Still Here

Hello, this post is really just to say we are still here and I haven't posted for a while because there is not a lot to post about. I haven't broken any other bones is my body, the car hasn't broken down, the kids are happy so life is pretty normal at the moment. However it is half term and the kids and I are having a mini break by staying over at Mum & Dad's (just half an hour away!!!) I'm taking the kids for out for lunch at McD's today and tomorrow we are going to Westonbirt Arboretum so I might have more to say about that and maye some pictures if I remember the camera. I will try and blog soon.

Our trip to Holland

In October half term -last week in October - we took a holiday to visit some friends in Holland. We took the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland. We left our house on the sunday at about 9am and did a family 'tour of duty' visiting various relatives that live in the Essex/Hertfordshire area. We were booked onto the overnight ferry which didn't leave Harwich until 23.45hrs.
We got onto the ferry about 11pm, found our cabin and settled in for the night. Pete and I had to share the beds with kids as they were bunks which aren't really suitable for small people. We arrived in Holland about 6am and after passing through customs ventured out onto the open road. Thankfully SatNav reminded us that we needed to drive on the right hand side. The journey to Amersfoort was about an hour long and very flat, apart from an area called the dykes which is just outside of the ferry port which the roads had been raised up (all man-made) to stop flooding as the area is below sea level. It was a lovely drive (i can say that as I wasn't driving!!) but thank goodness for SatNav. Whilst we were there we went to a place called Zaanse Schans which had lots of windmills and is situated on the River Zaans. We climbed up inside a windmill, had a look at the cheese shop, saw a clog demonstration (the Health and Safety people would've gone mad - no protective glass for the tourists to prevent them getting hit by stray bits of wood, wooden posts as seats. You can just imagine someone with a clipboard writing all these things down, you wouldn 't get away with it in England). We went into Amsterdam on the train which Hannah loved. Went on a canal boat trip and I almost got run over by bikes too many times. They even have multi-storey bike parks which are crammed full of bikes - you wouldn't see it over here. We spent an afternoon looking round Amersfoort, getting a little bit soaked. We went to a cafe and I had the most delicious hot chocolate, it was just lovely. They also had a kids play area on the first floor which was great for the kids BUT there was no stair gate to prevent kids from falling downstairs. (The HSE would have those clipboards out again!!) I do like the Dutch attitude though, I think in this country we no longer allow people to use their common sense or parents to look after their kids. We've probably gone too far down the line of protecting people from themselves. Anyway enough of the politics.
We had a lovely time away, and it sadly came to end all to quickly. Back to work, reality sets in again.

update on broken arm

this is really going to be a short blog just to update anyone who actually reads this. my arm is healing nicely and i need to be using it. Doctor was not happy that i still had the sling with me, i debated about taking it with me and it was a gabmle i lost. anyway it is now in the bin. I am going back to work monday week and i have my final appointment in early december, so then i will get the x-ray pictures and can then post them on here.!!!!!

The broken arm

Well, its been a while since i last blogged. it is 4am and both Pete & I cantr sleep so we're both downstairs on our computers. I know its really sad. Anyway, my arm. It is now out of its bandage and kind of left to its own devises in a way. I'm not allowed to put pressure on it but am allowed to exercise it a little. i am seeing the consultant on friday to see what is going on - how thw bone is healing etc. I can post some pics of the lovely scars I have to show for it as well.

Anyway, what else is happening in our lives..... Pete started his new job mid- September and is enjoying it. He works from home so if there is no job booked in he doesn't go into work. Oftentimes the jobs he has booked in are cancelled so he is free for the rest of the day. Last sunday he started to lay the patio which is good but the pesky neighbourhood cats keep pooing in the sand.

Hannah started pre-school at the beginning of the month, attending 3 days mornings a week. We now move onto 4 mornings a week for this month and after the holdiays we go to 5 mornings a week. I dont know about her but I am knackered from having to get up so early every morning.

She's really enjoting it, painting, play dough, going outside etc. This week we also have an outing to a local arboretum which'll be quite exciting, and the christmas outing is to clearwell caves so i hiope to be able to get on that trip as a parent helper.

When i'm back to full health I hope to take josh swimming once a week on my day off whilst hannah is at school. He is such a little character and such a boy - investigating everythting, copying his sister, wanting to more than his body will allow etc

Anyway that is about it for the time being.

Broken Arm

As the title says I broke my arm - trampolining with the kids. I did it on Sunday whilst Pete was on a high risk adventure activity called Go Ape which involves climbing through an assault course in the trees, the irony is quite funny. Anyway a friend took me to hospital where they confirmed I had broken it and the doctors decided the best course of action was to manipulate it back into place which involves pulling the arm and hand to align the bone in a straight position. unfortunately it is a bad break and yesterday the orthopaedic consultant told me I would need an op on it (which was the 2nd choice Sunday). I was supposed to go in on Tuesday to have my op but the theatre person who organises the patients said the break was so bad he wanted the top surgeon to do the op so I've had to wait until today (Thursday). When I go in today the plan is to have a plate and 5-7 screws put in to help the bone heal in the right place. It has to stay in for 2 yrs and then i can have it or alternatively keep it in forever. (the first involves another op so i shall probably just keep it in)
its my right hand and i am one of those fortunate people that is a leftie!!!!! so there is a least a little good news.

Kids Camp

In the first week of August we go on kids camp to Sevenoaks, Kent. It is there to provide a holiday for disadvantaged children who most probably wont get a holiday and have difficult home lives. We left for camp on August 2nd (Hannah's birthday) and met up with our friends Ben & Catherine to travel with them. We got to Sevenoaks at about 10.30am - a bit of an early start - and gradually met up with the rest of the team who come from different parts of the country (Birmingham, Somerset, Gloucester, London). Some members also came with some of the leaders and went to the cinema with a couple of leaders whilst the rest of us when through camp training. After lunch we off-loaded the mini buses with all the things needed for the week. The members arrive from 4pm to settle in and meet the leaders and other members. As it was Hannah's birthday I had made a cake for her with candles on. After tea she was called up to the front where everyone sang Happy Birthday to her and she blew out her candles etc. She was a bit shy being in front of lots of people she didn't know.
Camp is very structured with not a lot of free time for the kids to get into trouble. We run lots of activities for the kids. First thing in the morning we (leaders) meet up with each other to do a short Bible study and prayer. We then go through the days activities with who is doping what and any volunteers needed for the activities. When the kids get up they can go to aerobics, jogging, or just chillin till breakfast. After breakfast and clearing up we usually have a game(s) in teams. We did games such as wellie throwing, water games, games involving shaving foam etc. We had a spiritual slot where the kids would learn a little bit about God and Jesus. Int eh afternoons there were various workshops for the kids to take part in. We took the kids ice-skating, ten-pin bowling, boating, we do something called 'Hunt the Spy' where leaders dress up and the members have to find them and then take a photo of themselves doing a challenge set by that leader and we take the members into town for this activity. We went to to Thorpe Park for the day and we had a big 'ball' for the kids on the last day.
It can be a difficult balancing act with our children and the members who come to camp - being able to serve those on camp and spending time and giving attention to Hannah & Josh. They seemed to mix well with the members and leaders and had a good time.

Hannah's 3rd birthday

It was Hannah's 3rd birthday party on August 2nd and we had her party on the Thursday before. She about 5 friends come round. We had party food, birthday cake, presents, played pass the parcel and played outside thanks to the weather holding off for the day. In the evening family members came round and we had pizza - thanks Uncle Andy - and more presents and cake. We bought her a new car seat which is bright pink, a butterfly cushion, a balamory magazine, and other little bits and pieces. She also had colouring things, a smart denim dress outfit and other clothes, a little suitcase for when she stays overnight with Grandma. It was a long day but she enjoyed it all. I can't quite believe she is 3 years old. Being an August baby means she'll only have 1 more year at home before she goes to school. She will be going to pre-school in September which I think she is looking forward to.