Airing the cobwebs

My week away at a lovely, secluded little cottage in Ballintoy on the coast of Northern Ireland seems such a long time ago now. In reality it was just a few weeks back. But I’ve been slack at blogging (well, slack? Not really, more like busy)

It was a very last minute decision on my part to get away.  Marty was willing to look after the kids and I needed a break like you wouldn’t believe. The stress of the last year was getting to me and I feared I might totally lose my marbles.  So I found this little cottage near the Giants Causeway and booked it for a week. Then persuaded (ok, to be honest not much persuasion was really needed) two friends to join me.  K and E. K could only come for the weekend as he had to get back to work. 

We had a lovely time. Lots of chilling out. Playing guitar and music. Dark walks in spooky graveyards where coffins were actually lifting out of the ground and moving about all over the place!  We discovered a little harbour and beach just down from our cottage and went exploring.  And lots of eating… especially on my part.

E and I had more time to really explore the area. The Causeway Coastal route is breathtakingly beautiful.  It was bitterly cold, and windy, but still so beautiful.  E and I visited The Giants Causeway (the wind there really cleared our sinuses!), as well as various little beaches along the way.  It was great to have nothing too serious to think about for a few days and to enjoy some fresh air.  We had lots of giggles, watched movies, did the most ridiculous things under the influence of vodka and generally had a great time. E spent every evening tending the open fire and keeping us warm, whilst I mostly fed us.

Snow days

I’m not going to write much on this post. I just wanted to make some comment about the fact that its been snowing through November and December.  I don’t remember snow at this time of year before.  It feels very Christmassy, but it’s a bugger when you’re waiting for parcels!  Anyway, I thought I’d post some pics of the kids putting up the Christmas tree and out playing in the white stuff.

 

 

 

December Birthday Bash

 

My darling friend J promised A and I last December that she would organise us a proper birthday bash this year. A’s birthday is on Christmas Eve, and mine is 29th December; and because of the timing we rarely manage to get people to go out and celebrate.  It’s just such a busy time of year.  So this year we celebrated it a few weeks early, and invited all our nearest and dearest.  J organised the whole thing and did an excellent job.  A and I were way over excited about it for many weeks before hand. 

We met at S’s house for pre party drinks before heading to an Indian restaurant for a delicious meal. Mmmm, I have been craving curry since that night. Drool.  Two of my sisters were able to make it, which I was pleased about, as well as some of my dearest friends. After the meal we headed off to party at Lavery’s – but since it was Christmas the queue to get in was ridiculous so we ended up at a students union goth night of all places!!! Watching the little goths dancing in their strange outfits was quite entertaining!

I had been quite sick with a fluey type bug for several days before and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to make my own party. Luckily enough I was well enough on the Saturday night, although I really didn’t have my partying strength back. I would dance, then feel like death for a bit and sit. Then dance a wee bit more. Hehe. But it was all good fun.  Both J and K went out of their way to make my birthday bash a night to remember.  Thanks so much guys.  I had a blast :-) and am already looking forward to next years!

 

Rosie turns 2.

        

Even now, as I sit to write this, I truly can not believe that my baby girl has just celebrated her second birthday.  The last 3 years or so have passed in a bit of a whirlwind for me.  The amazing trip of a lifetime which was like a dream, resulting in the unexpected miracle of our little baby, all passed by as if I was in some sort of dream state.   Being pregnant passed me by in a haze. Even the birth (which was by C section, under general anaesthetic) wasn’t a tangible experience.  The two years since the birth of Rosie have been traumatic, eventful and everything in between. So, you see, the last two years seem to have passed me by as if I’ve been dosed to the eyeballs on a mixture of stress, torture, extreme joy and adventure!  Since she arrived Barney has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and went through 18 months of real difficulties; two of my children have grown into almost adults; my marriage has fallen apart and I’ve become a single mama.  Yeah. It’s been a hectic two years.

So I am forever grateful for this beautiful bundle of joy that is part of our lives now. Little Rosie is truly the happiest person that ever existed.  She is a little miracle and brings only good things to our family.  I can’t even begin to count how many times a day I hear myself saying to her older siblings things like “isn’t she just adorable?”, “doesn’t she make you so happy?”, “don’t you just love her to bits?”  She is adored by us all.  She fills every day with love, cuddles, and wonder.  At the moment she is at that fascinating stage of life where she can start to express her wonder in everything she see’s or experiences.  Little things that we take for granted fill her with fascination or excitement. 

Her second birthday was a bit of a let down. The poor child caught the chicken pox a few days before her birthday so we put it off for a while. But we had to celebrate it a few days later as it is getting so close to Christmas.  She opened her presents slowly, lacking in energy or enthusiasm. However she enjoyed the birthday cake and us all singing happy birthday to her.  We had a mini party – just the six of us – and ate sweets, cakes and party food. That pleased her :-)  I don’t want her to grow up any more. I like her at this age.  She’s just so precious.