As if it was just a month ago that I was writing about being half way through the year and now here we are staring the back end of the year in the face! Here is review 7 of 2019.
Review 7 of 2019
Godsons growing up
I remember the day he was born as if it was yesterday. I remember the game we were playing in our garden when the call came in to say his arrival was imminent. Then I remember the long wait for news, anxiously waiting for the text.
This picture dropped in to my inbox and oh it was true love, almost as powerful as seeing F for the first time.
And now he is 5! He is funny and handsome and really kinda special. His party’s are always something super special as well and we all had a great time!
National trust membership
Oh how I have missed you?? Why did I think it was a good idea to take a year off?
I love that if we have a good day, a free day we can just jump in the car and head off to explore.
This month saw us visit Calke Abbey and Shugborough Estate, both vastly different.
Calke Abbey – ‘The unstately stately home’ a perfect description for something so unique and the polar opposite of any National trust site I have visited previously.
I am so pleased to have the passes back and looking forward to exploring more places we’ve yet to visit.
Our Unstately home
July brings with it a ‘period of transition’ and honestly if Rob describes it like that one more time he might find himself transitioning to a tent in the garden!
Work begins on our loft conversion.. step 1 – the roof. The easy bit I’d of said but what do I know. Clearly nothing… Because not once, but twice we have had water pouring in through every available crack, and in an old, large house like ours, there are many cracks for water to get through.
The delightful storm of the 24th July 2019 saw Rob, F and I frantically collecting up every available pot, pan, bucket and washing basket lined with rubbish bags to collect the water that was coming in at an alarming rate at 1am.
I hate thunderstorms anyway but add the fear of the ceiling in our bedroom coming down I was a complete wreck.
And after just a few hours sleep, I was on edge all day in case more rain was heading our way.
Short term pain for long term gain Rob’s new mantra!
Liverpool weekend
Rob, F and I took Dad away to Liverpool for the weekend. It had been many years since Dad had been before and I was keen to take him to see all the sights.
We had such a great weekend. We visited the Museum of Liverpool and in particular the John and Yoko exhibition and we were not disappointed. I came away feeling like I’d had a very intimate snapshot in to their life together, a lot of what I saw and read I’d had no idea about, it was quite an emotive exhibition and I’d highly recommend.
We sat and ate a picnic almost in the city centre watching the masses flock to the netball world cup which until the day before we arrived, had no clue it was going on. It made for a great atmosphere.
We then headed to the Cavern, despite visiting before it was still so exciting and I loved experiencing it with my Dad who’d never been before. We stayed for a few drinks but F had hit his Beatle limit, we stood listening to the live music while he sat with his ipod and headphones in! Kids hey!
Day 2
The following day we found a National trust property to stop at on the way home, This time Shugborough estate. The house and its history was fascinating and we really enjoyed seeing the restoration process of some of the artwork there.
We were lucky to visit on a day the Lichfield apartments were open. These were used as a base for Patrick Lichfield, the famous fashion photographer. The apartment was filled with pictures of some of the most famous people in the world and probably the most awful kitchen I’ve ever seen! But it was a wonderful day out.
The playarea was one of the best I have seen at an NT property and we all made use of it! I particularly liked the zipwire… on several occasions!
It was a wonderful weekend with all my favourite Men!
Last week of primary school
After the high of Liverpool came the sad reality that F was beginning his last week of Primary school. I for one was not ready for this moment but it was of course inevitable!
The week was always going to be a full on one, I work in a school so I know first hand how much there is to squeeze in to that last week for staff and children. Thankfully F’s school had provided us a full day by day guide on what’s what!
Monday
Report day and SATS results! The day we’d been waiting for, despite trying not to sweat the SATS (see more here SAT’s week is here, Be strong!) I had been anxiously awaiting these.
Firstly is report, the last one of primary school was exactly what I’d hoped it would be. It was the perfect end to his time at this school and to read such lovely things about your child always feels wonderful.
The report was much easier to process than the results though, and once the Deputy head at the school I work at deciphered them for me, to say I was over the moon was an understatement! And F was also delighted. Very proud of him.
Tuesday
School play day – F was to tread the boards as Rocky Rockafella in Rock bottom. I’d been running through lines with him for what seemed like months but it was great to see him come to life on stage. And I made it all the way through without crying!
Wednesday
Legoland day – We didn’t have school trips this cool when I was at school!
Thursday
Soiree- Because apparently Prom is not an adequate enough word! They’re awarded half a day off school to prepare themselves for the big event. Parents can then join later in the evening.
I cried the whole way through thanks to the awards ceremony and beautiful montage of their time in school. A beautiful way to say goodbye.
Friday
As if sitting through one leaving assembly at work which had left me in tears was not enough! I then had to spend the afternoon blubbing through F’s assembly.
It was a beautiful way to say goodbye. It’s heartbreaking watching your son crying to the point of hysteria while his friends cry around him.
They were all so supportive of each other though which was lovely to see. And the great news is, that 95% of them are all going off to the same high school!
And just like that school is out for summer for us both!
Journal prompts
I wrote a post in June with 31 Journal prompts in. It was really well received and I have really enjoyed having a reason to write each day. It has really given me a focus and an opportunity for some needed me time.
I am now working on something similar for next month, and who knows, maybe the month after!
Afternoon tea for Myton hospice
My birthday is 22nd July, Mum was the 23rd July. I loved sharing a birthday with her. As this was the first one without her I knew I needed to mark it or distract myself.
Mum’s favourite thing to do was afternoon tea so it seemed fitting to hold one for her. Family and friends were invited along to celebrate and raise money for Myton Hospice. They’d supported Mum and us all so much that I am always looking for ways to support them.
It was a wonderful day. Hard work but completely worth it. It was lovely to see friends and family come together and raise money for such a good cause. Maybe it’ll become an annual thing, who knows!
Summer Bucket list
This year I decided to create a Summer Bucket List. A fun list of things i’d really like to do with the kids over the summer. I do love a good list and ticking things off makes me really happy.
So far we have completed afternoon tea, the cinema, got F cooking something new, baked a cake, walked each day, washed the car, been to an outdoor splash park, read 2 of 4 books, visited 2 National Trust properties and been to Liverpool.
We could tick off spending the day in our PJ’s but minus the PJ’s thanks to the current heatwave!
Camping time
As I write this I’m working on a list of things I need to do before we go camping. So this is Review 7 of 2019 is scheduled to post while I am away.
We will see you on the other side!
How has you July been?
Of all the times we could have a storm and it hits whilst you are converting the loft, how annoying. I would have been a mess too. Life likes to chuck in challenges and not all of them a appreciated.
Oh it most certainly does. I have never felt so on edge when there is a threat of rain!
Crikey, what a month you’ve had! I found it hard to take this all in, I can’t imagine how you felt during July! I love a thunderstorm but that sounds so scary what happened to your house! x
Even now, rain has me on edge!
What a busy time! That train is amazing. Great idea!
I agree what you said in your about page about school- it is a very busy place any you are always ‘on’ .
Such a jam-packed month! I feel like I would be exhausted after all that lol It was so lovely that you got to mark the day for your Mum too. 🙂
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip || Latest Post
I am shattered all the time!
What a lovely idea to look back and reflect on each month. I enjoyed reading this, what a busy month you’ve had! Becca x
Thank you Becca x
Looks like you’ve had an interesting month! Love the national trust sites they’re always so pretty.
Thanks for sharing.
Cara
http://www.caratigerlilli.com
There are so many wonderful ones to visit x
Wow what a busy month you’ve had! National trust is definitely a good survival trip during the summer holidays. We had a break too and missed it. To be honest we should probably use it more 🙂
We have kind of exhausted our local ones which is why the break but it really does encourage us to get out and about x
My daughter also had her last week of primary school, it was very emotional! National Trust memberships are so worth it, I agree, I’d feel at a loss without ours.
Sounds like you’re doing well on your bucket list. We still have some things to do on ours for the summer. Hoping we get to finish it.
Entrance to the grounds of our national trust properties here is free (apart from a few quid for parking). If you want to go in to the castle/houses you have to pay, but to use the grounds for a walk or visit the coffee shop there is no charge. It’s fab!
I love that they can be accessed without paying, they have some of the most beautiful parks and grounds x
We had the SATs report wait this year too and were really pleased with the results, hope the house reservation gets sorted before the autumn weather kicks in
You have been busy. I think I’d be lost without our National Trust membership it’s a great fall back for taking the grandkids out for the day.
Every summer I kick myself for not getting a National Trust membership. I really must get around to doing this
I can’t recommend it enough x
July sounds like a really wonderful month. We love Calke and Shugborugh such amazing places! That cake looks delicious! Hope you manage to get some more of your bucket list ticked off x
The year is going by so fast. Enjoy the summer break.
Sounds like a busy month! We’ve been deliberating a National Trust membership for a while but opted for Historic Scotland in the end as there are more sites near us.
We love our National Trip passes, best thing we brought!
Snap! I can’t believe what great value it is x
Wow you’ve had a busy month and lots of fun too 🙂
I love my NT membership but having a break is good. Have you tried english heritage too – we alternate them
We’ve had both and loved them all but NT has more locally for us x
Ooh I would have been so paniky with the storm! Hope your camping trip is going well