Camping in Sussex

We got back last night after a fortnight down south combining visiting friends, a 3 generational camping holiday and a weekend of medieval re-enactment. It's been a really great combination of fun, relaxation, excitement and exploration.


My children and I had driven down from Cumbria with a car full of medieval camping gear and detoured to deliver our old medieval (actually Victorian) cart to a friend just off the A1(M). Nice to catch up with some of our medieval chums after a year. Then it was on to Ascot to stay with friends for Saturday night. The children are all a similar age and very quickly settle in to playing with each other despite a 2 month gap.


The Sunday was spent at a BBQ with my 4 best friends from high school, 3 husbands and our 9 children aged 1 to 8. It was a very relaxed afternoon with the children enjoying the paddling pool in the sun and the grown ups able to chill and chat over a few glasses of sangria and Pimms.

My friend and I enjoying the sun

Wordless Wednesday

Should I stay or should I go now?

Well I know that I have to leave my home of the last 7 years but the question is to where?


I have 2 options 1) stay in Hastings area or 2) move up to nearer my parents in Cumbria with either option I have to find a suitable rental property that doesn't have the horrible phrase regrettably no DSS or even I have seen no children.


Since my mum seriously raised the second option on Friday I have been weighing up the pros and cons of moving my family 400 miles away...


Pros

1. I will be close to my parents, grandparents, and an aunt & uncle
2. My kids will grow up in a less deprived area of the country
3. I will be able to make use of free babysitting due to 1.
4. My kids will have regular, easy contact with close male relatives
5. If I want to retrain as a teacher there will be more support
6. It will be a fresh start for us all
7. I can take my Usborne business anywhere

Cons

1. My kids were born in Hastings and have never lived anywhere else
2. My daughter is at a fantastic school of only 70 kids and has lots of friends there
3. My son has some strong friendships at his nursery which he has been at for 3 years
4. We have a fabulous church that has been a real rock in the current troubles
5. I have some lovely friends that I have made at work & through my kids and the church
6. I have school contacts for helping me get a GTP or school experience
7. For my Usborne books I have the base for really getting it going now I have the time

At the moment I am definitely swinging towards the moving to Cumbria. Gently building up to possible move with my daughter as I think my son will be happy as long as he is with mummy and can see his favourite man Gramps

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.