The week leading up to our house purchase completion, I had booked me and the children a caravan at a Haven park, Devon Cliffs in Exmouth. I have been to this park many times since I was a child and watched the changes it has undergone, and in all honesty, I am not really a … Continue reading Review: Haven Devon Cliffs, Platinum Caravan
So, this is being done retrospectively - as I have said things have been very chaotic at home, but I haven't forgotten my promise here... so trying to go from the beginning of the year. We, having booked for Christmas and knowing the children's Christmas issues, booked a revisit for January. We booked a St … Continue reading Review: Bluestone revisited Jan 18
So, today... me and the two children woke up feeling sorry for ourselves (sneezy and sluggish). So it's been a bit of a slow starter. But we made some effort to clean and dress... and then after lunch took a stroll into town via the ducks and geese armed with birdseed. Very proud that the … Continue reading 30 Days Wild – Day 4
Today our activity spent getting closer to nature was being in our garden. When purchased our house, there was a section of garden 90 by 13 ft covered in bramble, bindweed, nettles and other various things. Under the canopy of leaves was glass, broken cans, rubbish etc. So to make it safe for the children, … Continue reading 30 Days Wild – Day 2
After missing out on it last year, due to moving, I wanted to make sure that this year was different... that we made time for our "Random acts of wildness" this year with the Wildlife Trusts' "30 day's wild". We are a family that do well outdoors, in nature. We go a bit mad all … Continue reading 30 Days Wild – Day 1
This phrase has a slightly different meaning to me than it did before. Before it had obvious roots in alcohol and late nights. But nowadays, here, it has to refer to the post-change-in-routine behaviours that are so abundant the day after. Unlike the change in routine that occurs around going on holiday, the Bank Holiday … Continue reading The Bank Holiday Hangover
So, the day started with the best intentions of actually chilling. We are only a short few weeks into having purchased our new house and it's been a bit of a mission. Aside from the general moving into a house-ness, the children being challenging etc. The garden is a mess. Brambles, bindweed, broken concrete path. … Continue reading DO NOT GIVE UP!
I often get asked why the children aren't "over it" yet. By "it" they mean the trauma of their past, by "over it" they mean, why haven't they opened their eyes to see how lucky they are? Well, you see, tonight a perfect example of how differently their brains are wired just got thrown at … Continue reading Who’s fault is it anyway?
So today, I was floored. A close family member's leopard gecko died. The children love it - they go straight to the room where the gecko lives every visit and are very excited to handle her. So I knew they'd probably feel sad about it. Logan is someone who feels his own sadness, usually more … Continue reading Real empathy… where did it come from???
I said we had problems with our agency. And that if they didn't want to resolve the issues I'd be leaving. Well... a little update on that covered in a few points below: I reported them to the Property Ombudsman, not sure how much I can disclose about it, but they have my records, and … Continue reading So…. um… yeah, I made it happen!!!
A Pleasant Chaos 