Have you ever had one of those days where despite your plans they end differently to what you expected?
I’m pretty certain you have.
Your day is set out with every thing in order and bam something comes along that upsets the plan.
Our day yesterday went something like this :
10:30 Breastfeeding Support Group
13:30 lunch at Sainsburys
14:30 meet up with the daughter’s in-laws
15:30 3D scan of baby, hoping to see the little face and get some cute pics of the future grandchild… No facial view but we got a fab pic of baby’s ear 😂 😂 😂
16:30 ish go for afternoon tea to celebrate the impending arrival of said grandchild.
17:30 a viewing of the house they’re buying.
Home to pack for impending trips and supper while relaxing and watching TV…..
End of scheduled plans… But what do they say about the plans of mice and men?
…… A surprise awaits!!! The expectant parents reveal the baby’s chosen name over tea… And its an amazing name…. Just perfect. Lots of delighted chatter and exclamations and talk of baby. 💕 💕 💕
After much excitement and baby talk every one scatters to do their own thing and we, daughter and me, head down to the baby section and set about increasing M&S’s profit margins…. 😂 😂 😂 😂
After which we drive over to view the house 🏡… Its adorable.
Then (a planned)… home to pack, them for a 4 day trip to Wales and me for a 10 day work assignment.
Except, underlying the whole day is the uncomfortable fact that the pregnant 🤰 Mummy is in pain. Mild at first and assumed to be a UTI. I buy bicarbonate of soda which is a good neutraliser to possibly help in the meantime till she gets to the maternity unit for tests. Doesn’t work…and the pain increases. Getting worried now. At least we know from the scan that baby is fit and bouncing.
Finally, after dropping off the in-laws at home and me at the store to buy pizza for supper, they head to the hospital for tests, and thats where all expected endings to the day came to an abrupt end.
Twas not a UTI, no idea what is causing the pain and so they check her in for scans and an overnight stay.
Meanwhile I’m at home preparing the pizza..
Cue frantic WhatsApp message… “I have to stay in overnight, please bring food and my pyjamas etc.”
😂 😂 😂
And so the day ended with me travelling in a taxi with a bag of overnight necessities and freshly baked pizza in their boxes, a hurried supper in the ward and then me driving Fiona (the car) home.
Meanwhile the parents settle in for a very uncomfortable night and I keep my phone on as per request.
Good night 🌃
Archive for the ‘It's my life’ Category
Unexpected endings
Posted in family and relationships, It's my life, me and Peanut, tagged life plans, pregnancy on October 2, 2018| Leave a Comment »
23 weeks & 5 days – the miracle of life
Posted in family and relationships, gratitude, It's my life, me and Peanut, tagged family and relationships, first baby, first grandchild, first pregnancy, ovia pregnancy app on September 15, 2018| Leave a Comment »
18 weeks ago today I was still reeling with the stunning, joyful and extraordinary news that my darling girl, my beloved daughter was expecting her first baby!!!
To say that the news came out of the blue like a bolt of lightening would be an understatement. I was hysterical with joy unbounded. They were over the moon, and very emotional. We cried and we rejoiced and cried some more. They’re going to be parents, and I’m going to be a Granny
The baby was just on 4 weeks and 2 days from conception, and according to the chart, just the size of a poppy seed!!
At this stage Peanut was developing what would become his/her brain; the neural tube is forming and the spinal cord.
4 weeks and 2 days 🙂
We shared the news with some VIP people and I started knitting.
Books on pregnancy littered the house and where at first there was none, suddenly there was a lot…..of baby clothes!!! LOL All the baby clothes that I had kept from when my daughter was a baby, as well as the gorgeous little items I had bought over the years (just because I loved them), made an appearance. I’m delighted that Peanut (baby’s nickname) will be wearing some of the same clothes that Mummy wore when she was a baby.
baby will be wearing some of Mummy’s baby clothes….
The next scan came on 29 June 2018 and yes!!!! it’s a real baby 🙂
its a real baby 🙂 extraordinarily tiny
Since then the weeks have flown by, and on 9th July, when baby was just 14 weeks, we went for a private scan and saw this precious little soul on an ultrasound scan
and heard baby’s heartbeat for the first time. It is truly the most extraordinary experience….to hear the heartbeat of a baby from the womb. Look how tiny those little feet and hands were!! ❤
I got so excited (and impatient) I immediately set about sorting the nursery. Simon set up the crib and I unpacked whatever I had to hand 🙂 Soon we had the basics set up and I started the long process of washing all the baby clothes we had bought, the South African baby clothes and the clothes they had been gifted from friends and colleagues.
Mummy & Daddy and the first stages of the nursery
Over these 18 weeks, all baby’s internal organs have developed (healthy and normal), fully formed arms and legs, fingers and toes. Baby has developed ear buds and eyes, can yawn & swallow and has started giving Mummy a few ooofffs in the belly…as this still tiny little creature, weighing just over 500grams, bounces around and flexes legs and arms….a right little gymnast, Peanut is very active LOL
Just 10 days ago I had the most stunning experience of feeling baby kicking…albeit not yet very strong, it was very distinct. I was singing “you are my sunshine” to Peanut at the time and perhaps it was an objection to, or an appreciation of my singing talents!! LOL Not sure yet which.
Baby is now 23 weeks and 5 days from conception and the changes have been phenomenal.
Not only is Peanut now a fully formed little human being, but over the last 18 weeks has been a bit of a shape-shifter; changing from (the size of) a poppy seed to a sweetpea, a raspberry, a blackberry, a hamster, a peach, a lemon, a clownfish, a custard slice, a beet and an avocado pear!!! LOL Peanut is now the size of a juicy bunch of grapes, or a grapefruit…depending on which app you’re reading 🙂
Baby has now formed the air sacs in h/h lungs that will soon be used to breathe!!
With only 16 weeks to go till birth, there are now less weeks till B-Day than there are weeks since I heard the news OMG ❤ ❤ ❤ Truly, if I say I am excited…..that would be the understatement of 2018!!!!
As mentioned in one of my previous blogs, once I returned to earth off cloud 9, I downloaded the Ovia app (a pregnancy app) and started monitoring baby’s progress.
It’s been absolutely amazing to watch how many changes there are each week; body, feet and hands. I’ve read how baby has developed during each & every stage in the last 18 weeks, its truly a miracle of life. Baby didn’t have legs and feet or arms and hands till 8 weeks, but since then they’ve gone from the tiniest little hands and feet you could imagine to now – almost full size……
I wish they would share the type of information that I’ve read on the various pregnancy app in schools alongside of the basic bland practical biological information. Each week has revealed a new level of amazing information.
I remember my Mother always used to say that loved her daughters dearly, and yet the love she felt for her grandchildren was on a different level altogether….I now understand what she meant
I love my Granny – and Granny loves you little Peanut. Can’t wait to meet you ❤
A little heartbeat
Posted in family and relationships, gratitude, It's my life, me and Peanut, tagged blogging, family, first baby, first grandchild, granny in waiting, knitting for babies, listening to babys heartbeat, ovia app, relationships, second trimester, ultrasound on July 9, 2018| 1 Comment »
What a joyous occasion. Today my daughter and son-in-law surprised me with a visit for an ultrasound of baby Peanut and as a treat the nurse let us listen to baby’s heartbeat. oh my gosh, I can tell you the tears flowed…..all 3 of us were sobbing.
Ultrasound ❤
Listening to the heartbeat of a baby from the womb is a miraculous experience.
It was awesome seeing baby’s little body appearing on the screen, just the size of either a lemon or a beet apparently, or perhaps a delicious custard pastry, if you prefer LOL according to the Ovia pregnancy app.
My daughter suggested the pregnancy apps which you can download (for free) and they are absolutely phenomenal. They contain so much information in small bite size (no pun intended) articles, from the size of the baby, to the Mother’s body changes, advice on nutrition and all the changes that are happening to the baby. I’ve loved reading up on baby’s progress. They even show you how big (or incredibly tiny) baby’s hands and feet are each week.
I’ve found it so fascinating reading up on all the changes and progress of the pregnancy and the images on some of the apps of what the baby looks like at each stage are just incredible.
So we’re at 14 weeks now and incredibly it’s already 10 weeks since I first learned that after a very long wait, I am to be a Granny 🙂 Bring it on!!! I can’t wait. Of course besides reading the apps, and now the sheer joy of having listened to baby’s heartbeat and seeing that tiny little body on the screen, we’ve been shopping like nobody’s business (keeping the economy afloat)
and of course I have been knitting like mad.
This is such an exciting and amazing and awesome time. We are all so over the moon and holding our breaths …….keep this baby safe. We can hardly wait to meet this little baby. Peanut is on the way and I’m going to be a Granny 🙂
About Peanut
Posted in family and relationships, gratitude, It's my life, me and Peanut, tagged babies, my daughter is pregnant, my first grandchild, nature, pregnancy, The miracle of life on June 13, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Our little Peanut nearly has the muscle control to make a fist by now, but look how tiny the hands are!!!! 👶🏻❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️ It’s simply breathtaking to realise that a human being can be so incredibly tiny. Oh my gosh. It’s extraordinary, the miracle of nature
Camino connections
Posted in Camino 2017, gratitude, memories of days gone by, tagged blogging about my life, blogging about my travels, Camino 2017, camino connections, Camino de Santiago, Camino de Santiago Porto to Santiago, camino portuguese coastal route, following the way of st james, walking the camino on June 12, 2018| Leave a Comment »
I had such a wonderful afternoon. Met up with a young woman who I connected with on instagram via her Camino posts and mine, about 2 years ago.
Since then we’ve enjoyed each others posts, both Camino and other life stories. She’s been to Broadstairs a few times but I’m usually away so we never managed to meet up. But finally, my dates at home were conducive for her to visit the area and so we planned to meet today.
It was so gratifying to be able to talk to someone who has also walked the Camino, someone who understands the impact it has on your life, and ‘gets’ more than just the basics.
Although her journey was 6 weeks and mine only 11 days, we found so much in common with our experiences; mentally, emotionally and physical. We spoke solidly for over 3 hours.
We agreed that on the whole, unless you’re sharing Camino experiences with someone who has actually walked a Camino, most people’s eyes glaze over after 10 minutes or so. Which is not a criticism, but rather an acknowledgement that they don’t ‘get’ what you’re talking about.
Her experience of the Camino was vastly different to mine; she was 21 when she walked 6 years ago, and I was 62 when I walked last year. Her distance was 790 kms whereas mine was 240kms. Yet, despite the differences there was so much we could share about packing, what we actually needed by way of clothes vs what we thought we’d need, about injury and how we dealt with them, and how we related to other walkers.
After listening to her experiences it confirmed for me what I suspected….the French route is completely different to the Portuguese route. Not just in geography, but in the set up and the way in which pilgrims connect. There seems to be more opportunity to form deeper relationships.
It was a relief to be able to talk to someone who understood what I meant by the ‘essence’ of the Camino.
I’m going to be a Granny
Posted in family and relationships, It's my life, me and Peanut, tagged baby on the way, family and relationships, first grandchild, first grandchild syndrome, I'm going to be a Granny, The miracle of life on May 12, 2018| 4 Comments »
As I travelled home after finishing my latest assignment I had no idea that within a few hours I was to receive news that would change my life exponentially and forever. News that I been ‘praying’ for, hoping for, but beginning to reconcile myself to possibly not ever getting.
My daughter and her fiancé were busy planning their wedding, now just 2.5 weeks away and it was all systems go. She had the best fun planning this wedding, buying this and that, ordering little surprises for her bridesmaids, flower girls and her Mother (me 😉 ).
So when I got home, tired but excited to be in the final planning stages of the wedding, I had no idea what news was waiting for me. Greeting me at the door as if nothing was different from all the dozens of times I had arrived home after being away, we hugged, chatted briefly and made a cup of tea 🙂
Relaxing in the lounge she said, with a very straight face, that she had a little gift for me! Oh, that girl. Always full of gifts and surprises for people. I had no idea what to expect and set about opening the gift-wrapped box, thinking it was probably something to do with the wedding………little did I know.
Holding her phone up to record my reaction, and with firm instructions to not shake the box, to hold it still and open it at a certain angle, I complied. I’m used to her doing this type of thing, so my expectations were that it had something to do with the wedding, possibly something made of glass, which is why when I saw what was in the box, it took a good few seconds for my brain to register what I was seeing!!! Talk about a brain spin. Mine did a complete 360 degree loop!
OH. MY. God!!! There nestled in the box was this…..
the best news ever!!!!
Staring at the words on the baby grow as if I had never seen English words before, it took me all of about 30 seconds to comprehend what I was seeing….my head whipped up at an alarming rate and the incredulity on my face was something to behold. You’re pregnant??? A tearful nod from the Mother-to-be and I was out of my chair in a flash, absolutely hysterical with unadulterated joy. I never knew sounds like that could come out of my body!!
At just on 3pm on the 12th May 2018 I got the best news ever!!! I was gong to be a Granny!! Oh how much I had hoped that my daughter would one day have a baby, for her to experience the exquisite joy of being a Mother, of holding that tiny little mite in her arms and know that she was the lifelong guardian of that precious bundle. For years I had hoped that she would have this experience and now finally it was true; she was to be a Mother and I was to be a Granny.
I’m going to be a Granny
The tears flowed and the questions flew…when was it due? How are you feeling? What now? OMG is this really true and many many more. Once we had all settled down and the enormity of the news settled like a mantle over my shoulders, I realised that my life had changed exponentially and would never be the same again.
this is what was nestled inside the Daddy’s box 🙂
They had their first scan done just the day before 🙂
Due in January and just the size of a poppy seed 🙂
Isn’t that just the most miraculous image in the world!!! And so the adventure begins!
Practising for Pilgrimage
Posted in around the UK, Camino 2018, It's my life, The Pilgrim's Way; Winchester to Canterbury, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2018, tagged blogging, follow the pilgrims way, pilgrimage, pilgrims way winchester to canterbury, rapeseed fields, the pilgrims way north downs, Travel, travel diaries, travel writing, walk 1000 miles, walking in england on May 8, 2018| 3 Comments »
A few days ago I looked at my calendar and suddenly realised that this ‘big’ pilgrimage of mine that I have been talking about for months was only 3.5 months away!!! Shock and horror. Where has the time gone and how did this suddenly creep up on me. Although I have joined the #walk1000miles challenge for 2018 again, I have been quite lazydasical about getting out and walking….always at the back on my mind is the thought of ‘hey, I walked 240 kms across Portugal and Spain last year on my Camino’ ergo I should be fit!! Uhm, no!! Not really. In reality I’ve really slacked off and once I reached the magic number of 1000 miles in 2017, my brain said “okay, enough already, time for a break”.
Then we had winter. Enough said on THAT subject. Urgh. Mind you I was lucky enough to experience snowfall in Montgomery, Wales that turned the world magical.
the WW2 Monument in Montgomery
However……with the prospect of 136 miles from Winchester to Canterbury ahead of me, the realisation that I best kick my ass into gear has hit home.
Pilgrims’s Chapels Winchester and Canterbury
And so I have started training in earnest once again and boy has my fitness level dropped since September 2017. Blimey. So, although I have managed just over 373 kms/ 233 miles since 01.01.2018, I figured I best get my act together and do some serious walking again.
3 in 1 : North Downs Way, Vanguard Way, Greenwich Meridian Way,
I’ve been working in Oxted since 01.05 and I’ve managed a few walks up to and through the Titsey estate, some of which takes me along the Pilgrim’s Way on the North Downs, albeit just a little way.
The Pilgrim’s Way, North Downs, Oxted
The brilliant aspect of the walks in this area is that there’s a substantial amount of uphill walking which is giving me an excellent cardiovascular workout. The first day I did that I thought my heart was going to pop right out of my chest!!
a good cardiovascular workout
This was a tad disappointing since last year, when I was working here, I used to follow that route almost daily and after a few weeks was climbing to the top of the ridge, hardly out of breath. Clearly my fitness levels have indeed dropped.
walking along the North Downs
Walking in this area is always a pleasure and the views from whichever level you choose to walk are spectacular, at any time of the year.
View from the ridge; Titsey House in the distance
And now on the cusp of summer is no exception. The trees are sprouting leaves by the million; some of which are that fantastic luminescent green that seems otherworldly.
summer greens
The rapeseed fields are ablaze with tiny bright yellow blooms that spread like butter across the landscape, so bright you could surely see them from space!
Bright yellow rapeseed fields
I’ve seen a few walkers, quite a few dogs and a number of rabbits. The weather has been spectacular albeit very hot for long distance walking. We had loads of rain over the previous weeks and the ground in many areas has been sodden, like a quagmire and traversing these areas has been a bit of a challenge!! I took a walk through a small copse of trees hoping to see bluebells like last year’s crop…but sadly most of them have already faded.
just a smattering of bluebells left
I’m mindful of the fact that we may well have a lot of rain in August and September, in which case I’ll have to be walking through said quagmires which is decidedly unpleasant…..I may just have to get the wellies out! LOL But I’m hoping for days like this..
across the fields at Titsey Place
And so the training has begun in earnest. I’m planning on walking from Broadstairs to Folkestone in the coming weeks and that should give me a good workout as I’ll be walking with Pepe (my backpack) fully loaded. As always Gemini (my walking poles) are in hand to support me on my walks. I really love those poles now and feel quite naked when I walk without them.
Titsey Place and Gardens
Swinging the Botafumeiro at Santiago
Posted in Camino 2017, memories of days gone by, My European travels, Travel, UNESCO Heritage Sites, tagged Camino de Santiago, Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, Portuguese Central Way, Portuguese Coastal Route, swinging the botafumeiro at santiago, travel writing, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, visit portugal, walk the camino, walking solo on the camino on May 4, 2018| Leave a Comment »
On 11th September 2017 I set off on my first Camino, from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, via the Portuguese Coastal Route to Caminha, then inland to Valenca and the Central Way from Tui to Santiago; 240 kms along one of the most amazing journeys of my life.
Portugal was fantastic and I enjoyed the most wonderful weather and scenery along the whole route. My favourite towns were Vila do Conde, Caminha and Valenca, then the delightful Padron in Spain and of course the 2 cities: Porto and Santiago (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites).
I was very lucky to witness the swinging of the botafumeiro at the Santiago de Compostela cathedral on the night after I arrived. It was a phenomenal sight with hundreds of pilgrims gathered in the cathedral to give thanks for a safe journey and to witness this amazing event.
Apparently the botafumeiro is swung every Friday evening at mass and at other times/days if someone pays to have it swung. It’s not a given at every service. I can however recommend attending the pilgrim service even if, like me, you are not religious. It’s a beautiful building that resonates with the history of the aeons, of the prayers of the thousands if not millions of pilgrims who have humbly knelt there for religious reasons, and filled with the gratitude of pilgrims who are quite simply happy to have arrived safe and in one piece…and even some who have not….blisters being the most common ailment.
A flight in a Spitfire
Posted in around the UK, Fun Stuff, gratitude, It's my life, Travel, tagged biggin hill heritage hangar, flight in a spitfire, flying in a spitfire, travel bloggers, travel writing, wordpress, ww2 spitfire on May 2, 2018| 2 Comments »
After a few months of excitement and anticipation, on the 26th April, just a few days after my birthday, I finally experienced a flight in a Spitfire.
just before the victory roll, which was absolutely amazing
My wonderful daughter had booked me on a full-on Spitfire flight for my birthday. What an extraordinary experience.
coming back down to earth…my wonderful daughter
From the time we arrived till we left a few hours later, the on-site staff were welcoming, cheerful, helpful and informative…clearly love what they do.
Don, the pilot, was absolutely terrific and made my flight so special; from the time I climbed on board till I disembarked, totally exhilarated, he ensured that my flight was interesting and informed – talking me through the take off process, pointing out landmarks and executing that ‘freaking amazing’ Victory Roll. We saw so many amazing sights from the air; flying from Biggin Hill across Kent to Folkestone, then along the coast past Dover – a fantastic view of Dover Castle, Deal – another castle, Sandwich, Ramsgate, Broadstairs (I could see our house from the air 🙂 ), Margate and finally Whitstable, where we turned back inland.
The coastline is stunningly beautiful and I thrilled at the views. I could even see Calais in the distance!!!
We flew over Leeds Castle which looks as amazing from the air as on the ground, past Canterbury; the cathedral standing out like a beacon, and as we approached the Medway I could see Rochester Cathedral and Castle in the distance. One thing that did surprise me was how close the River Thames is to the River Medway!!! In the far distance I could distinctly see Canary Wharf and the City of London! amazing.
Don the pilot and me
The whole flight was absolutely thrilling and if there were a 100 star rating, I would give it 100 stars. Don, the pilot, made the flight so special by pointing out landmarks….I felt safe and comfortable throughout the whole flight. I loved the victory roll and wish I had asked if we could do it again!!! LOL I was so trepidatious beforehand but oh my word….it was so much fun.
safe landing
After I reluctantly landed, and came back down to earth again, we were treated to a tour of the hangars – it was absolutely thrilling to see so many of these beautiful craft at close quarters, as well as many others.
hello! we’ve landed
This truly was a unique experience, something I will never forget. The in-flight videos that were provided as part of the package were a fantastic bonus and so far we’ve watched them a number of times LOL It certainly brought back all the thrill of the flight for me. I’ve made a short compilation of photos and videos. Needless to say…I did cry LOL… it was either that or scream from sheer exhilaration.
Tweet from Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal)
Posted in around the UK, Historical, It's my life, tagged Catherine and William have a new baby, happy birthday, Royal baby boy born today, Shakespeare's birthday, St Georges Day on April 23, 2018| 2 Comments »
Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) Tweeted:
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs.
The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz.
The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well. https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/988387844111716353?s=17
Wow, to say I’m thrilled would be an understatement 💕💕💕💕💕💕 Clever baby boy has only gone and been born on my birthday. He’s in esteemed company, and shares the day with Me, Shakespeare and of course St George….Patron Saint of England. Freaking awesome.
Of course the name George has already been bestowed upon his older brother, so I’m wondering what his name will be.
As an added bonus, I’m in Durham for my birthday treat 😊😊😊😊
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