the children weren’t!.
 
Driving home in the car on Monday night, the children recollected their stay and described their most favourite times. The sweetest thing Isabella our daughter said was ‘just spending the time together was my best bit’.  Family time is so precious isn’t it? 

See you soon.

Claudia X

Celebrating with my family

We had a great time on Friday night at my sister-in-law Fiona's 40th birthday party. It was a lovely party and I had a great chance to have a good old dance with my Mum and Dad too. 

My Mum is such an inspiration to me with her boundless energy and enthusiasm for everything she does. She was on the dance floor with me and three of her grandchildren for ages. My Mum is 72 this year, she looks good for her age don't you think? She swears by her Gale Hayman and has done for 14 years now.

I think your attitude to life has a lot to do with how old or young you feel. I've got a cheeky picture of me with my Father too (he's also 72 this year). Goodness knows what kind of expression he's pulling!

I loved seeing my Mother and Father dancing together. They are quite diddy compared to me - I'm 5 feet 10" and they are 5 feet 4" and 5 feet 6". A lot of people say I look a lot like my Mother, but what do you think from seeing us together in this photo?

Love Claudia

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Cooking for the family on Mother's Day

Yesterday I cooked lunch for 15 and we had a fantastic day. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to cook as we all have different favourite dishes in the family. As I was in the mood for putting on a bit of a spread this is what I prepared...

What a feast we had

I cooked a long slow chicken curry (bhuna style), but kept it fairly mild for the children, and poached salmon with a medley of prawn, scallops and baby mushrooms in garlic butter. Then there was cauliflower cheese with sliced tomato with more grated cheese on top, pilau rice, roasted parsnips, carrots, suede drizzled in a tiny amount of maple syrup and lots of creamy mashed sweet potato with chopped up spring onion.

I also cooked a pasta dish with red, yellow, green peppers, courgettes, red onion and basil - the kids loved it and there was plenty left over for their packed lunch today.

Having fun in the sun

I'm having a lovely week with the children and the sunshine.

What a difference the sunshine makes to our lives. We went to the park at the weekend, tidied the garden and sorted all the children's outdoor toys out.

Blake has his own little house in the garden with little yellow windows and door, and on Sunday we put a carpet into the house. On the door there is a sign that says 'Blake’s House' – he loves it. 

I find myself smooched up against the roof occasionally serving make believe cups of tea through the window! It really is a sight.

I’ve put a picture of Blake and I in for you to see just how big he’s getting now. He’ll be three in June – wow, where does the time go?
 
What lovely memories do you have with your children and the sunshine?

Speak soon

Love Claudia and Blake
XX

What makes Mum so special?

Mother's Day is a special day for me as it gives me the chance to spoil my lovely Mummy, Eve. 

I worship the ground she walks on and could not be more blessed than I am to have a Mother like her. Throughout my whole life she has always given me strength and support to achieve anything I set my mind to. 

She is strong and determined, hardworking and dedicated and is always helping other people. I've learnt a lot of positive traits from my Mum, like not complaining about things in life but to just get on and make the best of difficult times or situations.

I've learnt to be a good Mum myself to my three beautiful little children and that's probably the most important gift she has given me.

What makes your Mum so special?

Squrriel watching with Blake

It wasn't a very exciting week last week. The children returned home from school one day with lovely paintings and a yucky throat virus.

We’ve all had the lurgy in the house and I suppose it’s to be expected at this time of year, but doesn’t it make your world stand still?  With no energy, not even to load the washing, I resorted to feeling sorry for myself and kept Blake and myself in our jimmies for most of the day. 
 
We’ve been doing a lot of squirrel watching from our window. We seem to have more than ever this year, just the common old grey squirrel.

I know they are known pests but I love all creatures and would never want any harm to come to any of them, so we regularly put bird food out and are quite happy when all and sundry turn up to eat it. 

It’s been pretty cold this week and we’re grateful for wrapping up some of our tropical trees in fleeces this winter. The children refer to them as trees in pyjamas. 

I’m planning on spending a lot of time in the garden this spring. We planted a great deal of new plants and spring bulbs last autumn so we’re eagerly awaiting March to see them start appearing. 

I love the springtime don’t you?  What’s your favourite season?

Love

Claudia
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Having fun hand-painting with Blake

Just been hand-painting with little two-year-old Blake this morning.

We did lots and lots of pictures for his friends and grandparents. Plenty of splodgy hands all over some cards and finished off with more splodgy hands all over the envelopes. 

We both had a whale of a time until it came to clearing up. The lovely bright orange hands you see in the photo are still orange! Child friendly poster paints it said on the tub!

Blake was not amused and asked me several times if I could ‘keen them Mummy’. I explained that they were clean but it would take a while to come off. ‘Mummy I want them keen now’. Oh dear…

In the workshop with Dad

This weekend saw me spending some quality time with my Father at his workshop.

I like to spend time in there experimenting with new jewellery and belt buckle designs, something I've done since I was very small.

I've spent the last six months honing my techniques with a new form of metal but it's really expensive so I can't be too experimental with it! 

I'm cutting several new buckle designs that I've never done before so my skill is being tested big time with the file. I've made Steven a beautiful pair of cufflinks and I'm in the throes of making a matching belt buckle (but he doesn't know this yet and it could take some time). 

Actually, since spending time with Dad and talking over his business I've decided to piece together all the history of his work and produce a book. 

I'm looking forward to this project as not only will it be interesting but it's sure to be a cathartic experience for the whole family. 

I'll keep you updated on its progress.

See you soon.

Claudia
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