#TheGallery: Grandparents

This week Tara wants to showcase our Grandparents. As regular followers of my blog know I was very lucky that until 18 months ago I had 3 grandparents that I was very close to. They have featured several times on here but I am always pleased to bring them out again.

My dad's parents' (Walter and Margaret) wedding in 1939

They were so lucky to be married for 70 years through all sorts of changes and adventures. Apart from when my granddad served in the pay corps during WW2 they were never apart unless in hospital.

My brother and I with Granny Margaret in 1977

My granny Margaret only ever barely scraped the 5ft mark but never seems phased by her grandchildren who all past her in height by their teens. 

Grandpa Walter with my son

My children were very lucky to have met 3 great grandparents. I hope that they will carry memories of them all their lives.

My granny Kay on her 98th birthday with my daughter

My Granny Kay in 1938

For more photos in the Gallery please click on the camera logo up the top!

#TheGallery: Dads

In honour of Father's Day Tara has picked the topic of Dads for this week's gallery theme. My dad is very close to my heart as was his dad my granddad. So in honour of the theme I bring you photographs of my granddad and the other men from his side of the family that make my paternal line doing what dads do best:

My great grandfather Owen Evan Jones paddling with 4 of his children in the 1920s

My Great Grandpa Charles Band cuddling his eldest grandson Owen in the 1940s

My grandfather Walter cuddling my son in 2007

My dad having cuddles with my son last year

When Tara gets the linky up you can check out all the other fab dad photographs that are doing the rounds this week!

Armistice Day

I love the fact that there seems to be a resurgence of taking of part in the 2 minutes silence and remembrance services across the country. Both Twitter and Facebook were full of poppies and poems honouring the fallen. Maybe the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought home to people what sacrifices are brave armed forces are still making today.

BBC News Coverage

Recipe for a great long weekend away...

Start with both my kids packing their own bags the night before (even if it turns out E hasn't packed enough underwear!). Then they are both up without fuss at 6 AM and all in the car ready to go by 7...


A stress free drive aided by: good weather, in car DVD for kids, no traffic, plenty of snacks, a gorgeous step daughter keeping the peace from 1/3 way there, only 2 service station stops and only 6.5 hours driving time....


My lovely welcoming parents who my kids adore and who spoil all of us. Drinks with my favourite aunt & uncle. Coffee with my 97 year old granny. Lots of time with my brother, sister-in-law & nephew. Watching the cousins getting to know each other and play together. Seeing the light in my bed ridden grandad's face when his great grandchildren ran in the room. My granny's enjoyment of my brother playing with his son & my daughter with accompanying giggles. Catching up with an old school friend on way home...


When can I do it again? Once I've recovered from all the driving of course!!