8th August 2011 It’s been nearly a month since I last plonked myself down to update the Family Blog. By now, the chances of me recalling everything we’ve done are about as slim as me winning Strictly Come Dancing. When the family eventually reads this, they’ll inevitably moan that I’ve missed something “crucial”, forcing an… Continue Reading

16th July 2011 The lack of rain this summer has left me with no plausible excuse not to tackle the long list of jobs I conveniently “postponed” in spring, the ones that hover about like guilt-ridden ghosts prodding my conscience. It’s a bit like those school days when it would have been far wiser to… Continue Reading

28th June 2011 The moment Sarah finished her exams, she hopped on a train to Nottingham to stay with Lee. On Friday, I took Nan back to Thurcroft, and on the way home, detoured via Cotgrave to collect Sarah. When I arrived, Lee and his family were just returning from lunch, so I passed the… Continue Reading

21st June 2011 On the health front, I’ve clocked up another two hospital visits involving scans, prods, and the kind of “hmm” noises from medical staff that do nothing for one’s confidence. I’ve donated blood samples twice, but the results remain as elusive as the plot of Inception. Another scan is booked for July; at… Continue Reading

5th June 2011 I took Nan home to Thurcroft on Sunday night, ending a visit that had been dominated by a relentless, icy wind, the sort that makes you wonder if you’ve accidentally moved to the North Sea coast. It had blown in the day she arrived and only gave up once I’d returned her… Continue Reading

29th May 2011 It’s been a blustery week, with the sort of wind that makes you feel like you’ve walked into a giant hairdryer. Only one day of rain tried (and failed) to rescue the parched, brown lawns. Monday’s drama came courtesy of Jamie’s fire alarm, again. At 7 pm, the phone rang in full… Continue Reading

    23rd May 2011 Monday marked Sarah’s 18th birthday. The day before, she and Charlotte had been to Eden Hall for a pampering spa day, returning refreshed, relaxed, and looking suspiciously clean. That evening, the whole family gathered for a Chinese birthday banquet at home, complete with the usual over-ordering and “I’ll just have… Continue Reading

15th May 2011 The weather has taken a turn for the worse. Despite last week’s overly optimistic forecast, it has been chillier and damper than predicted, though, unlike the Spanish, we haven’t had an earthquake yet. Sue spent Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons in school. I offered to help by giving a science lesson on… Continue Reading

8th May 2011 Monday began with Lee attempting a surprise visit to Sarah. Unfortunately, as is so often the case with unannounced appearances, she was out, in this case, at Charlotte’s. Lee dutifully diverted there, whisked her out for a meal, and left later that evening. On Tuesday, Jamie returned from a two-week holiday. At… Continue Reading

2nd May 2011 For Lucas’s birthday, we bought him an electric car and kept it at Willow Bank, so he could whizz safely around the patio and garden without the risk of encountering heavy traffic on the M1. On Tuesday, I ferried it to Rothwell so he could use it there instead of waiting for… Continue Reading