Moving Out and Looking Forward

I'm finally back on my laptop after my week long break away in Normandy (thanks to Thomson Al Fresco and Tots 100).  We had a glorious week filled with French cider, cheese, laughs, beaches and sunshine.  It was perfect (blog post review to follow!)

Our week away was especially wonderful as Megan was able to come away with us before being thrust into the real world with her new flat and new job.  It was a lovely way for us to enjoy her company for an uninterrupted time in a beautiful place before she sets off on her new life adventure.

We returned on Saturday night with the prospect of having to move Megan into her new home in Manchester's Green Quarter on the Sunday.  I was worried that we would be exhausted and totally frazzled, however, it turned out to be a lovely day.  We managed to squeeze all her stuff into the car with us and get her all moved in one go.  The Green Quarter is a really lovely area of the city with ultra modern appartment blocks made from glass and metal, each with its own balcony.  Lots of young executive types were milling around and enjoying the sunshine (that we clearly brought back from France!)  in the communal area where there were trees and a water feature.  I can imagine Megan being really happy and getting on really well in her new life as a working woman.

Megan's flatmate Abi has been embraced into our family.  Freddy absolutely adored her and by virtue of this fact she is now officially an honorary member of Team McD!

I remember like it was only yesterday, when we first dropped Megan off at university three years ago.  We both cried and I felt so terrible and bereft  leaving her alone.  This time couldn't have been more different.  We are so excited for her!  Everything has happened so quickly...graduating with a 2:1 finding a job and getting a flat all in the same month!  We will miss her being able to spend summer at home with us, but know that this is the best thing for her.  She deserves to be in a vibrant city filled with opportunities and excitement!  A sleepy market town in Shropshire is not enough for my daughter.

I'm so looking forward to this summer.  I've got lots of plans for myself, for the home and for the family.  I intend to make the most of these six weeks.  I know all to well how quickly time passes...I am going to fully appreciate the time spent with my loved ones this summer.  Not only has Megan left home but, come September, Ella is off to full-time college and Fred starts nursery.  Things are constantly changing and evolving.  I'm going to be sure I don't miss a thing!!

Things That Make Me Smile!

Reasons To Be Cheerful This Week

This week has seen two really fabulous pieces of news come our way.  Firstly, after over two months of being on redundancy notice, Ian's job is now officially safe.  Someone else taking another job made enough room for manoeuvre to save Ian's role (although the other bloke up for redundancy with him is not so lucky.) So for now we can breathe again!

Secondly, my gorgeous daughter Megan has graduated with a high 2:1 in Business Marketing and Management.  She's got some interviews lined up for internships and marketing roles and intends to carry on living in Manchester.  I'm so incredibly proud of her; her ambition, her tenacity and her drive.  She refuses to take a backward step, always looking onward and upwards, however hard that is.  Plus she is a wonderful daughter!

Thirdly I have made some top buys this week that have made me very happy!

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

I bought this book as my summer read, but read it in two days because I couldn't put it down.  S J Watson is actually a friend of one of my friends, who is credited in the acknowledgements.  I've seen him chat on Facebook with the author at the time the book was released and have had an interest in reading it ever since.  I finally got around to buying it this week and I'm so glad I did.  

It is a tense, psychological thriller revolving around a woman with a rare form of amnesia following an accident.  In an attempt to piece together her life, in which she is unable to make or store new memories, she begins to write a journal which she re-reads every day.  She soon realises that she is not being told the whole truth.  As the story progresses we share her doubts, her fears and her confusion in this brilliantly written book.  I loved how the plot unravels through her suspicions, as written in her journal, giving us clues and doubts alongside plausible explanations for everything that happens.   Forget Christian Grey...buy this instead!

  

Festival Wellies From Primark

We have booked up to go to The M Fest Family Music and Food Festival in Leeds.  Given the unpredictability of British Summertime, we have prepared ourselves for all eventualities...from sun cream and sunglasses to wellies and waterproofs.  I was so happy when I found these cute little boots in Primark for just £10!  They are comfy and more usable than full length wellies...plus they are girly with a leopard skin print design and a bow!  I'll be rocking that festival chic look!

My last reason to be cheerful this week is the fact that Ian has a good friend with a great allotment who is kind enough to share!  We received a huge bag of rhubarb, a fraction of which I have photographed here!  I predict a plethora of crumbles and syllabubs ahead.

My Daughter...The Graduate

My daughter Megan has always been a clever girl who has excelled in an academic environment.  She was so bright that she skipped an entire school year, going to secondary school when she was 10 and got a place studying Business Management and Marketing at the University of Manchester when she was just 17.

I still remember the day we dropped her off at her Halls of Residence to begin her three year stint as a university student.  I recall the tears that I cried as I drove away leaving my little girl on her own for the first time in the big city.  I needn't have worried though.  My girl did us proud and took to life as a student with the same tenacity that she applies to everything in her life.

It wasn't always easy for her.  She had some problems including some issues with her health which lead to her missing a lot of her second year studies.  I must admit that I wasn't sure that she would continue with her degree at this time, and even told her that there would be no shame in stepping out of the situation for a while and picking it up again at a later date, especially as she was a year ahead of herself.   But she fought back.  Like she always does.

Today, my daughter received notification of her final results...a 2:1!  I am incredibly proud of her and her achievements.  It's as simple as that.

I know good things are heading her way!

Reasons To Be Cheerful....Change!

I've had a bit of a rubbish week.  But even rubbish weeks help you learn valuable lessons.  Life is all about growing as a person and although sometimes things have to change, things will hopefully work out for the best in the long run.  This week has been about this in lots of respects, and we're going through the aftermath and coming to terms with a whole heap of changes as a family.  However, lessons have been learned and for that I'm grateful.

1:  Yet again I've realised how amazing my husband is.  He is a man of integrity.  He puts our family first and I love his simple outlook on situations.  I've been a bit emotionally wobbly recently and he has put everything into perspective for me, making me see things for what they are.   He supports me 100% and just being reminded of these qualities makes me happy.  His job situation is still a bit flaky, but our relationship has never been stronger.

2:  My daughter Megan has finished university.  Three years of studying Business Management and Marketing at The University of Manchester has come to an end.  I'm so proud of her.  She has struggled with her health whilst she has been away and has had some problems that she has had to deal with on her own outside of the protection and comfort of her family.  But she has worked hard and now holds the honour of being the most educated person in our family with a well respected degree under her belt!

She has some recently had some big changes and more are on her horizon.  Times are tough for her right now. The economic climate means everything is more of a struggle but she will find a path befitting her abilities, talents and her personality.  She has got so much promise and potential.  Whatever she ends up doing, she'll make her mark on the world.  I love my daughter and am honoured to be her mum.

3:  Ella has almost finished her GCSE's.  Three more exams to go and she has coped admirably with her revision.  Like her big sister, she is also going through a lot of changes as she is leaving the comfort of her local school to attend a big sixth form college in a town which is an hour's bus ride away.  She has some lovely friends that she will be leaving behind, but they have plans to meet up every week for a catch up.  Ella's not had it easy these past months, but again I am so proud of her of her amazing self-resilience.  She'll be moving onwards and upwards and will have our full support as she takes on the next challenges in her life.

4:  My eldest son Joe is about to move house.  It's never easy!  But it is exciting to think of him and his girlfriend setting up a new home with the thought of their new baby being born into it.  Unfortunately Joe's moving date is the same as the date Megan is meant to vacate her student accommodation.  There will be juggling for us to do in order to help them both!!

5:  Our tickets have just arrived for The M Fest, Morrison's festival of Food and Music (two of my favourite things!!)  It will be Freddy and Kizzy's first weekend festival and it is something that Ian is very keen for them to experience.  It's also across Freddy's 3rd birthday weekend so will be a treat for us all to celebrate his special day!

We'll be postponing his birthday party for a few weeks, but it is something I'm really looking forwards to.  Lots of cake baking, music, fun, friends and family.  It will be fabulous and an opportunity for us to get together and give thanks for all that is good in our life and put behind all the bad bits!

6:  Today I helped sponsor a child in Niger along with a whole host of other bloggers.  This is another example of the good that can be done when the blogging community pulls together.  I'm so proud to be a part of  this!  If you want to be a part of something amazing check out this post from Merry at Patch of Puddles for #ShareNiger  You don't have to give a lot (I couldn't donate too much because of my husband's uncertain job future) but every penny counts.  A one off donation or a monthly payment can literally change the lives of children in Niger.  Together we truly can make a difference.

Reasons To Be Cheerful Week 22 #R2BC

What's Made Me Smile This Week?

Another week has flown by, bringing with it a whole host of reasons to give cheer!

1:  Half way through Ian's 90 day redundancy notice, there is a ray of light.  Another employee has accepted another job in a different department meaning that Ian's role is now potentially safe!!  HR refuse to commit to putting it in writing, but this is as close to a reprieve as we can hope for.  So fingers crossed we won't be yet another victim of the economic recession.  I hadn't realised just how worried we actually were, as I was trying to put a positive spin on it all.  But the sudden sense of relief in both Ian and myself is palpable!  A huge weight has lifted!

2:  It's the Jubilee weekend and we are looking forward to the two extra days off!   Kizzy went to school in her Jubilee attire today and looked gorgeous.  She is so excited about the Diamond Jubilee and has learnt all sorts of facts about the Queen!   She had a special picnic lunch which included a gingerbread queen!  They released red and blue balloons and the choir was recorded singing The National Anthem for Shropshire Radio.

She is also very proud of her Grandad who marched in the Coronation as a Coldstream Guard back in 1952!  It has made it all very real to her having him as part of the historical event.

She showed this photograph to her class, Grandad is in the very middle of the front row looking very smart in his uniform!

3:  Ella is just four exams away from finishing her GCSEs and Megan is one exam away from graduating from University.  It is a difficult time in the year, but both of my grown-up girls have coped really well and will soon be able to relax and enjoy the summer.  It will be lovely to spend some extra time with them, I love their company.

I couldn't be more proud of Ella who has had such a tough year.  She has now officially left school (and has a signed shirt to prove it) and will be starting a new college in September.

Megan has a lot of exciting opportunities coming up...not exactly sure what they will be, but she has a few ideas and knowing my daughter she'll be embracing them with open arms!  She has also relaunched her blog Not Met Megan with the tagline:

"Looking forward to meeting all those new people who have Not Met Megan yet."


So do drop by and say hello and make her day :)

4:  My last reason to be cheerful is that it is half term next week.  I love it when the kids are off school.  No early mornings, no school runs and permanent sisterly entertainment on hand for Freddy!  I cannot believe we are this far through the school year already.  I really must try and find a nursery for Fred in September!!




That's me for this week...check out other reasons to be cheerful and link up at Mummy With A Heart!