OUR WEEKEND

M, C and L came to stay.

Alice and I popped to the supermarket yesterday morning and the B/E family arrived later in the morning. We had a 'Lyme' lunch (salads, cheeses, fish, meats, baked potatoes etc), Alice napped and then the girls played in the garden - playing on the 'Park', running round the lawn, splashing in the water and copying each other, simple things, such fun spending time together.

After the girls went to bed (after all that water there was no need for a bath!), the grown-ups had a leisurely supper and a great gossip - it's so easy to be together, having travelled to China together, met and adopted our girls together, there is such a special link and an ease to our friendship, it's refreshing that so many things are understood and need no explanations. I know I am so lucky to have such a bond and feel privileged to count them as friends.

The grown-ups were all a bit groggy this morning - we had a slow but tasty breakfast before the B/E's went home. Both the girls were very good, it's lovely to see them together - we continue to marvel at how different they are in appearance and character but both so special. I really hope that by maintaining this friendship (no hardship) that it will help Alice to absorb, internalise and understand her journey from China to Wales.

The rest of the morning was relaxed, Alice sat and cuddled for a great chunk of it while watching (her absolute favourite) Maisy Mouse. The afternoon was more stimulating and fun - more time in the garden - swinging, sliding and splashing, life doesn't get any better when you're a toddler, or when you're a toddler's parent!! (Photos to come in a separate post).

RETURNING TO WORK

I've been very lucky to have had over 11 months off work. I'm going back to work just one day per week for a while.

My first day back was on Friday. I didn't sleep well the night before.

Alice screeched with joy when our next door neighbour M walked in to look after her. I went to work knowing she was happy at home. I had a very good day, it was good to be back at work and feel like a grown up again. It was refreshing to talk to children who showed they understood what I said (I'm a teacher, my class are 8 & 9)!

Work was good. Coming home was great, until I found the house empty - they were in the garden, Alice had the good grace to screech loudly at my return and give me a kiss - she'd had fun without me but was pleased to see me. She'd played hard all day - mostly in the garden, lots of time on the swing, a little bit of water play and also they got the sand table up and running - I think Alice tasted quite a bit as well as smashing the shapes that were made!

Overall it was a refreshing day with good outcomes for both of us, what a relief!!

Unfortunately I had dreadful dreams on Friday - all about losing Alice at the shops or forgetting to take her with me as I moved between shops, no doubt all to do with leaving her for the first full day of work. I've left her before, I'd spent time in work before officially returning, but Friday was the first day when I couldn't have come home when I felt like it. Although I wasn't looking forward to time away from her, it's actually quite refreshing but I don't like handing control of Alice to others - it's not about trust it's about missing time with her.

GUESS WHO CAME TO STAY?

. . . here's a hint!

We had a lovely time - thanks M, C and L, we hope to see you again very soon! x

AFTER GOOD DAYS . . . .

Yesterday was a great day!

I'd been trying for several weeks to get into the jeweller - to replace my short gold chain that I hadn't seen for well over 12 months, I'd looked EVERYWHERE. Before we left I decided to change handbags . . . and found the chain!! The clasp was broken (I remembered) so we went to the jeweller anyway, fixed within 30 seconds, fab and no cost! Several other things went well . . . I felt like I was on a roll.

Today . . . the pendulum swung the other way. Our music group is finishing at the end of term, the trolley I had at the supermarket wouldn't go straight, the scanner holder kept slipping . . . the scanner wouldn't work properly.

Tomorrow . . . I go back to work - let's hope that the good luck returns and stays a little longer this time!

Alice - fine yesterday but scratched her face (red slash right across her cheek), today she got filthy and found it hard to sleep, tomorrow she gets to stay at home while M comes to look after her until T arrives (M is T's Mum and M is my neighbour - I'm very lucky to know them both). I'm very happy with the childcare arrangements - Alice hardly notices that I've left!

NOT QUITE WHAT I MEANT

. . . when I asked Alice to put her shoes on!!

In fairness her shoes tend to live on the kitchen radiator by the garden door - so they can dry out after playing in the water. The fllip-flops are only there as it's out of Fusspot's reach and she thinks that they're tasty!

In the end Alice wore her canvas shoes - the first time that she'd shown a preferance between clothes, in her words 'U-oh!'

11 MONTHS

Not the best photo of Her Majesty, but I wanted to show the outfit as I thought she looked super cute in it!

11 months, incredible. I can't believe where the time has gone, I can't believe the changes in Alice and that the baby has gone to be replaced by this little being who learns so much so quickly and has such strong opinions!

LINKS ON THE BLOG

My links are way out of date.

If you'd like me to link to your blog please leave a comment, do the same if you'd like me to remove a link - I won't publish comments about links! Thanks.

MORE PHOTOS

We also had the bubble machine on again - I think Fusspot enjoyed it even more than the girls (she likes to eat them - the bubbles that is)!

BORING

I'm not bored, but life is boring to blog about - because we're busy having fun doing lots of the same things over and over!

We've had a quiet few days enjoying being at home, reading books, playing, building towers, splashing in the water table and running round the garden. This afternoon The S's joined us, lots of fun - Alice and A played together, shared toys, copied each other and had lots of fun. Good friends, good times.

EMAIL ISSUES

I'm becoming increasingly aware that I'm not receiving all emails - so if you make contact and don't get a reply then please try again - or leave a comment on the blog (I won't publish it).

Thanks!

84 COUNTRIES

. . . Lebannon's the latest, what a cosmopolitan readership this blog has!!

AND THEN REALITY

. . . bites you on the b*m . . . it's cold here and room service aren't answering!

Edited to add: but clean sheets, a feather duvet and no sand in the bed make a girl feel at home (and there's no place like it!)

HOME

9 hours travelling . . . but now we're home . . . we had a good time . . . but the best bit of all was coming home . . . Alice . . . me . . . dogs . . . hugs and kisses all round . . . the routine's shot to pieces . . . she's still wriggling and partying in her cot at 8.30pm . . . but it was worth it . . . I won't be far behind her . . . but first there are 3 hairy 'girls' who need some TLC . . . there truly is no place like home!

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!

OUR AFTERNOON

Long snooze . . . then off for a walk (Mummy was after a soft ice-cream) . . . we watched the beach while Mummy tried to persuade Alice that ice-cream was a treat and not a punishment (more work needed on that one!!) . . . another swim . . . shower . . . supper in front of Chigley . . . and now she's waffling and avoiding sleep while I blog in the dark!!

OH WE DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE!

It was tricky taking photos of Alice - she wouldn't look at the camera as she was too busy watching the waves!

She really loves the sea, so far she's only been up to her knees - I don't think she's realised that she could swim in it!! (I'll be in big trouble when she twigs!!)

LOTS OF MEMORIES - OLD AND NEW

Today we went to the place that used to be a Zoo - it's still the same place, bigger and improved but no longer called a zoo.

Mum was very much in my thoughts whilst we were there, it was one of her favourite things to do on the island and she would insist we went every holiday. She loved the Gorillas in particular - they were out in force today and as fascinating as ever to watch, I love them just as much as Mum did and Alice seems to share our love of them - she was transfixed by the 'Muggees', both the gorillas and the orangutans (the babies played inside for ages, totally absorbed in play, wonderful to watch).

THE FORECAST WAS RAIN!?

It looked OK this morning, good enough for Alice to wear shorts, we went to the North to visit the Durrell Animal Place (can't remember what it's called but it's no longer the Zoo!!) It was overcazst and chilly, so Alice was pushed around whilst being wrapped in a travel rug!

The photo is the view from our window at lunchtime today. Lunchtime - fab weather and a 75 minute wait for food. My blood boiled when I was told at 12.30 that it would be 90 minutes or more before I could order from the terrace - the indoor restaurant was closed as the terrace was open, but couldn't accept orders, atrocious - I wouldn't want to be the Manager when I get to speak to him and I WILL get to speak to him!

I'M NEAR HEAVEN AND ALICE IS IN LOVE!

Rewind to Friday (just). I got up at 2.30am, by 2.50 I was showered and Alice was ready for the car seat, for the first time ever the **** thing had come unplumbed, the car was loaded and so refitting the seat took some effort at that time of the 'morning' too!! Unfortunately Alice woke up while I was trying to find the holes in the travel grobag - she slept for bits of the journey.

After an uneventful drive to Weymouth we were in good time for the ferry. Luckily we had a calm crossing, the only stress of the journey was the parking position we were given on the ferry - I could barely open Alice's door (and due to luggage I couldn't get her out on my side!), I couldn't open my door and had to climb across - on arrival both these doors were completely blocked and no-one was around to help, sounds simple now but it was stressful at the time.

We were at the hotel (in Jersey) by 11.30am and within 10 minutes our room was ready! I managed to unpack before lunch. We had lunch on the terrace overlooking the sea in the sunshine - my favourite place in the world (when the sun is shining)! After her afternoon snooze I decided that we'd better make the most of the reasonable weather (I knew the forecast was rotten from Saturday onwards), the tide was low so we trekked down - lots of new things for Alice, she'd never been to the beach before but didn't seem to mind the sand (it's a beautiful sandy beach), she never seen the sea before - we went slowly but very soon she was hooked!! She adored the sea and the waves, she stood still and let the waves wash over her feet and legs (it was coming in so it soon got deeper), her feet became buried in sand and she had to be persuaded to move back. Eventually I had to pull her away, she walked sideways and soon made it clear 'Dat!' 'MORE, MORE, MORE!!' that she liked the sea and wasn't ready to leave. Unfortunately the downside of single motherhood is only 1 pair of hands so there are no photos only glorious memories. Then we went swimming before room service suppers for both of us - a great day.

Today we went shopping, Alice was OK to begin with but got teary just before noon, in hindsight I think that she was hungry, oops. M&S sandwiches and pasta salad for lunch, then we both took a snooze before having a swim. Alice had a babysitter to visit this evening while I had a superb meal downstairs, yum! Unfortunately the weather today (and forecast for the rest of the holiday) is wet which doesn't make for the best use of the hotel or its location.

This hotel is really special to me - I first came here with my Mum and her parents when I was about a year older than Alice is now and have been coming back ever since, unfortunately not as often as I'd like and more recently only every 2 or 3 years. I love it here but the last few trips have been a challenge as this place is loaded with lovely memories of family who are no longer with me. It's wonderful being here with Alice and starting a whole new chapter of history here. It's as good as ever except for the Children's menu which isn't as diverse or child friendly as it used to be!!

GOING ON HOLIDAY

Have you seen the weather forecast? TYPICAL!