Reasons to be Cheerful: Something Old Something New #R2BC

Yay its October which not only means the month with the most birthdays in my family (including mine!) but hosting is back to me! Impressing myself on week 1 by actually writing the post on Wednesday night - will I keep that up? Thanks to Michelle for hosting in September and I hope I look after things well until November. So here are my reasons to be cheerful for the first week of October:
1) New discovery
Whilst out trying to hatch Pokemon eggs I discovered a wood on a hill that I didn't know existed! A lovely little spot to escape too: 

2) New parkrun shirt

I am very lucky that the backlog of parkrun shirts was resolved only 9 runs after I completed my 50th. It is also great to know that picking the next size down from my old shirt was the right decision as this one is not too tight:

3) Old chair

I inherited a Victorian or Edwardian chair from my granny years ago. However I haven't had anywhere safe to put it since we moved to Kendal so my parents have been looking after it. Since I have re-arranged my bedroom it fits nicely and it is well away from the children!

Reasons to be Cheerful: Back to school edition #R2BC

This week the guest host is Tiger Tales so please go and visit her! It's hard to think of anything but back to school this week as that's at the forefront of my mind so here are my back to school Reasons to be Cheerful:

1) Routine

It is actually quite nice to have routines back in place after the school holidays. It will take time to adjust to them and there may be some tweaks but we all know what is happening each day and at what time. Yes getting up with an alarm seems horrid at the moment but I'm sure my body will adjust eventually...

2) New classes


It's so far so good after 1 day in their new classes. Both children like their new teachers and are happy to be back. My daughter starting off well by being über keen to read her new book The Twits and hopefully will Be better at doing homework this year. Apparently all my son did was play with Lego and have a Jesus story!

3) New me

Well I am sticking to the new gym and fitness routine. Since I joined on Friday I've been 3 times plus a few Wii Fit workouts and an aerobics class. Not made a difference to my weight but my body feels tauter already (it's a work in progress to not be flabby!). We have been challenged at our Rosemary Conley class to see September as the new January and to really get motivated. So I have 4 weeks to knuckle down and see the difference.

4) Family

I am so blessed having my parents around to enable me to work. I went back 4 days before the children so they have had to be looked after by granny and gramps. At least now school is back my parents can breathe a sigh of relief that they only now have a regular commitment of one night a week!

This weekend my brother in law and sister in law are coming to stay in Kendal. It's great to be able to see them and enjoy their company.

Posted with Blogsy

New term, new....

Tomorrow is the first day of day of the new school term up here in Cumbria. After a long wet summer holiday my daughter will be heading into year 3 and my son starting in Reception. It will be a whole new experience for all of us.


New to Junior School


My daughter may find it a shock to the system moving to the more formal schooling of juniors. We are going to have to get use to the joys of proper homework so guess I need to start as I mean to go with ensuring she gets it done. This is her second year at this school so I hope it goes at lot smoother than last year. I hope that she learns to control her temper and emotions better so she can settle and make stronger friendships.


New to School


My son will be part time at big school for the first 2 weeks. The transition from nursery school to Reception is designed to make it as smooth as possible for the children. He is very excited about going and I'm sure he will be perfectly happy. I think its going to be harder for him to have to wait until the afternoon to go in wearing his new uniform (which I've spent too much time labelling!):

New mummy

I'm going to be on my own for most of the day 5 days a week from the end of the month. This opens to many opportunities for me:

• sorting out the house and getting a proper housework routine (FlyLady here I come!)
• expanding my existing Usborne book business
• getting going with the family history business
• finding a part time paid job to fit into school hours (not an easy thing to do)
• getting into shape with Rosemary Conley (school holidays not good for my weight!)

It will be interesting to see how it goes for all of us so watch this space....

New for old

There is far too much new stuff going on at the moment its exhausting!


New home


Still settling in and sorting out and it will be some weeks yet before I'm happy... Plus the amount of forms I have to fill in because of the change of address is phenomenal! We have got lovely friendly new neighbours to make us feel welcome.


New town


I am still learning where everything is and it is getting easier but there's always something else I need to find.


Daughter's new school


Think I was more nervous than she was today! She seems to have enjoyed day one let's hope it continues...


Son's new nursery


He is being phased in very slowly and is gagging to go as it has a super garden and lots of things to play with inside! The lack of routine until end of the month is very disruptive to us all.


Daughter's new Beaver colony


This is a mixed blessing - the continuity of being a Beaver is good - the later finish time of 7:45 is bad as I haven't worked out how not to take son with me!




Roll on the end of the month when everything will be less new and confusing and we can really relax and enjoy our new lives in the North West...

Through my window

This is my first attempt at Sleep is for the Weak's Writing Workshop so please bear with me!



When I look out my bedroom window I see the view that helped to sell my house to me. It's a stunning view of Hastings Castle and the Channel. The house may be chaotic and need of renovation but I get up in the morning and the first thing I see is that castle when I open the curtains.


I first looked out that window when I was newly married (3 months) and newly pregnant (2 months) and with a whole new exciting life opening up before me.....


Six and half years on a lot has changed, I now have 2 wonderful children but the husband has moved out. I will be losing that view sometime this year as I have to leave the house in which I have brought up my children so far. I doubt I will get a new home with such a view but I will always remember it.