Life as we Know it (May 21)

Yesterday, my parents travelled home after a 7 day sleepover at our house. The UK rules changed on the 17th of May and that was the day they arrived; not only viewing our “new” home for the first time (we moved in last August!), but also staying with us overnight for the first time in…

The Jab

For the first time since turning 35, I celebrate the fact that I am over 35! (Until roughly three days later, of course, when they offer the vaccine to anyone over 32. Hey ho. 3 days, 3 years… who’s counting?!) Husband has informed me that the vaccine centre is really hard to find and so…

This Liminal Phase

A few weeks ago, right before the Easter holidays, something groundbreaking happened in our family. The Boy, our second-of-three, learned to ride his bike independently. He had been on two wheels for quite some time, but still needed a push off and someone to run alongside him; which is fine, except that it made taking…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown: #12

Wow. When I finished the last Diary of a Lockdown series, I did not imagine getting to week twelve of ANOTHER lockdown- exactly a year after the last one began. Did you? Anyway. After last week’s rather gloomy offering, I have resolved to ensure this week is more uplifting. I am purposely seeking to keep…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown: #11

Saturday Husband seems to be working alot more this weekend. Either that or, now that the kids are back in school, the lack of family time is even more noticeable. (Or, even more probable, the fact he went to bed exhausted at 8pm last night when we were supposed to be ordering a curry is…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown: #10

Saturday It’s a Bubble-free day and the last weekend before the kids go back to school. They request a ‘lazy day’ and, as we have nowhere to go and no one to see, I am more than happy to oblige. So much so, in fact, that I see absolutely no reason to get dressed. We’ll…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown: #9

Saturday It’s our last Bubble Saturday for the foreseeable and the kids are making it very clear how fed up they are of this arrangement. Times are tough. They can’t see their own friends and no matter how I try to explain it, the unfairness factor is still a huge source of contention. Still. They…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown: #8

Saturday Husband is still off work and thankfully manages to sleep well today. It always takes him a while to switch off. We don’t do much to be honest. I think there’s a walk and a game and a movie – but I didn’t take any photographs and so I have no markers to jog…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown: Week 7

Thursday On Thursday morning I published a now-deleted post about the first 5 days of this half term week. It was a post I desperately needed to write, for those five days had been a fairly intense emotional and spiritual journey in themselves: raising questions about both ministry and marriage within ministry, as well as…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown: #6

Saturday 5.30am and the poor Lodger is still fussing with her case. Turns out it is all packed, but is 5kg heavier than the airline allows and she cannot figure out why. Husband is busy loading everybody into the car when she finally accepts the probability of paying for the extra weight and allows him…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown #5

Saturday Today is a very happy birthday to me! After a lovely long lie in, (sleeping off last night’s “raucous” Zoom party), I am invited downstairs for American pancakes and a treasure hunt; finding gifts which include a baseball cap, Greedy Granny and a year’s subscription to the National Theatre at Home. Hippy happy Mummy!…

Diary of ANOTHER Lockdown: #4

Saturday The Eldest has a Zoom birthday party in the morning, which is a strange experience. She is happy enough to see some of her friends but really doesn’t like the concept of seeing them all at once. “Why are they all staring at me?” It takes a while to convince her that everyone is…