August has been a month of change, of holidays and of new adventures. It was the end of July when we moved back across the Pennines to Yorkshire and more than a month on I am really starting to believe now that we have moved and we’re not just on holiday here.
We left our old house a few days after the end of the school term so for the entire holidays we have been kind of muddling through on a wing and a prayer, unpacking boxes little by little, relying on my mum and dad for childcare and taking a bit of time to have some days out around our new home.
We went on our first holiday abroad as a family in the form we are in now, with my lovely friend Sally and her son Joe. The week we spent in Portugal was such a relaxing break, it really brought it home to me how important it is to carve out some downtime, feel the sun on my skin and just make a bit of breathing space.
Rog and I used to go away quite a bit before we had kids and we had the rule of booking our next break at the end of each holiday, so we always had something to look forward to. That time feels so long ago when I think about it I feel both happy that we had so much fun together and sad that I’ll never get that time back. I definitely want to look at booking another trip soon though, maybe to Copenhagen as I have wanted to go there for so long.
August really has felt like a long month and to be honest I am totally ready for the new school term to start. I have that end of the holiday feeling, where I am craving a bit of quiet time and headspace. I love spending time with the kids but you know, both of them are lively characters and when you have two there are always times when they need to be separated! Sam needs a lot of entertainment and it does get exhausting, already it is only 7am and he has made a huge list of things he wants to do today like making two cowboy hats from newspaper and card, a chief’s feathered headdress and some rocky road. Phew!
There definitely hasn’t been much time for writing this month, as I have either been at work, doing house stuff or looking after Sam and Flo, and by the time they’ve gone to bed I am ready to zone out with a gin and slim and go to bed! To write this post I’ve had to escape to my bedroom for half an hour, as trying to write at the kitchen table with a coffee just wasn’t happening! I’ve already broken off to find various fancy dress outfits for Sam, help Flo put some of my jewellery on, and put the clothes back on a few Barbies which she will immediately undress again!
I never have loads of time to devote to this blog but over the holidays that me time is cut right down and it always makes me question why I’m doing it anyway. I’m putting that down to school holiday ennui and remembering this time last year when we were out at the park with the kids and mine were driving me crazy, and I cried on my friend that if this is what life was like, I didn’t want it. She gently smiled and reminded me that there were just a few days left of the holidays and once school started it would be fine, and do you know what? It was! So thanks Zara, I am remembering your wise words a year on!
We took quite a few family photos when we were in Portugal, but I thought I’d use these photos from a day out with my sister a few weeks ago for this post. You’ve seen enough holiday spam by now, right?! We had a day out to Fountains Abbey near Ripon, which has a brilliant new wooden adventure playground and den building area, as well as the fantastic abbey ruins and grounds to explore.
I am looking forward to September now as I have lots in the diary – including a night in London for the MAD Blog Awards where I am nominated in the best writer category, followed by a friend’s wedding in Brighton.
What a weekend that’s going to be! Both events will be a chance to dress up and let my hair down a bit, meet up with my friends from the blogging world and from the ‘real’ world, and I know it’s going to be a lot of fun.
Remembering the sambucas that happened at last year’s Mads though, I think I’ll have to take it a bit steadier this year.
So August, you have been busy, but compared to last August you have been a breeze.
x Julia
You can see a year of our family photos here.
This post is linked up with the Me and Mine project – hosted by Dear Beautiful, Bump to Baby, Capture By Lucy, Let’s Talk Mommy, Mummy Daddy Me and Tigerlilly Quinn – where you take a photograph a month of your family all together.
7 Comments
Katie
August 31, 2016 at 9:35 amI always like to think Rog is reading your blogs somewhere. I know this one would be really be making him smile. Look Rog – they’re ok ❤️
Katy (WhatKatySaid)
August 31, 2016 at 10:12 amLovely photos Julia, glad you had a fab holiday. I like the idea of booking the next one as soon as you get back. Made me laugh how ‘real’ life friends was in quotations but not blogging friends. Just shows how much the blogging world is a part of who we are now. Hope the start of school goes well, I am dreading those early starts! #MeandMineProject x
Carie
August 31, 2016 at 9:35 pmOh I love the idea of booking the next holiday as soon as you get back, and I hope you do get to Copenhagen, if only so you can share the pictures – it’s on my list of places to go, I just have to persuade the rest of the family!
Carie recently posted…Me and Mine 2016: August
Mini Travellers
August 31, 2016 at 10:17 pmsooo excited to see you at the MADS – whoop whoop. Fab photos my lovely.
Mini Travellers recently posted…The Shrewsbury Flower Show
Mary Smith
September 1, 2016 at 7:28 amLovely post Julia , how gorge is Fountains Abby? Its been about a yr since we last went. Must go soon. I am enjoying seeing your pics around Yorkshire now and its great to hear you are settling in.
The portugal holiday sounds like just what you needed,.. I remember going to Italy last summer, it was the 1st holiday after loosing Poppy and like you say you suddenly feel relaxed again and what that means. I remember laid on a sun lounger and suddenly felt I could let go for a week..no reminders there and the sun was healing for body and soul… grief takes it out of you even if you are not consciously weeping all the time. x
Mary Smith recently posted…Wake me up when September ends…
RachelSwirl
September 3, 2016 at 11:55 pmOh you seem to be taking everything in your stride, I bet Rog is so proud x
RachelSwirl recently posted…#LittleLoves – A Bleak Week
Laura @ Little Ladies Big World
September 21, 2016 at 5:41 pmGlad you had a lovely holiday, i would also love to go to copenhagen. I didn’t want summer to end but really my eldest is the same needing entertaining all the time and sometimes it is a relief, and trying to get blog time too! xx
Laura @ Little Ladies Big World recently posted…Hello Autumn {The Ordinary Moments #32}