14 years

15 years ago I was 18 years old and I met Tristan at a party in a friends field.  We were both into the ‘rave scene’ and became good friends.  A year later we decided to take our relationship a stage further.  We were already living in shared house together amongst other friends, who were all into the same things.  We used to party hard, we had lots of fun but soon realised there was more to life, so we moved on together.

Last New Years Eve, I went out for the first time in 3 years to a party/rave, beforehand we met up with some old friends.  One of these friends has a 2 year old daughter, who lives in another part of the country.  He was talking of his split with her mum, when he said that they realised, when out of the stupor they had been in whilst they met and got together, that they had nothing in common and didn’t actually get on.  This really struck me, so many of our friends have all got into relationships under the same circumstances and we were no different, but so few of them come right through that and settle into ‘normal’ life together enjoying each others company.

So I feel blessed that even though life was a haze back then I managed to find my soul mate, my lover, my husband and father of my children and still 14 years later we still enjoy each others company as much as we did then.

Happy Anniversary Tristan xx

Spring is coming!

The air is warmer and I feel like we are finally coming out of our hibernation.  Inspiration is coming back, we are outside more, getting things done, everyone is having ideas; I want to do this, I want to do that.  It’s great!

Rowan and I spent the whole afternoon in the garden yesterday, clearing weeds and old dead plants making way for this years crop.  It felt so good to be working outside in the fresh air and it was even warm enough to take off our coats!

Feeding the ducks and swans, but the swans were a bit agro that day, so we left them to it!

The squirrels in our local woods are so overfed on peanuts and white bread that they are now obese!  Reuben still fancies his chances of catching one!

A new addition to the woods - Canadian Goose

We went for a day trip to a local theme park, but being winter only 5 things were open, one of which was a sand pit with diggers, need I say more!

Chinese New Year crafts - Reuben wanted to be a rabbit

Rowan is really into learning to read at th moment.  He is now putting sentences together and spelling words out.  He loves his workbooks too!

Reuben doing some pouring and scooping, which he got totally absorbed into.

Rowan painting his rocket

Chinese laterns

Rowan wanted to be a chinese lion/dragon

Skate ramps for mushroom skateboarding men!

Happy chickpeas!

Daddy has finally made a start on the boys playhouse down the bottom of our garden.  With Rowans help they have cleared the area to be built upon.

 

 

It is so nice to feel the inspiration running through our veins again, I really do feel like I have been in hibernation these last few months.  

We are off on holiday tomorrow for a week to Morrocco, for a quick blast of warmth and relaxation, camels, cous cous and dates!  Rowan is so excited he even told a shop assistant this morning!

bits and bobs

Reuben and Daddy on a wintery trip to the beach (New Years Day)

Rowan digging

Bike rides in the woods

More wintery beaches

Spaceship making

Daddy made the boys a toilet seat which has now been personalised

Spaceships

Yummy Sunday

Rowan has had an ear infection this week and the doctors wanted to give him antibiotics again.  So we got them, but they have sat in fridge untouched.  Instead it gave me the well needed kick to get us back to feeling in tip top condition. 

So its been healthy food all week, fresh juices and not so much wheat and dairy.

This morning we had some lovely spelt pancakes and kiwi and pear juice, mmmmm!

Rowan helping with the flipping

Breakfast

 

I decided I had to sort out the kitchen cupboards, which proved to be hours of fun for the boys!

Inspirational sunshine

This week we have seen some lovely fresh sunshine, which has lightened all our spirits.  It is very cold, a lovely layer of frost every morning, but fresh and sunny nonetheless.

I have managed to find some inspiration from somewhere and am feeling myself being pulled out of the house into the garden to give it the much needed attention it deserves.

Unfortunately, Reuben really does not like the cold weather and he only lasts about 10 minutes before he is too painfully cold to move, then he freezes even more as he just stands there!  But we are getting some stuff done, albeit in small bursts!

My garden helpers clearing the area for the long awaited spring chooks!

A well earned snack

Jack Frost has been most days this week

Rowan was so happy to have been the first to spot the new shoots of rhubarb

Swinging pixie

Digger and dinosuar land!

Ho hum!

We are not really having the best start to the year:

The car still needs repairing
Tris reversed into someone this morning
Rowans behaviour at the moment is rather extreme and is wearing everyone out
Everyone is really tired
I can't even find the enthusiasm to knit or pick up my guitar

However,
Tris saw his first snowdrop of the year the other day
We got local daffodils from the flower shop
Reuben is using the potty
We have booked a holiday to Morrocco (can't really afford it, but we need some warmth!)
I have just ordered some new yarn
On the occasional dry day we are making a start on the garden, ready for spring

There is light at the end of the tunnel....

xx

Where did the end of last year go?

Well December flew by without me even noticing really!  Lots happened, good and bad and I just seemed too busy to even get time to take any photos.

Tristans nan died at the ripe old age of 92, Sad but she has passed into a better place than the struggle she was going through in this world.

Our car was vandalised by some local kids, costing us £1200 to fix, Ouch!

I cooked Christmas dinner for 10 people, my mum and dad, Tristans’ mum, my brother and my cousin and his wife + us.  It was hard work, but worth it, it was lovely to have everyone here to share in a lovely meal at a special time.

My nan fell and broke her hip and wrist, she has now been in hospital for 5 weeks due to further complications.

The rest of the month flew by mostly with Christmas crafting indoors by the fire.

Tristan and Rowan building Rowans own workbench for in Daddys shed.  Rowan is very pleased.

The birdlife in our garden is amazing this year.  Lots of birds are visiting that previously haven't.  Regualr visitors are this collared dove couple.  They were really shy at first and would fly away at the slightest movement, but they have got used to us now and let me take their photo!

Mince Pie making whilst wearing wetsuits, Of course!!

Paper chains and googly eyes!

Funny Father Christmas

Homemade creams and lipbalms for Christms pressies

These boys have their moments, but most of the time they really are the best of freinds

Our beautiful Christmas tree.