What would I do without you guys?

I have had a lovely summer, not the summer I had expected.  No work, very tight budget, a poorly papichen and Mamilein and being asked to be a god mother.  Thank you to all who have been there this summer I love you all.  I've been on day trips to Manor Houses and palaces, the seaside, baby music lessons and a wildlife or two.  It has been a summer full of memories.

I exceeded all expectations

I had a blast visiting MrsF and my BFF aka My Gorgeous Goddaughter (MGGD). We  spent the morning at baby music and movement class.  Singing, dancing and just generally having fun.  The class was half an hour long and there are about twenty babies/families.  The instructor handed out the instruments and said to me.  "We expect everyone to join in!" My response was "try to stop me!"  Mrs F explained I was Early Years teacher (this was basically my everyday). We began with a couple of songs I was unfamiliar with, but I followed along bouncing MGGD in time to the music. When I recognised a song I joined I with gusto. At one point I watched the others parents mumbling along to Incy Wincy Spider, as I was belting it out sans baby. I leaned over to MrsF and said "I think in this class I am the overacheiver!"

Thirsty Meeples

What does GO do in his spare time?  Before you ask what spare time, the time when I'm busy (tutoring/keep fit).  Well he has been increasingly Invited out with his workmates.

Thirsty Meeples - games cafe in Oxford

Initially, they would all meet up and have a few drinks in the pub, before loving onto other less salubrious establishments.  

Choose a table and then your "games master" either collects your game or makes recommendations

They now however have started to try "other" things.  This is not as dodgy as it sounds.  Recently I arranged to pick GO up after I had finished a touring session with the lovely boy.  I was told to park up and join them, at Thirsty Meeples, a board games cafe.

It is always packed, booking in advance is recommended

I arrived to find them mid game, they were busy totting up the points; "he has three red, that's minus six but two brown, so he's the winner!"  GO had won, when I asked him how he had done it, he shrugged and said "I just did What I was told!"  It remainder me of the Friends episode when Joey is the host of a new game show that is ridiculously complicated.

This is great

On the right hand side are the things that people, lovely, thoughtful, kind, well meaning people ALWAYS, say to me.  I try not to get upset.  But when you have heard them all a hundred times or more it starts to get depressing.  

This Instagram post made my remember that, whatever people say, what they really mean is 'I love you', 'I care', 'I don't really know what to say to make it all better'.  TBH you don't need to make it better, just be there.

Wittenham Clumps

After spending the weekend with four of the loveliest people, including one stowaway.

I decided to make the most of the first days of spring by going for a walk.

After dropping of SB an JB at the train station.

I decided to go for a wander to the top of the Clumps, having heard the views were amazing, I wanted to check it out for myself.

After reaching the summit, I Skyped Mamilein and papichen but they were watching TV.

After walking into the valley and then back up again, I was starting to look the same colour as my jacket, RED!

I was definitely feeling the burn, as they say.  I had a chance to catch my breath in the many dens that had been built in the clearing.

It was worth though, the views were spectacular and with such a clear day, I could see for miles.  I could even make out the M40.