Dad’s visit

Had a fabulous time this past week with my father’s visit with us here at the family home. He loved it here, we loved having him here. Smashing fun, lots of talking, heaps of laughter… good medicine!

So I thought I’d share some of the loveliest moments I managed to catch on camera.

Firstly there’s dad sat in my chair, reading Rachel’s first book ‘An Ungodly Child’. It was wonderful to see him enjoying it and chuckling at her ‘humour and the imaginary world she created’.

Next is a dinner table shot sat with Lu. I cooked Shepherd’s Pie (well, cottage pie strictly speaking since it was beef mince, not lamb) and another day Spaghetti Bolognese, another a potato bake… lots of scrummy food. Next a trip to Costa while in town, much needed in the cold, poor dad’s fingers were freezing! Then there’s another of him happily settled into my chair for the duration ~laughs~

Next pictures are from our first trip over to see Kirsty, Kerry and Kyle; Lu and Kyle on the floor chuckling and then dad on the sofa laughing as Kerry… um… well, bent over! Next shot is lovely granddaughter Coco (Liane’s daughter) when they came to visit the house.

Just realised I managed to completely forget to take pictures of Katie and family’s visit, and Tony’s too, aren’t I useless? As well as Lee and Aimee?! Note to self; rubbish, take more pictures

Sunday night dad took us for a Carvery, impromptu as Kerry was just about fit from her hospital trip to go out, and dad had struggled a bit with their cats (his chest), despite their always beautifully immaculate house! Lovely long shot of us all (well, bar me, as I’m taking it!) on a really smashing evening.

On Monday, dad’s last full day with us he and I took a few hours out by ourselves. We visited a smashing ‘old clock shop’ (dad loves them) and here he is grinning and perusing them with glee. Lastly, he picked up this super sign, pointing out the others ‘love, peace, joy’ and held up ‘laugh’ over his head laughing. He said “these signs are all in your home” and I was so happy he felt that during his time with us.

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I hope you enjoy this post. I certainly enjoyed making it.

~doffs cap~ DK x

Wow I’ve been gone awhile. Ahem!

OK enough moaning, I’m back. Again. I pledge again to ‘try’ to post more often. Again. ~rueful grin~

Going through my photos since I last posted and I’ve just missed too much to try to catch up, so I’ve grabbed the obvious and will apologize in advance if I miss anyone!

The past week I have finally felt my spirits lift. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this, it’s been a tough slog these past few months getting over the metaphorical serious kicking I had last year. I’m sure it’ll be awhile before I’m really all good again, but at last I feel I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m not expecting it to be another train to run me over!

Sure we’ve worries like everyone does; money is a problem for the world right now, we’re no exception and there are plenty worse off, health worries are mostly over (thank goodness), and I seem to not have enough hours in the day as usual… but overall things are better.

My kids are fabulous as always, I’m so lucky there it’s sickening! Lina’s doing *great* at school, really coming into herself with confidence too. Tony’s in the last 4 months of his degree (Music) at Uni, from whence he’ll do a PGCE to teach. Kirsty’s working hard and her and Kerry are happy in love and very much looking forward to living life together properly once a couple of current health worries are ironed out for them. Katie’s now married to James, little grandson Corey and granddaughter Bethany are treasures and they all live in a lovely new house. Liane’s doing well, youngest granddaughter Coco and grandson Connor smashing too, though I’ve not seen them as much as I’d like lately what with one thing or another!

My re-qualifying/education is coming along a treat. Level 4 Psychotherapy/counselling is well underway, placement with a bereavement counselling group confirmed (training begins for that in March), first assignment was aced and formal practical assessment due in a couple of weeks and the exam at the end of May (for the 1st year of this ‘advanced’ course, after 2 years of which I’ve the ‘higher advanced’ to do?!). Loving it, deeply.

My father’s visiting on Wednesday. I’m excited, it’s been a long time since he visited me! ~bounce~ and my mum and Jim are going to be back in the UK soon so I’ll see them lots more too! All good.

We’ve formally confirmed two new leather family members recently, Lee and Aimee, both definitely time served, loyal and well earned. ~puts on Marlon Brando big jowled voice~ ‘welcome to da family’… heh.

Right enough waffle catching up for now. Time for the photos. I’ll try to write them in order they appear, but I may get it wrong so sorry!

Firstly there’s Gemma, who visited a few times this past couple of months, here sat on the sofa with regular visitors Mark & Estelle with their lovely daughter Rachel. Next was our visitor  Ali over Christmas and again since. Then there’s Lee on her birthday (Lu and I took her for a meal). I visited Katy for her birthday and she’s smiling over her gift, with Tara (her housemate/bro) with another friend Helen’s daughter Rachel. Helen visited with us at the house shortly after and she’s next, my boots too! Lu and Lee eating popcorn watching TV. Then there’s my new desk in my new office here at home. My beautiful dog Bear with his chewed toys. Another visitor and new friend was Amanda. Beautiful shot of daughter Lina in her fabby wolf hat (taken by Mark). Visitor Chris here for her birthday meal sat with Lu. Visitor Gemma having a lazy morning chatting, then looking lovely on the sofa. Aimee playing on my guitar. Me when we visited Aimee at her bachelor pad for her birthday weekend, and then asleep on our sofa on her actual birthday and again with her smashing plate of Lu special burgers! Random shot of me showing how long my hair’s got (hippy) followed by one of Lu with her snazzy new short hair. I visited with my old best friend Clare and the next shot is her lovely daughter Amy, followed by their dog and cat. Next is Lina where she’s spent most of the weekend, on her laptop downstairs as she’s lost the signal in her room, and Lu & Rowan at the table making an internet cafe day. I took the blossom photo at Clare’s and then two days later the snow picture in our garden, last night! Finally there’s my son Tony with his new car!

Phew, that’s all for today. Enjoy… hope you get through them all!

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~doffs cap~

DK x

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YULE GIFTS Announcement!

Dear beloved friends and family.

For several years now the horror of the money involved in Christmas made me create the ‘five pound’ rule, which we’ve all tried to adhere to for years. Basically the rule was that the maximum present price was a fiver. This lead to real thoughtfulness and care, above monetary value! THIS year I’ve changed my mind.

PLEASE DON’T spend ANY of your hard earned pennies on us three this year (myself, Rachel, Luisa). Christmas/Yule is a financial, stressful torment to most of us in these harder times so please… Spend what you are able on the children, not the grown ups. Give them the pleasure of ‘festive spirit’. Our joy is in theirs anyway

Yes of course everyone loves giving and receiving gifts and showing love and affection that way… but I would still FAR rather have something YOU made, painted, wrote, drew or found yourself, than *anything* you could buy from a shop. A shell. A stone for the circle. A poem or painting. Knit or craft work. Get the gist? We’ll be concentrating on the children ourselves this year, and anything that anyone else receives FROM us will be of the above ilk, personal, inexpensive and hopefully hand made!

Phew. Glad that’s over with!

November

Yes I’m still here.

This past while has really kicked my emotional, physical and mental butt… Hence no postings. Major life trauma type stuff, cliches, shock and healing time required.

However there have been some magical times despite it all. Spain. Edinburgh. Glastonbury and Stonehenge. London. Visit with my dad just last weekend, visit upcoming with my mum soon. So I promise to sort out some pictures and post some pretty things soon.

Hope all of you are well out in blogland. Night all.

-doffs cap-
DK x

Speaking my truth, for me.

I’m still standing. I’m profoundly proud of that.

I am good enough. For me, and that’s most important, and finally I believe that’s actually OK to speak and to feel. If that’s not good enough for you then I’m afraid that’s on you, not on me.

It’s not my fault. I’m not to blame. I’m not responsible. Your ‘stuff’ is not because on some level ‘I’ll never be good enough’.

It’s not my responsibility or job to fix/heal/mend/fight for/protect/help/take blame for/save you… or the world. I don’t have to. I don’t need to. I don’t want to. It’s your job to fix yourself.

All I can be is the best me I can be, for me… and I can be here for you, any one of you, any number of you… most of the time (except when I’m putting myself first, which I will and can do) and fundamentally I like to help people, and I’m good at it. But it has to be through choice, not obligation or assumed responsibility.

The rest is up to you.

Own your own stuff. I’ll not be owning it for you any more.

I love every single one of you though… real, true and from the heart.

I say it again. The rest, is up to you.