My Mum and Dad

Just writing some thoughts down about my mum and dad.  They are not having the best of times at the moment.  My dad is recovering from a very nasty abscess and my mum has been admitted to hospital.  Over the years they have both been through the mill but have always come through, their sense of humour playing a very significant part.  You both are always in my thoughts.

Great photographs - taken in Spain, February 2007.  Happy, happy days!  Love you both xx.

Spring has sprung!

Spring brings the promise of Summer!  As I was saying to Gaye yesterday - Spring is like the Friday night of the weekend!  I love it - obviously the weather has been so good this holiday so has played a major part in the feelgood factor. 

I love this photograph of my mum and dad taken in Regents Park on Wisteria Bridge, late Spring a couple of years ago.  The roses were in bloom - absolutely beautiful - well worth a visit at this time of year!



Failte gu Alba!

It has been great to back in Scotland.  It's nice to be reminded just how beautiful that country is - ahhhhh!  The Isle of Arran truly is a snapshot of Scotland - and I spent two wonderful Summers there working at the Auchrannie Hotel with Moira, Maureen and Julie - it was fab!

Next stop was Inverary - I wanted to visit the castle - I have been unsuccessful so far but I felt that I was going to get inside those castle walls!  Hmmmmm!

Ah well - we managed to get into the grounds but not inside the castle.  It is beautiful and one day........

We drove to Dunoon to get the ferry back to Gourock and then drive along the coast back to Stevenston - it was stunning!  Steve was very impressed!

On Friday we took mum and dad back to Elder Park, Govan, Glasgow.  I was born in Govan and lived in a tenement for the first 8 years of my life.  Elder Park was at the end of my road (Fairfield Street) and it was our garden.  As a child the park seemed huge and we spent many happy hours there!  Lillian, my older sister came too which was great because she could remember loads and certainly jogged my memory.  Thanks Lillian!

I am so glad I got to Elder Park - I have just completed a scrapbook layout (thanks to Mandy, our wonderful teacher) which has very old photos of Elder Park (circa 1953).  My mum, grandad, auntie and sister Lillian are in these old photographs - I love them!

This is Auntie Roseanne (mum's younger sister), my grandad McDonald, my mum and in front my sister Lillian. I wasn't born at the time!

A great time had by all!

Key of the Door!

Wow Stephanie - 21 eh.  I remember my mum and dad singing to me on my 21st - "she's got the key of the door, never been 21 before" (can't remember the rest of the song).  Anyway I know this is going to be a fantastic year for you.  Graduation in July and entering into the big world of work and the challenges it beholds!!! 

I am going to be really bold and say that probably between the age of 20 and 30 is the time when you establish yourself in the world.  Work, friendships, freedom and having lots of fun - it is a brilliant time - enjoy it - whatever you choose to do.  I am really proud of you Stephanie - you have played and worked hard and deserve a good decade now of fruition. 

 I love this picture of you - 16 years old!  I also love the picture of you and grandad taken when you were 3 years old.  How time flies eh!  Gorgeous girl in every way!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Crumbs - 2011 what a shocker!  Where did 2010 go?

Looking forward to this year - my Stephanie will be 21 next week and Cameron will be 18 in September - OMG - I surely can't be that old!

We brought in the new year in Wroxham this year - right on the broads, it was super duper.  Great to spend time with very special friends!

Wyrd Sisters

Cameron's School Production!

Again another polished performance from the whole cast - it was excellent and it was apparent that lots of hard work and dedication went into this performance.  I was really impressed with the set and the confidence portrayed by the cast - they worked hand in hand and seemed very supportive of one another.

I feel that well led and directed drama provides a stable platform for developing confidence and self-esteem, not to mention language skills, team work and discipline.  Even in Early Years where drama/role play is actively encouraged, it is important to run an adult directed session to ensure that young children have the opportunity to develop some key skills and experience and then take those new found skills and experience and use it in their own role play/drama/real life situation.

Strange thing is - it is only the past ten years that I have really appreciated and perhaps totally understood this.  Oh dear!  Needless to say we provide lots of opportunities in a variety of contexts to develop and support these skills.

What a bit of a boring post this is!  I have just been thinking about quite a bit these days - I always aim to foster self-confidence and self-esteem in children - it is a feeder for all other aspects of one's life!

The Joys of Papercrafting!

Just had a full weekend scrapbooking with my scrap buddies - heaven!  Just having the space and time to fiddle with paper, glue, scissors, glitter, card, stamps, ink, watercolours - fab, fab, fab!!  Tired though - late nights and early mornings - so thank heavens it is half term!

Off to Stoke to the Wedgewood Factory for a bit of Ghost!  Patrick and Demi - eat your heart out!  Some quality time for myself and Steve - oh happy days eh?  I feel quite content with my life at the moment - thank you to all who are helping to make it such!

I am sorely missing my camera - using my phone camera is not the same - need to sort that out - Christmas is coming!