Happy Family Weekend

We have had such a lovely weekend at home, just us 3, no need to go anywhere, just hanging out in Whitstable on the beach and in our lovely house. We had a great day on saturday down at the beach hut with a picnic of french bread, pate and cheese and a bottle of wine. There was a chilly wind but we were luckily sheltered by the walls on the decking in front of the hut. Charlie had a fab time kicking about and cooing, in fact his repertoire has grown and he is making noises that now resemble Welsh towns and it all sounds very advanced. Mike and I sat and read the papers and chatted to the passers by and our other beach hut neighbours.

Sunday, Mike took Charlie out for a long walk so I could have a lie in as Charlie had woken several times more than usual in the night and I was tired. It was a great luxuary to wake up at 11am and I certainly felt so much more refreshed. As the weather was not so good, Mike cooked a big roast chicken whilst I pottered around in the garden planting more seed and plants for this years vegetable crop. After our big lunch we walked it off by a trip up to the cemetary to see Ruby and take some more plants for her grave. Bath and bed for Charlie and Mike and I settle down to watch Doctor Who. A perfect end to the weekend.

Giving something back

This week I was asked to speak at a conference about the future of the Hospital Chaplin service and the benefits of the service. This time however it was not in my professional capacity but as a user of the service. The Chaplin Paul Kirby, who supported and helped us with Ruby was the instigator and he was able to do an interview session with me via a conference call as I was unable to actually get to the conference itself.

It felt really good to be able to speak honestly about how well we were supported and the service that we received from them. It reminded us of how special it was that we got Ruby Christened in the hospital and as a result of that we were able to ask our friends Jane and Giovanni and Kate and Rob to be Ruby's God Parents. It meant so much to us. It felt good to be able to share our experience in the hope that it may do some good in keeping a much needed service from being cut in the NHS re-structure.

Another Great Weekend

As the sun was out again this weekend, Mike, Charlie and I took ourselves off the newly completed beach hut for a picnic. It was the first time this year we have used the hut and thoroughly enjoyed lazing in the sun whilst Charlie lay on his blanket smiling and talking to us. He even had his first taste of the sea when we dipped his feet in the water. The smiles however were quickly replaced by cries as it was rather cold but he was soon soothed by his Dads cuddles and kisses. It is an amazing suntrap down at the hut and it felt so hot and reminded us of all the times in the past that we were down at the beach enjoying the sunshine.

Sunday we went over to Mikes sisters for a family lunch. It was another lovely hot day and it was a chance for Charlie to meet his cousins. George and Joe really enjoyed meeting him and spent lots of time talking to him and trying to get him to play although George kept wondering why he wasn't concentrating enough. A thoroughly enjoyable weekend.

Sunday we went off to Mikes sisters for lunch and a chance for Charlie to meet his cousins for the first time. We had a great day and

I love the sun

Having spent the last few days feeling on deaths door with the mother of an illness, high temperature, razorblades in my throat and tiredness that makes hangovers a breeze, I woke up on Sunday morning feeling decidely better and ready to face the glorious sunshine that I have been hiding away from in my sick bed.

We were invited to a BBQ hosted by my brother who is currently living at his friend Petes. It was a great day and a chance to show off Charlie to friends and catch up with everyone. It was so hot and we all reminded ourselves of the weather this time last year when we were all out for Jo's birthday and it was snowing very heavily. I dont think Pete has ever had so many small people in his back garden as most of the guests came laden with child/children. Charlie was so well behaved and laid on the blanket cooing and smiling. He even had his first encounter with a lady when 3 month old Eloise and him met for the first time and laid side by side. Charlie even took the liberty to hold her hand at one point, very cheeky and a bold move for a first date I thought.

It was good to go out for the day and I so enjoyed the sunshine and dowing a couple of cooling beers aswell. It feels like summer is on its way and I am so looking forward to more days like this on the beach.

Charlie goes off piste

We have just got back from a brilliant weekend in Chamonix where Mike and my brother indulged in a long weekend of snowboarding. We stayed at out favourite place the Hotel Eden where we have been several years in a row. I, unfortunately could not take to my board for fear of my very neat caesarian scar ripping open in a tumble down the slopes, so instead took the opportunity to hang out in Chamonix town with my lovely boy.

Charlie and I spent the mornings preparing for my interview which was the day after we got back and then in the afternoon headed into Chamonix to indulge in coffee and cakes in our favourite patisserie. The walk down into the town from the hotel is about 45 minutes and is a beautiful path along the riverside surrounded by the slopes either side and with huge white gleaming mountains in the foreground as you head down the valley. The sun was shining and the sky was brilliant blue and I couldn't have been happier. As for the snow, Mike and Jon were in their element. Even though it was the end of March, the snow was the best it had been all season, lots of deep, thick powder at the top of the runs and warm sunny weather which makes boarding at its best.

The evenings were spent gorging on the amazing food in the hotel restaurant and drinking local wines. Charlie was so good and the Maitre d gave him his own table so we could put him in the car seat asleep whilst we dined. It really was such a brilliant weekend and so great to be able to take Charlie on his first trip abroad and for him to have his first taste of the snow.