Gingerbread Travel - November 2020

August may be an expensive for Papichen but November is an expensive one for me.  With five family birthdays (four in the first week) it can be be a money pit of a month.  Gift buying is tricky as it’s so close to Christmas you don’t want to use up all of ideas and leave nothing for the real big day.  With this years added inconvenience of being in a second lockdown (no trips out), I wondered how to make it special for the Ginger One.  Then I had (stole) an idea, I asked lots of friends and family to send videos wishing him a happy

birthday.  Then I put the video together (some have asked not to be shared online) which you can see below.  We couldn’t travel as we were in tier 4 and weren’t allowed to visit people so it was lovely to have friends and family “visit” all be it virtually.

Gingerbread Familia - November 2020

We’ve been keeping a Beary special secret.

After a very, very long journey, we are pleased and relieved to announce that we have been approved to become foster carers. We are looking forward to welcoming some little people (0-11) into our family and home for however long they may need to stay.

Gingerbread Familia - October 2020

“An aware parent loves all children he or she interacts with – for you are a caretaker for those moments in time.” – Doc Childre

Our Fostering Assessment Report said that I (not GO!!) like to “make a fuss” of celebrations and festivals.  With that in mind I have enjoyed decorating the house this year.  We have, as everyone has, spent a lot of time at home this year and I have loved making a fuss.  Hopefully next year we will have little people to help us.

I am finding the whole process interesting and have learned a lot about others perception of us as individuals and as a couple.  The phrase used most often is they are caring, friendly and open.  Which is what we hope to be as foster carers. 

Gingerbread Travel - October 2020 🍂🍁🍂

Autumn Strolls

I have enjoyed having a week to myself, doing what I want when I want gas been relaxing.  I have tried to make the most of any time when it isn’t raining. Amongst all of the dishes, laundry, Hallmark movies and good food I have tried to get done much needed fresh air.  I decided to visit Gawthorpe Hall, I haven’t been there since I read The Familiars last year and wanted to reacquaint myself with our Jacobean neighbours.  It was a lovely morning stroll, I had the place to myself, almost.  As I strolled more and more people arrived, you can’t blame them during g the showers it was a perfect autumn day. 

Gingerbread Life - October 2020 🧡💏❤️

Happy Meetaversary

Yes, a Meetaversary is a thing.  It is the anniversary of the first time that two people meet.  It is a time to either celebrate or commiserate, I am obviously celebrating.  Thirteen years ago.......   Yes, we all know the story, drunken people, flight from Germany, Facebook, Peter Kay.  Well it all leads to here and now.  

We’ve had our ups (thankfully, lots) and downs (there has to be a few) but we are still here, still going strong, still getting to know each other and loving spending time together.  Although we both admit that this year we’ve more than made up for anytime we haven’t spent together, call it a lockdown perk. 

I feel like should do a where we were and where we are thing but I’m not sure I have the energy, to be honest.

Gingerbread Haus - October 2020 👻🎃💀

👻 Halloween Is Coming 🎃 

It’s the spookiest time of the year, I love all festivals and celebrations.  I don’t need an excuse to (as our assessor says) make a fuss.  I love decorating the house and making it feel special and inviting at different times of the year. 

Halloween Movie Marathon 

Gingerbread Haus - September 2020 🐿🦔🍁

It’s Time To Herbstify

“And all at once summer collapsed into fall.” Oscar Wilde

Well I thought it was time to “Herbstify” the living room, I love layering up the sofa with cushions and throws,  the  and watching a Hallmark movie or two.  Although Ginger One always calls them “girlie flicks” which sounds wrong.  It’s nice to be snuggling up after spending so much time outside and in the garden. 

Gingerbread Travel - September 2020

Finding Balance

While it is important to stay safe in these weird and worrisome times, we also want to continue to live our lives as best we can.  We realised that We had been hibernating and hadn’t actually done anything fun or nice in quite a while.  Even a short walk to the local Park was a thing of the past.  

Gingerbread Familia - September 2020

Home Styling - Fostering Edit

We were asked to send photos of ourselves and the house to the FA so they can put them into our profile.  It was quite a specific list, I wanted to take styled, Instaworthy pictures but GO said “just use the real estate photos.”  This got me thinking about how much some parts of the house has changed, would the old residents approve?  Has it actually changed that much? 

One photo requested, probably the most important was the photo of the child’s bedroom (is this real?). We sent the photo above, I had taken it to share on social media but never had.  We were asked to take another with all of the personal bits in.  It makes sense now, what traumatised child wants to walk into a room with a SMILE cushion on the bed?  Between this photo being taken and the one we sent GO had sold both of the singles beds (we got them for free on Facebook) as there was a strange, musty smell coming from them, and had bought a more solid white bed.  He had also decided to paint the drawers as he said they were too yellow. The new picture show a neutral room, a blank space to add to a place a child can make their own, for how ever long they need it.

Gingerbread Life - September 2020

Back to school

Well it’s the night every teacher dreads, even those that love their jobs (myself included).  The night before we return to school for the new academic year.  I was once told by a colleague, who is quite upbeat and positive, that she calls it Suicide Sunday (a bit of an over exaggeration I think).  As we all know (if you don’t we’re in the midst of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC) it’s been a strange all year and most of the children have been at home since March. My school has a high proportion of children/parents who didn’t access any of the online learning provided for them.  I’m not looking forward to returning as I have been moved to the Nursery, one of the two “new” reception teachers is pregnant and has been replaced by a supply teacher and the other teacher is also an NQT.  I feel like I will be expected to work alongside them while trying to work out how to be in Nursery.  I had mentioned to the leaders that I was planning to move on, just before lockdown, so wonder whether that is the reason I have been moved.  I’m going to try to stay positive, keep my head up and hope for the best.

Can we keep it up?

“I’m leaving school now do you want to meet me for a coffee and a walk?”  It was a spur of the moment decision, after a busy day at school I left at a reasonable hour, which meant I got home at a decent time.  On a whim I called GO and arranged to go for an evening stroll, we picked up a coffee and made our way around the reservoir.  In Lockdown/Summer we would go for a daily walk, sometimes we went after tea and it was lovely. I felt like there was more to life than just working, eating and sleeping, we weren’t just waiting for the weekends. It would be lovely to think that we can keep it up, I don’t hold out much hope.  Once work kicks into high gear I am not sure I will be able to sustain this, so we’re making the most of it while we have it.