Special Days

The weather has been glorious here, I've been grateful for a little shade in the garden at times and my trusty fan at work, but apart from that I refuse to moan, it's so nice when the sun is shining, the best therapy there is!

Everything is growing so wonderfully in the garden, we are enjoying those fresh red strawberries I can tell you, well, when I get one, GS seems to find them all first!

The tractors have been so busy on the fields behind our house hay making. It always feels like summer is finally here when that happens, and GS adores watching them go round and round working busily each day/evening.

I will be 20 weeks pregnant on Saturday, half way through, I can hardly believe it! Next Tuesday is our scan, hoping all comes back fine. We aren't going to find out the sex as we've decided it would be a lovely surprise to find out at delivery, and especially for Mr G.T to let me know first at that special moment, so I'm sticking to my guns and resisting temptation to find out early! There have been plenty of kicks and my belly is definitely growing nicely now.

Potty training is in full swing here, and GS is doing fantastic. I have to say I am pleased we waited a little with him, he seems much happier now to be doing it than i think he would have been a few months ago. He has had a few accidents in his pants, to be expected I guess, but he is really getting the hang now of pulling them down and going in his potty, I'm so proud!! Last night after he had gone to bed with a nappy on he shouted over the monitor that he needed to do a wee so we trooped back up to help him out of his nightclothes on to his potty (he struggles to do this at night because he has to wear boots & bar because he was born with Talipes) and he did a wee!!!! Thats the first time he has actually told us he has needed to go, and so a big step! I have splashed out (is that an appropriate phrase lol?) on a travel potty too, not the cheapest but a good investment I think to help when he is out and about, he unfortunately had an accident in Thomas Cook yesterday whilst out with my Mum and seemed very sad about it poor dude, so hopefully this will help, thankfully the staff at Thomas Cook were very understanding.

The wonder of the picnic

Myself, Granny Nanny, my son, and my niece went for a trip to Rufford Abbey to make the most of a rare sunny day in July! I love it here, particularly on a dry day there is so much to see and do; lakes, ducks, swans, woodland, cafe, the historic 12th century abbey, butterflies, craft centre, art gallery, arboretum, adventure playground, an old mill, modern sculpture... it satisfies my senses and indulges my desires, as well as entertaining the kids, bonus!

I have a bit of an obsession with picnics, probably a result of my childhood spending many a day trip out in the Derbyshire Dales, Peak District, or Norfolk sitting in the car completely washed out by the usual "British summer" rain eating Waggon Wheels, salmon & cucumber rolls (cobs to us), pork pie and scotch eggs, mmmmm the best memories! From the first year Mr G.T & I started dating we have gone for daytrips and ride-outs armed with a little picnic basket packed full of goodies and delights! Somehow eating al-fresco, or even sat in the car looking out to the countryside beyond, makes the simplest of spreads taste divine. Of course the best picnics are ones where you can lay out in the sun on a giant rug, sipping wine, eating smoked salmon and various cheeses, the kids running around enjoying the freedom of the outdoors, all topped off with cake (a quintessential picnic item!) However, good weather isn't a necessary ingredient, you can even have a picnic sat indoors on a rug in your conservatory, or inside a play house as the rain patters down, as long as there are nibbles, a lack of cutlery and you are sat around in good company enjoying the occasion, it's a memorable picnic!