This Weekend

This weekend the sun shone;
I sneaked to the pub on Friday night with Em
Our garden was filled with teenagers dancing,
Apples were picked from the tree
Crumble was made.

A vintage sugar pot was stumbled upon
That matches the coffee pot that sits on the side.
Presents were bought with love for weddings and birthdays,
Fizz was drunk till late
Tipsy photos of friends were taken.

Dragon flies and butterflies danced through the skies;
My son partied till 4 in Hyde Park
My daughter climbed trees with friends
My husband played golf on a perfect Saturday morning.

It was one of those weekends which was full of life in a good way
Shared moments with family and friends that make you smile.
Today work was tough
Family were grumpy
And friends were busy with their lives,
It makes you appreciate the sun of weekends.


Jane

saturday afternoon

saturday afternoon brought a chance to relax in the warmth of the september sun. thoughts turned to sunday. what would go better with a roast dinner than apple crumble? shoes were kicked off. ellie and mia climbed high into trees. i turned into apple spotter and catcher. hands and pockets and baskets were filled. fun was had. apples were shared.  there was more than one household that had apple crumble for lunch this sunday.

Emma

saturday morning

this weekend i was south visiting jane. the sun shone. presents were bought. photos were taken and time was spent. perfect.

Emma

Catching up

This week is the first full week back at work following the summer holidays. It's Wednesday and the effort of getting up about of bed in time is getting tricky. I am already in the habit of staying in bed for an extra 10 minutes after the alarm has gone off, just to get those extra moments pretending to sleep.

But the week started with a gift. A close friend who I had not seen in 4 years came round for the evening. I used to see her every Saturday afternoon, when I used to escape to her house for tea, laughter, and friendship. We used to laugh at and with each other, listen and walk to parks, pubs and ball pools. Then, she moved to Australia which meant Saturday afternoons suddenly became empty.

This summer she has been back visiting the UK, and on Monday night we caught up. It was a different kitchen we sat in to that four years ago, but as she walked in it was like she had never been away. That is what is so special about friendship, when even the gap of time and shared experiences means bonds still hold true, that understanding is still there.

To-night she flies back to Oz, and I wish it was not so far away, or we didn't have to wait another 4 years.

Jane

remembrance

eleven years. 

do you remember what you were doing eleven years ago today? 

like the day john lennon died.

or princess diana.

do you remember where you were? 

who you were with? 

the big screen brings news of andy murray becoming the first british tennis player to win a grand slam final for seventy six years. 

forget that i lay awake listening to the radio bringing news across the atlantic in the early hours of the morning. seventy six years to the day. on the same court. in the same place.

eleven years. 

8 december 1980. i was waiting to go to a dental appointment. listening to the radio.

31 august 1997. i was sleeping on the sofa of a heavily pregnant friend. watching the tv.

11 september 2001. i was watching a small black and white portable with a boy who had his dreams come true would have been in those very towers that were flown into.

sobering thoughts.

tonight i went into our local shop. bjork was playing. it transported me back sixteen or seventeen years.  

edinburgh. my dads conservatory. my sister and i dancing around the room to this song. 

some waltzing. some rocking out. a lot of laughter. 

to those of us who have lost loved ones suddenly, you know you don't need an anniversary to remember. 

you never forget. 

but sometimes it is good to give thanks for the good times. and make a song and dance about it.

Emma

september skies

   

tuesday 8pm

wednesday 7pm

saturday 11am

saturday 8pm

sunday 1pm

sunday 7pm

this week i have been drawn outside more than once. drinking in the waning september light. as the nights begin to draw in remember to look up.

Emma

Farewells

For those of you who read this blog, you may remember that earlier in the year I posted about finding a set of pick-up sticks at a car boot sale with a friend, and the fun that ensued, as well the memories it brought back.
This morning that friend left for University, starting a new season in her life. Before she left she came round with a present, and final games were played.

Giant gave it a whole new level of complexity and concentration.

It was a very fitting farewell evening.


Jane