Well the Summer has been in her full glory this week, and though it will go hide in favour of rain and cloud again tomorrow, we have really enjoyed the warmth in the old bones. Ruth had her first fall out of a tree last night, thankfully nothing more than a bruised hip and her pride. Will it discourage her from sitting in trees? No not one bit, half an hour later she is back up in the old oak singing imaginary songs to the birds. People having an evening walk on the common were quite amused at the site of her.

Caty on the other hand is now convinced that female humans should stay firmly on terra firma and that tree climbing is not a sensible occupation for little girls, so she proceeded to lecture her big Sister on the danger. When Daddy asked if it was o.k for him to climb trees, she said, "it alright cause you a boy",  Hmm dont think she has any idea of emancipation of the sexes.LOL.

Ruth is really coming on well at school since they implemented the new SEN programme for her, she now has extra one to one with all subjects and not just literacy, this has really boosted her confidence and she is interacting more and more in class situations. The school has implemented an extra dimention by involving all the children in understanding why there is extra time for some children, and why that is necessary. The SEN children have been encouraged to talk about their difficulties and how life at school is a little harder to cope with at times. This has helped all the children to understand each other more and acts of help and kindness have been more forth coming with each other. So far Ruth has talked to three year groups about her Autistic issues, young Ben about his Downs Syndrome and Lizbeth about her Cerebral Palsy, long may this openess continue.

My Dad is still with us and looks to be fighting the inevitable, he is not ready to go, but is very tired and frail. Trying to fight two cancers is a lot, but he is not giving in just yet. The paliative care team are doing a super job in trying to keep him pain free, which is a blessing and as much as we can hope for at this moment in time. He is so unaware of his illness that he just thinks it is all rather boring, to have this irritating pain. The viral dimencia is spairing him any anguish, thankfully.

Well I suppose I have to go get domestic, or the clothes will be upping stiches and starting a revolution, the dust will be shouting about clean working enviroments, and the freezer will be reporting me for starving it. LOL.

Take care of you all. Luv Winnie.xxxx

I am popping in during a quiet moment to say thankyou to all those who have mailed and sent compliments. I am not avoiding minti, promise. I am at my Sisters as things are taking a downward turn with My Dad. Please pray that the end is near. Though he has consistently come back from the edge, what a man. Poor Dad he does'nt even know now he is ill. In some cases dimencia can be a blessing.

Luv,Winnie.xxxx

Arna made a comment in a recent blog that I must be sad about the girls growing up. How true that was Arna. When Caty turned three it brought home to me that my Baby day's were over. I would love to go on and have a troup of little one's but time is not on my side, and energy is not quite what it was, the menopause has hit big time and the body and mind just would not cope with further sleep deprivation.

However on Sunday when we took the girls to see "James and The Giant Peach" up at the Uni,  I had the most wonderful revelation. Caty did not get to the theatre to see the short Play's the Uni puts on for toddlers as we had other commitments on Saturday's untill recently. So this was her first trip and it was a full production of two and a half hours.

I dithered as to whether to take Caty as, Marg I too flap, and the blurb stated "to suit 5yrs and up". However nothing ventured nothing gained and Caty got to come. Well the look on that little girls face was magical. When she entered he Auditorium she was blown away by the low lighting and the Giant peach on stage. When James came on she let rip and shouted look Mummy it's James and Mummy, Mummy there is a spidey. James talked back to her and asked her name and what age she was and would she like a story. Caty beemed as she told him and said she loved stories. For the next hour and fifteen minutes, Caty sat mesemerised at the events unfolding on stage.

During the break, she could hardly eat her Ice Cream for chatting about what she had seen and what would happen next. In the second half she was one of the first to get on stage to dance with the insects and bugs and the actors all got a cuddle from her as she came off stage. Now the revelation is that I would have missed all this if another bub was here, I would not be able to interact on the same level as I get to do now.

The sadness of leaving behind the baby years has gone and I look forward to getting to experience events that are old and established for me, with a totaly new perspective. I will get to see the joy of Ruth and Caty experiencing life and its Joys first hand rather than second hand through Hubby or the girls themselves.

So no more what ifs, or what might have been, I have found that for me, there is a shift in perspective and no more sadness, only joy at the delights I can now share fully with our growing girls.

Life is good. Luv,Winnie.xxxx

I woke up this morning to the most beautiful Dawn. The birds were really giving it their all, and not a breath of wind stirred. The clock said 5am, now to get up or drift off again. Got up, got a quick cuppa and a bowl of cereal, jumped on the bike and headed up the chalk. The world was empty of traffic and people, the rabbits were grazing and the fish were popping up in the canal. Not a long cycle but a relaxing one and home in time for Caty getting up at 6.45am.

Hubby completely unaware, I had been out ,was still snoring away. I really must do this more often, it set me up for the day. Now the Hubby and girls have gone off on their cycle, and will be back for lunch and to get ready to go to the theatre. We are off to see "James and The Giant Peach".

I am quite excited as we are a large group and we have not been meeting up lately due to work preassures and family. So we Parents have a lot of catching up to do afterwards, and so do the children. We have all now reached that point where the children can be involved in all the goings on.

No more, well so and so is too young to sit for that long. Ah, cant be bothered with the camping out with a 3month old. Little T is too noisy or too sooky at the mo. No, all is even, the kids can camp, festival, theatre, ride bikes, you name it, they can paricipate equally.

What I did not realise was how much I longed for this day, when a day out suggestion would work for all and no-one would feel left out or isolated. I loved it when the girls were babies, and people would drop in and lounge around getting to know the girls and chatting, but to actually get out and join in is heaven.

I feel so free today, is it the spring? the cycle? or the meet up? Hmm, all combined probably.

Have a wonderful day whereever you are. Luv,Winnie.xxxx