31.8.17

Back to Blogging and Life Lately

Hello - I hope you've had a great summer. I've spent the six week school holidays relaxing and recuperating after a year of full-time teaching. There's still been a lot going on. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a night away in Warwickshire, a day at Womad festival and a short hotel break in Mousehole, Cornwall. It was a great start to the holidays.

We've also had A level results for our youngest son; he secured his first choice at Reading uni to study architecture (I may get a tiny home one day) and we celebrated with a family meal and a trip to the cinema (A Ghost Story starring Casey Affleck) before he went camping with his friends in Cornwall over the Bank Holiday weekend (best weather of August - jammy, I know).

I've gradually been catching up with friends and beginning to make plans for life after the school holidays. From September (tomorrow-eek) I'm returning to supply teaching so that I can restore the work-life balance that I had two years ago (until I agreed to cover a teacher on sick leave and then take on her job permanently). It's all been a bit topsy turvy job wise and home life has suffered. However, I've gained not only valuable teaching experience but also a greater understanding of myself and a recognition of what I need and what others need from me, and how these two things can be incompatible. 'Live to work' is my new mantra and whilst on the last day of term I was feeling very torn about leaving lovely colleagues and children, I now feel very happy with my decision. September is a quiet month for supply work so I'm not anticipating much work - in fact I'm taking Mum away next week for three nights and hubs and I are off to Crete later in the month.

So, I've been thinking about getting reacquainted with blogging now that I've got the headspace for it. There's been a little tinkering with the design of the blog - it's still work in progress but I hope you like it. And there'll be more frequent posts with some essay type posts as well as the diary type posts. Plus lots of photos, of course. And decluttering, that's always work in progress.

Womad pretty much sums up my summer. Not perfect weather but a jolly good time. I'll leave you with some photos of our day there. Look out for the unicorn wellington.

Highlights of Womad were: seeing Ska Vengers playing on the BBC stage (yes that's Cerys Matthews); Noureddine Khourchid and the Whirling Dervishes of Damascus - hypnotising; !!! (Chk Chk Chk), an American dance band - fabulous fun; and the mellifluous Nick Mulvey. All worth checking out.
Until tomorrow when I'll post some Happy Friday Links.
It's good to be back.
Claire xo

SHARE:

10 comments

  1. Been looking forward to you returning to regular blogging Claire.

    Tania - Western Australia

    ReplyDelete
  2. Really pleased to read your update. Sounds like you've had a busy summer. I love Cerys Matthews!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, good to see you back again! Work/life balance is a tough one isn't it, we found we had to constantly revisit and rebalance, and often unavoidable commitments (caring for elderly and ill relative; children) made it all but impossible. But we got through.
    Our son is a recently qualified architect, so we know just what an achievement it is to get a place - and just how tough going (and eye-wateringly expensive...) it is to get through the courses and training. But worth it if it's what he really wants to do (though not for the money at the other end for most of them). Well done to him! (and you too).

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've had a similar experience to you in the last year, ending up teaching many more hours than planned to cover for aa absent colleague and ending up feeling a bit frazzled. I hope also to restore a better work/ life balance this academic year. Congratulations to your son on his A level success and place to do architecture. My daughter starts her final year at sixth form next week and is busy doing her personal stat meant for uni applications. Where does the time go? Good to see you back here on bloggerSo many of the blogger I used to read have disappeared or gone to Instagram. And love the new look too - my blog definitely needs a facelift but am not terribly good at all the technical stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Welcome back Claire and double congratulations! Firstly on your 25th anniversary and secondly on your youngest son's success in getting first choice of Uni and course.
    Glad you had a chance to unwind over the summer and also glad to hear that you'll be working less and posting more 😀

    ReplyDelete
  6. So glad your back clare I have really missed having your blog to read I find it a real inspiration. I'm glad you have sorted your work life balance out it is so important to have time to do the things you enjoy and not just work all the time.

    Congratulatins on your son's exam results.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So glad you are back! one of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My ex-husband and I had always managed to stay friendly after our divorce in February 2017. But I always wanted to get back together with him, All it took was a visit to this spell casters website last December, because my dream was to start a new year with my husband, and live happily with him.. This spell caster requested a specific love spell for me and my husband, and I accepted it. And this powerful spell caster began to work his magic. And 48 hours after this spell caster worked for me, my husband called me back for us to be together again, and he was remorseful for all his wrong deeds. My spell is working because guess what: My “husband” is back and we are making preparations on how to go to court and withdraw our divorce papers ASAP. This is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Dr Emu for your powerful spells. Words are not enough. here is his Email: emutemple@gmail.com or call/text him on his WhatsApp +2347012841542

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and leaving your comments. Keep in touch xo

BLOGGER THEME CREATED BY pipdig