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Driving home
Fun is done
Sleepy heads
Happy ones
Bed beckons
Satisfied sleep
This is the peace
The turmoil
Aims for
Last week I was on holiday, this week I was quite ill and although I ploughed on by working from home, that took everything out of me.
So its been a very quiet couple of weeks. I need to kickstart some writing again.
Having a dilemma where to go next. I need to put more effort into marketing me existing books, and at the same time get something new out there to round out what I have. This will probably be short stories.
My dilemma is whether to try to some new ones – which is what I really want to do, or edit a very old collection I already have. The latter will result in getting something out there quicker.
First I need to get back to better health.
Having finished National Poetry Writing Month and it being a bank holiday weekend I decided to take a few days off from blogging. And boy does it show. Stats have dropped to zilch, nada, a big fat zero.
But hey – it’s not about the stats – however much I obsess over them. Honest. I am doing this to try to stretch my writing muscles, build my confidence and build a join a community of friendly like-minded people. I have certainly done that.
But I am not taking on any more daily challenges. I will still try to post but on a less regular frequency now. And it will be more of a mix of writing and journal entries hopefully.
I am going to spend some more time on the relaunch of my book and the launch of my second (very different) one. So watch this space.
But talking of journalling and the bank holiday weekend.
We took the opportunity to get out and about this weekend. We left chores and work and all other plans to one side and had some quality family time. It had to be done on a tight budget but we had a good time. We spent one day in a park, trying to find and photograph as many wild birds and flowers as we could. Didn’t really see many wild birds. Saw quite a few flowers (have no idea what any of them are) and on the trip back we also saw a mangy looking fox roaming the town in broad daylight! The park also had a play ground with a giant slide and a secret tunnel. They boys were in their element – as well as many fallen branches and sticks as could be carried.
Our eldest is obsessed with Minecraft at the moment and decided he was going to collect enough wood to make himself a real life crafting table.
The next day we managed to fond cheap tickets to go and see Home – which I can really recommend for younger kids. They loved it. We then spent the rest of the day down the sea front. The day after was also spent at a fair by the sea.
So it’s been an outside in the sun and wind weekend, and I think it has done us good.
Here’s a few shots from the weekend.
Away on holiday so writing in advance : -) cheating? I hope not – the effort has been put in.
Driving home
Fun is done
Sleepy heads
Happy ones
Bed beckons
Satisfied sleep
This is the peace
The turmoil
Aims for
#NaPoWriMo
So we have just had one of the wettest weekends we have seen for ages – and of course it was a bank holiday. But we were determined to have fun and relax. Especially after I had a day of total crisis at work – the stress after-shocks of which I am still feeling.
Anyway, we still had our days out. Firstly we took the boys for along the river in Sandwich. Alexander had the rare chance to get on his scooter and scoot free. They both loved it. Unfortunately the fun was cut short when Alexander got badly stung by a stinging nettle. It only brushed him but his whole arm blistered – leading us to wonder if he has an allergy to then? Thankfully it went down again very quickly.
The next day we went to a steam rally. This was a mix of old steam engines, vintage cars and – the only thing that interested the boys – fun fair rides. We were treated to the sight of Alexander and his little brother enjoying something together for once. L just looked up at him with a look of sheer pleasure and joy as they went around and around on the mini roundabout.
Maybe I am getting old but after paying to get in, paying for three or four rides and having a hot dog each for dinner we burnt through £50! What happened to cheap days out?
Then it chucked it down – we got out just in time. So we went around to visit Nanny Jean and Grandad Maurice. This was L’s first visit to any of our relatives – most have now met him but at our house. Nanny has a new large tropical fish tank which they were both entranced by.
The forecast for the next day was again for heavy rain. Once again were up early – relatively – and ready to go. I found us something to do but I knew if I said what it was it was unlikely to appeal to Rachel. So I declared it a mystery tour. I reasoned that the best place in the abysmal weather would be underground. So we went to Chislehurst Caves. And we had a fantastic time there – reminded us of our Holiday at Wookey Hole a few years ago. L was wide-eyed with wonder all the way through and Alexander thought it was a great adventure.
So it was back to work today and back to reality. Now have the extra project of seeking out a new hosting partner for our web app. The day was further spoilt by the loss of one of Alexander’s goldfish – Goldie. He was very brave about it, Helped me fish her out and bury her. He insisted he wanted a “cemerony” and made up his own prayer – which went like this.
“Oh God! My goldfish is dead. Amen!”
Short and to the point I suppose. I think we will get the reverberations of this in a few days when it sinks in more.
But overall it was a good weekend.
So I haven’t blogged much beyond the poem a day. It has been a bust couple of weeks. Partly because of work, partly because we have been on holiday so have been giving the computer a rest.
So here is a quick précis of the past few weeks – more for my own reference really.
It started with a visit from the Social Worker about a possible match. This was a time of mixed emotions. The situation is about as ideal as you could get – as far as these situations go. The child in question has been in care since birth – so has never suffered any abuse or anything – but has had several moves already.
The issue with this case is concerns over the mothers ability to look after him. And that is because of the horrendous life she has had.
I felt something I hadn’t really expected to feel – guilt about the idea of taking her child away from her.
Yet if we don’t someone else will and if they didn’t then the child would have a terrible life itself.
Much to think about.
Anyway it may all come to nothing. This is early matching and other couples are also under consideration. There’s a lot of hurdles to go yet.
In other news. We have been popping about seeing friends and family. Alexander had two birthday parties to attend. One was a superhero theme and Alexander was one of several Supermen to go. The other was a lovely day at the beach. We also saw two sets of his God Parents. We went to Herne Fun Day and Herne Bay and played in the arcades. We also went to Howlett’s Zoo and to Legoland, Alexander loved this despite the hour-long queues for five-minute rides.
We took Alexander on a nature walk around the village.
We also had our final meeting with the social worker so are now just waiting our report – and then to panel! And onto matching.
On the adoption front we also made good progress on sorting out the rooms. Alexander’s room is refreshed and he now has his big bed set up – with dinosaur duvet! The spare room is 99% ready too. Just need to convert Alexander’s old cot bed back to a cot.
And finally – if you hadn’t noticed – I self published my book! Yay!
So busy busy times.
Well that’s another holiday week done and dusted. And I will be returning more stressed than when I left.
So the up and downs – let’s do the downs first and leave it on a positive.
There were tons of jobs to be done and this was one of the reasons to take some time off. For one reason or another – hardly any were done. So no achievement there!
The holiday started with we sitting up late at night trying to prepare for my one on one home visit from the social worker. This was due Tuesday morning. Monday afternoon – we got a phone call to say it had been cancelled due to ill-health. Frustrating! But the upside is we have more time to prepare. (The stress is we should have already been prepared. Life always has other ideas.)
The car has continued to be a source of stress, not only the check engine light coming on and setting into limp mode but also there is now a mysterious knocking sound. It has now been in three garages and no one can work out what it is. We the finally found out what the check engine light fault code was after four garages had failed. The turbo! Upwards of a £1000 to fix. Grrrr! Stress!
But then our regular garage suggested that changing a valve on the turbo may fix it – a lot less money (£75). This has been done and so far so good. Drive a lot better now too.
Just the knocking noise now.
And then money! The source of all stress and evil! We are trying to get ourselves on an even keel to help our chances n the adoption game. On top of that our fixed rate is coming to an end – and these extremely low rates cannot last much longer. So we wanted to borrow more and fix the rate again. We had meetings et up – our last bank being the last one we could get.
We got turned down. Not just for the extra money but even just re-mortgaging t all. The we came to our own bank. No problem they said! Phew we said. Until we actually did the application over the phone. After three hours of jumping though hoops and tweaking we finally got what we needed. We thanked the guy who helped us profusely as he had done a sterling job. But it struck me as odd and inspired one of my daily poems. Why were we thanking him for basically tying us up in debt for longer and even more. He was tightening our wage slaves bonds tighter.
I suppose it’s just me seeing it that way. He was just doing his job.
But we are now better off financially on a monthly basis so that will help our mission.
And finally – Behaviour! Alexander’s – bad! Well not all and on balance more good than bad but he has had a few really bad turns. Refusing to go to bed – but having tantrums like you would expect. Instead he just has it in his mind he is doing something else and it seems inconceivable that any alternative can be comprehended. He suddenly seems to be a four years old acting like a teenager. He even told us he was moving out to live on his own with his toy puppy!
He is not so much pushing boundaries as reusing to acknowledge the existence of such a concept.
I don’t know if it’s the reason but he has had the loss of his brother on his mind a lot – maybe stirred up by our visit to the baby memorial garden. He even asked us if Lucas was better than him! Maybe there’s some kind of sibling rivalry going on with his perception of a perfect brother?
BUT
It hasn’t been a total waste of a holiday. There have been plenty of upsides. For one – the weather has been glorious. Playing havoc with my eyes and my hay fever but we have enjoyed the sun while we can.
Alexander has displayed some amazingly god behaviour as well. He is talking even more now – sometimes hard to get him to stop. He is also making up some brilliant songs. He was sitting in the car the other day singing
“The thing, thing, thing thingys. The thing, thing, thingys are the moles!”
I asked him what it was all about. He answered in exasperated tones.
“It about thingys that are moles!” And gave me a look as if to say – wasn’t that clear in the words?
We have been to zoos and the seaside for fish and chips and to the cinema. Took Alexander to see Despicable Me 2 which I can highly recommend.
So here’s a few images from the week.
Still on Holiday with Dean and Anna but went our own way today. We took Alexander to Wookey Hole – where I used to camp when we were younger. He loved it. The cave system is much bigger now and they have model dinosaurs and a pier museum.
On Holiday with Dean and Anna in their family’s flat in Keynsham.
Today went around Bath and took some pics. Went into a mini market. Was a good day out though Alexander was quite misbehaved. Its all too exciting for him.
Went to Bristol Zoo with Dean and Anna, Alexander loved this – especially the squirting dinosaurs.
On Holiday with Dean and Anna. Walked from their flat in Keynsham to Bath. Uncharacteristically Alexander did not want to walk so I had to carry him most of the way.
It was still a good walk though.
Another of our favourite haunts – because not only a lovely place but free too! Had a great day here exploring. Was relatively warm for the time of year too.
Scott Andrew Bailey - Author 