best part of the week

"look, i made a snowman." cue much adult laughter. not pictured; trampoline jumping with individual nephews and a niece using a croquet mallet as a microphone (mick jagger stylie) all accompanied by giggles. as a week of birthday celebrations gave way to tiredness, childhood laughter really is the best medicine.

Emma

This week I'm in Hong Kong with work.  Today I was fortunate to be taken to a part of Hong Kong you don't normally see as a visitor.  The experience was humbling and I'm grateful for the opportunity and all I have.

Jane

second seventy

this week we celebrated my step dads seventh. on a tuesday night. the location might have been familiar but the line up was different. memories shared, photo montages and buses proffered by children, grandchildren drew and wrote as well as talked and played guitar for their beloved granddad on film. in return he was suitably overwhelmed. earlier this year when mum celebrated her birthday my step sister thanked us for sharing our mum around, this week she commented we all share her dad too. we are honoured to.

Emma

thankful thursday

the eerie quiet of a usually busy main road causes me to stop in my tracks and take note - the stillness immediately triggers my mind - what sounds am i missing? in their absense i am reminded; appreciate the everyday. the smell of dew evaporating from freshly mown grass on a humid week day morning, a cloudless blue sky perfectly highlighting the newly budding greens, the wind lifting dandelion clocks as if on its breath and forcing my hands to clamp my thighs as my black cotton skirt swirls upwards whilst walking in the warmth of the spring sunshine, birds appearing in such number i fear my garden is being dive bombed even without seed in the feeder. in a week when a friends health circumstances have changed i am grateful for my senses and heed the reminder to embrace all that surrounds that we all too often can take for granted.

Emma

best part of the week

another big birthday, another set of surprises. working on projects with the grandchildren this week has been fun.

Emma

Prom night. Memories made forever when you are 16. A rite of passage for Mum and Dad.

Jane

thankful thursday

this week i would be lying if i gave you a list of things i'm thankful for. to be frank, these last couple of days i've been anything but. some weeks are like that aren't they? we fall down the hole of frustration and self pity. i've tried really hard not to - i've remembered to be thankful for what i have got - a job, a roof over my head, a family. then yesterday i received this -

my friend knows me well. we all have a tendency to compare ourselves with others and this week i have been guilty of doing just that. this week i believed i was less because my life isn't perfect - but you know what - no-ones is. on a bad day we tend to forget that. so here is my reminder to you and to me - we are not perfect, never going to be, weren't made that way but what we are is gloriously individual, fantastically gifted (in at least one thing, honestly it's there - go look for it), capable of being compassionate in ways we don't expect, and the owner of a sense of humour with the ability to laugh so hard you fear you will not be able to catch your breath again. 

i have been told more than once by friends this week that they wished we lived closer. i guess i should add to the above list - never forget we have the ability to communicate with others. with that connection comes the giving of the precious gift of our time, a gift that once shared is something we only benefit from.

thank you jane.

Emma

best part of the week

long weekend, sunshine, good food, good wine, good company.

Emma

Sunday afternoon sunshine. Mother and daughter time gardening, time goes slow. Even better knowing tomorrow is a bank holiday.

Jane

thankful thursday

rainy day walking, best friend talking, southern niece hugging, birthday celebrations, family catchups, laughter, sunshine, declarations, roast dinners, creative projects, friend catch ups, bracelet making, singing and dancing. a short working week emphasing rest and play. all these things i am grateful for. the balance of the rhythm of rest.

Emma