Goodbye Ashwell Prison

Today was the last operational day of Ashwell Prison in Rutland. In effect the prison has been closed for a a while now with prison warders  guarding a empty prison but today marks it's official closure after 43 of service as a category C establishment. 

Although a prison is not what anyone really wants on it's door step it has for years provided employment in the area. These jobs and the money they have injected into the local economy has now effectively been lost and will over the coming years, together with the closure of RAF Cottesmore, be sadly missed by local traders. In that respect it is a sad day for Rutland made worse by the final march of the through the town of the RAF and Naval personal based at the RAF base on the same day.

Putnam Aviation Series

It has been a long time since I have had a post on books I have been reading or just books I pop into now again. One series of books in particular falls into the later category is the Putnam Aviation Series of books that are sadly no longer in print. 

I brought my first Putnam book, "Miles Aircraft since 1925", many many years ago and I really haven't lost my love in the series since then. It was the perfect book to introduce me to the series. It was light hearted and personal account of a company, the writer being a designer at the company and a personal friend of the owner as well as being highly technical at all the right moments. 

Since then I have slowly built up my collection of aviation books in the series. Currently I have ten books and the last one "Gloster Aircraft since 1917" I got was a present.  I'm always on the lookout for more of these books when I go around old books shops. You never know when you might pick up a bargain and I hope one day I might complete my collection of books from this once great publisher of aviation history. They are the idea books to read about what once made this country so great. 

More Games Design

Regular readers will know I started teaching games design back in November and now the course is getting at the exciting stage. The students are currently working games two dimensional level design using a number of different game engines.

Some of the work and ideas they gave produced have been really good and now they are getting with realizing there ideas. These range from simple from simple jumping and collecting games and scrolling shooters to more complex games and idea's. All look very exciting. 

It just a shame I won't be there to see the end of the course. My contract with the College I was working for finishes at Easter. I must say it has been a smashing place to work and I going to miss the student and staff. I wish the students well and I hope their dreams of becoming games designers come true. 

Artist of the Week - Kings of Leon

I'm not sure how I managed to miss out this band in this spot. I proud to say that the "Artist of the Week" spot this week is the one and only Kings of Leon.

I really noticed Kings of Leon about two years ago and their music has grown on me since. I love the lead singers slightly rough voice which when combined with their music gives the band a unique sounds that makes them stand out.As soon as you hear their voice you know who you are listening to straight away. They are that sort of band.

The band were formed back in Tennessee in 1999 by four members of the same family. Starting off singing and playing a blend of Southern rock and blues they have expanded their musical base to include an alternative rock sound which they have made their own. The Kings of Leon first found success in the UK with nine top forty singles and two BRIT awards in 2008 with all three of the bands albums charting in the top five. This success was followed towards the end of the same year with an equal level of success in USA. By the end of the year the band had made it both side of the Atlantic and in the years that have followed their fan base has just grown and grown until they are now a truly international band except in Reading. 

I know most of you will have heard Kings of Leon and if you have their albums and haven't listened to them for a while why not dust them off and stick them in the car and have a listen over the coming week.

Dancing on Ice (Final)

Tonight saw the final of Dancing on Ice 2011, and what a final it turned out to be. Thankfully given the way the public vote these days we managed to retain the some of the best skaters to the end including the best two. These made it through the final elimination to skate the final dance.

For me Sam Attwater and Laura Hamilton were the correct two to make it to the final dance. Throughout the run of the show they both showed how good they were battling it out for the top spot almost every week. Sam Attwater first dance was amazing as was Laura's second dance, but when it came to the final dance Sam won hands down and deserved to win the competition. The whole routine was so more well rounded and put together it couldn't fail to impress. It was just the moment to pull out a show stopper and that is what he did. 

As always Dancing on Ice has left me wanting more and more is what we are going to get next year. Thankfully the ITV has faith in the show and it will be returning next winter to brighten up our Sunday evenings and I must say after this year I will be looking forward to watching it after Christmas. 

Sherwood Forest

With a day to ourselves we decided to make the most of the fuel that was left in the car and combined it with the fuel for getting Emily and Catherine and explore an area of the Midlands we hadn't been to before. The area in question was the famous Sherwood Forest of Robin Hood Fame. It is an area that I have travelled past many times but never really thought to go and visit. 

Today we rectified that and went exploring around the Ollerton Village which is now part of the town of Ollerton on the edge of Sherwood Forest. The village was originally known as Alreton and it is situated on the the old cross roads between York and London, no better a place for Robin to intercept and raid nobles of the time, that is if he ever went there.

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book and was known as for its hop market and it watermills on the river Maun. We went there to see the watermill  which is the only working watermill in Nottinghamshire. It was built in 1713 and remained in use commercially until 1984 before being restored in 1993. Near to the mill is the "The Snooty Fox" with lovely home cooked food and a lovely friendly atmosphere to match. 

Once we had finished in Ollerton Village we went in search of trees. After all you can't have a forest without trees and lots of them should be easy to spot. As it is the original forest that Robin Hood would have know is now been split up into what can best described as mini forests all grouped together. Although not continuos the area is heavily wooded. One of the area we stopped and looked around in was Sherwood Pines Forest Park which is the largest single tract of forest open to the public in the East Midlands. It offers a range of things to do including off road cycling, walking, play areas for children to mention a few. It is a lovely place and the trees are wonderful.

We never did find find the lakes we were looking for but we didn't have a map. I guess they can wait to another day when we have more petrol and can explore area more fully. It is a lovely area.

Afternoon with Lucy

What was meant to be an extra day with Lucy before her holiday turned out to be just an afternoon. Her mummy was going on a full day course and I rearranged the day to see Lucy. It was just before eight in the morning I got a text saying that she needed to go the doctors about her cough, which was getting worse, something I was thinking myself yesterday. In the end a poorly Lucy ended up at the hospital. Thankfully it just seems like it is just an infection she can't fight herself. She has been given something for it and she still has her inhaler. By the time I picked her up to bring her home the morning had all but gone.

All the same it was lovely to see her. It is easy to get over concerned when you don't see your children and you know they are unwell. You never really know what they are like or how they are doing. It is just one big mystery. Yesterday when she said she was waking in the night it helped me understand why she was so tired. I just wish I had known. I know there is nothing I can do about it but not knowing is worse if you know they are not alright, especially when something been going on for so long and the condition is getting worse. You care for them and I guess with me bring up two children mainly on my own already I can tend to be more protective than many fathers that haven't brought up children themselves. You feel so left out when all you want to do is look after them and bring them up. All I can do is the best I can under the circumstances and that is what I will continue to do.

Anyway, it was nice to see her again and to be able to see how she is. When we got home she helped me clean the bathroom before she found the "Magic Roundabout" DVD she had been watching last weekend with Catherine. She wanted to watch that again. So I put it on for her and she snuggled up and watched while I got on with cooking some lunch. As a special treat I even let her watch it while she ate her lunch. 

After lunch she started to flag a bit. She came and climbed on me and snuggled herself down. When I asked if she was tired she just nodded and so I went on to find out why. It appears she hadn't slept well the night before. She had woken in the night and she was sick again from the coughing. It was no wonder her mummy had taken her to the Doctors. Soon she drift off to sleep for a few minutes while I stroked her back. It was all rather sweet and lovely. 

Unfortunately I had to wake her, there was some essential shopping to be done and there was no way out of getting out of it and waiting to later. She didn't seem to bothered about being woken but when she got in the car and by the time we left the village she was asleep again. Once again she missed all the shopping being asleep the whole time but within half an hour of leaving we were home again and I had to wake her up. It was funny when she asked if were still going to the shops and I had to explain we had already been.

When we were back home and she settled down to watch to Peppa Pig on the television and generally play on her bike and on her car. After her sleep she had picked up a lot, but still at times she would rest and take a little time out to watch television and give out loads of cuddles. It was really nice when told her about her spending money and how nicely she said thank you before giving me a big cuddle. It was the least I could do for her and it is what I have done in the past when Emily and Catherine have gone away with their mum.

Just before we left Lucy needed her inhaler, the coughing had got worse as the afternoon had gone on. When she went her bag she pulled out a home made card. I'm not sure who made it or if Lucy had a hand in it but it was lovely. Lucy wanted to keep it so I put it back into bag to take back with her. I guess it will remain a mystery why it was in the bag, although I wish in someways I got to keep it. After the inhaler, which she is really good at, we headed back into Oakham via the cash point where I got some money to put in a envelope for her holiday spending money. I hope she manages to have fun in the shops buying things and has a great time, despite her illness. She going on an activity holiday so I hope it doesn't stop her doing things. 

The next time I see Lucy is next weekend. She is coming to stay Saturday night, although when her mummy asked if she could wake up with her on Mothers Day, next Sunday, I was in full agreement and all I needed was the times I could see her on the day before. This all changed and I was left confused as to why when I was willing to change arranged plans to fit in with what is a special day, I ended up feeling like I was doing something wrong. But at the end of the day that is unimportant. The person that is important is Lucy she doesn't deserve the mess that has been created around her. I just hope she has a nice week away.

Spring is Here

Another fine day looked in store as the sun beamed down into the garden when I went out this morning fulfilling the promise of yesterdays sunset. I just wish everything could be as perfect as the weather was in the morning, but that is too much to ask for,  all you can do is enjoy the beautiful things that come your way.

The morning started early with Emily getting up at seven and getting ready to go round to Charlie's to be taken to school. Thankfully now she is getting herself up and I can lay in bed until quarter past when I get up to make sure she is out the door on time. Catherine meanwhile stayed in bed until I heard her get up shortly after her alarm went off on her phone at eight. Soon she was dressed, downstairs and eating her breakfast before heading off to school.

In the morning I just got on with the stuff I needed to do. There wasn't anything of note that got done just the things you need to do plus the odd cup of coffee. I did a bit of work, a bit of relaxing and thinking, just a bit of everything really. It's nice when the house is quiet to just be and potter sometimes. All the same I still miss having Lucy in the mornings but she is growing up and I was thinking it won't be that long before she is in school. It is amazing how fast time flies by. You just have to look back in the blog to how much Lucy, Catherine and Emily have grown in the last 11 months or so.

At noon it was off out to pick up Lucy from nursery. Once again she ran to me and flew into my arms and gave me a massive hug. Again like last time she didn't want to let go and I had even more trouble than last time getting her to walk to the car with me. She just wanted a massive cuddle. Later in the day I discovered she hadn't slept well and had woken in the night, which explained a lot. It was like I thought on Tuesday she is just tired after being at nursery because she isn't one hundred percent and she isn't sleeping well. It is just causing her to feel a bit low in herself. All the same the cuddles are always welcome. I just wish I could take away what ever is making her feel so poorly.

The next destination did brighten her up when it was announced. We were off to Northfields Farm. Another place we hadn't been to since the winter set in. She use to love it there, seeing the animals and being close to them and I was hoping she would be the same way today. I wasn't disappointed, she remembered the farm and when we got there and where to go. None of her  joy of being on the farm had disappeared. Soon she was in the children's area full or rabbits and other small animals, but that wasn't what she wanted to see. She wanted to see the pigs and she was in luck because there were not only pigs but piglets too. Soon she was pointing at the pigs and telling us which ones where Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig and which were Peppa and George. That was not all that there was to see and soon she was looking at the beautiful White Park Cattle that are said to be one of the oldest British Breeds. We all had a lovely time at the farm and I can't wait until we return again. 

After we finished at the farm we headed back into Oakham to the supermarket to get some food for the day. On the way there Lucy feel asleep in the car so I stayed with her. She hasn't fallen asleep in the car in ages so she must have been really tired. She didn't wake again until the shopping was done and we were all back home. 

While I made lunch, Lucy watched television in the family room. She was still moody and I wished I could do something to make her feel better. All I could do was give her the cuddles she needed, when she needed them. It's at times like this you feel so helpless as a parent. One good thing was that she did eat all her lunch which is always an encouraging sign. 

The television watching carried on most of the afternoon. She seemed to have little interest in doing anything else. Normally we don't have the televion on much so this was a complete contrast to what would happen if she was well. I did however manage to get some interest in doing something different when I suggested we could take George the scruffy westie for a short walk. She loves going out in the village and she loves walking him. 

We had a lovely time walking the dog. I had to hold onto him until we got to the church as he has a tendency to pull at the start of the walk but by the time we reached the church he had calmed down. With him just pottering around Lucy was able to hold his lead and walk him around the church yard looking at the flowers. The church is lovely this time of year with all the daffodils lining the paths. I just followed her around and enjoyed the fresh air until it was time to take over with George and walk back home. 

On the way home we had to navigate through the cars that appear like a swam of flies when the school comes out. It was quiet a tricky process with a dog and a young child but soon we were turning around the corner to the house only to see Catherine who was walking down the walk. Catherine ran down the walk and gave her a massive hug and they walked hand in hand back to the house it was lovely to hear them chatting away.

Once inside the house Lucy followed Catherine upstairs to play. After Emily came home Lucy retuned downstairs and she was soon zooming around on her toy car before playing monsters  and trying to scare everyone. Although her coughing was now getting worse she was making the best of things and she was much more like her normal self. Smiling away, having fun and making everyone simile. It was lovely to hear as I cooked after being so concerned about her when I picked her up.

Dinner was a little later than normal, there was a whole other story going on that was taking up my time throughout the day.  This resulted it the end of the day being a real rush. The washing was still drying and the food was just about ready a six. Some thirty minutes later than normal. Thankfully there was just enough time left to eat the dinner and finish the drying before dropping off Lucy back at her mummies in Oakham.

As soon as I got back home after fill the car with enough petrol for the next trip it was off up the A1 to Leeds to take Emily and Catherine to Leeds. The drive was rather quiet for a friday night but I was thankful for that, it had been a busy and at times stressful day so a more relaxing drive was what I needed. Unfortunately another of design defect on the car means that the heater fan isn't working so it was rather cold but within an hour of leaving we were heading back home via the supermarket to put our heat and have a rest from the day in the warm.

It been lovely to have Lucy here although it is a shame that she is so poorly. I hope she gets better soon ad I'm really quite worried now that she isn't getting better and it has been going on for so long. To be honest I could have done without all the stress of the day especially when I had Lucy, but I guess it couldn't be helped and it just part of sorting stuff out and life in general now. It is just not needed any more to be honest I do all I can and even then it is never right. 

More Shops Close

The local economy in Rutland continues to shrink as we come to the end of another financial year. On top of all the jobs losses and future job losses caused by the closing of Ashwell Prison and the RAF base at Cottesmore and the job losses at the Council now more local business are going under.

This week alone has seen the Cook Shop and Gusto Restaurant closing down and even buisness you think would be unaffected by it all such as Toots Sweets has reduced opening hours it reported to save on costs. The High Street in Oakham is starting to resemble a ghost town with boarded up shops and To Let signs everywhere. Once a great market town is drying and the council still try and grow the town although there are fewer and fewer jobs in the area and higher unemployment. What the area needs is jobs for the people that live here not more people traveling miles to work. It time the council woke up and stopped looking through rose tinted glasses or is there more to all this house building than meets the eyes?

Amazing

It has just been an amazing day weather wise for the time of the year. It was sunny for most of the day and the temperatures in East Midlands reached an amazing sixteen degrees in the middle of  the afternoon. Not bad for a day towards the end of March.

As i was travelling towards Burley in Rutland on the way to the supermarket there was the most amazing sunset. A red yellow ball of flame sinking slowly in the sky and turning it a most amazing shade of orange. It truly was a remarkable sight.

As if that wasn't enough, again on the way to Oakham late in the evening I stopped to watch a red/orange fireball streak across the sky. It was travelling from the south to the north at the speed of an aeroplane but made no noise at all. It was a spectacular sight until it faded into nothingness. 

It on days like this it is good to be alive despite all your troubles and concerns. I hope the promise of the sunset brings us all another amazing day tomorrow and that you can all get out and enjoy it at some point in your day.  

Mild Tuesday

It been a strange old day in a number of ways and one I wasn’t expecting to turn out like it did. It was just one of those off days you get from time to time when things just don’t feel right. Thankfully it was nothing to do with the children, but just the sort of day I had. At least the weather was mild and the sun did make an appearance.

The morning started out as any other. Emily go up first and went off to Charlie's to get a lift to school and just after she left Catherine got up. I sat chatting to Catherine as she had breakfast and soon she was gone to and the house fell quiet. That is if you discount George barking at the people passing the bottom of the lane as they went to school.

I just spent the morning doing a bit of work and pottering about in general. There was much to do on the work front other than get the documents ready for the students assignments tomorrow. It was rather nice not doing much for a change. It just gave me time to think and be. If you know what I mean.

Just before noon we headed off to Oakham to pick up Lucy from her nursery. She gave me the biggest cuddle, however she did seemed rather quiet in herself compared to normal. She didn't want me to put her down, but in the end she did walk with me to the car. Although she still seemed very quiet and she wasn't her chatty self.

As the weather was fine and the sun was out we decided that a trip to the park was in order before heading to do some shopping for the day. It's been ages since I have been with Lucy to the park in Oakham so that was our park of choice for the day. Lucy normally loves the park but to day there was no of that wild free spirt in her that is so magical. She was just plodding to the park. I put it down to tiredness and wondered if she had a bad night with the cough that is still playing her up. All the same she did brighten up as she played but she didn't play for very long before she came and sat on my lap. In the end I decided the best thing to do was get the shopping done and return home where she could rest.

As soon as we got home I got Lucy's spotty blanket out and we pick a DVD together and soon she was sitting down under the blanket watching a film as I made everyone some lunch. Lucy did well eating her lunch and started to bright up soon after. Clearly the rest and the food was what she really needed as well as a few hugs. Soon she was playing as normal around the house with her toys and getting people to join in her games. This took her nicely up to the time that Catherine and Emily came home.

As normal Emily and Catherine both got lovely welcomes and they were soon all playing in the garden together with them finally going in when the temperature started to drop. It was rather nice to see them all outside together in the garden. Once they were in the family room together it was time for me to start cooking their dinner as they continued playing.

With dinner eaten there was just a bit more time with Lucy before she returned to Oakham. As always they all made the most of it. Then I took her back. What I didn't realize was her inhaler was in her bag, I hadn't checked, and I missed giving it too her at the right time. Hopefully it didn't matter too much. I also had to turn back on the way back home as she had left her glow bear in the car and I knew she would want it for bedtime. It was funny she was coming to the door to see me as I returned the glow bear and the door was closed before she got there. Sometimes I find it all so odd.

When I got home I got a warm welcome from george in the garden and he followed me into the house. Emily spent most of her time in the bedroom chatting to friends while Catherine enjoyed having the family room to herself until bedtime.

This was the sort of day you can't wait to end. It just wasn't a good day although the children did make me smile and helped me get through what was a difficult day in a number of ways. I just hope that tomorrow with be better than today.

Artist of the Week - Noah and the Whale

This week artist of the week is band that has a new album for 2011. The band in question is Noah and the Whale. If you watched this weeks semi finals of "Dancing on Ice" you would have heard 'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.' from there new album.

This is not the only place you would have come across this band. A few years ago the song '5 Years time'. It was used in a advert for LloydsTSB bank and it where I really first came across the band and started me listening to them.

Noah and the Whale are an English independent folk band from London who are now into their fifth year, having been formed in 2006. In those five years they have released three albums all of which have made the top twenty in the UK album charts. They are currently starting a world tour which starts this Thursday in Toronto in Canada before moving to the UK and then into Europe before returning once again to the UK. From the live video I have seen they are well worth seeing live.

It going to nice to listen to there old music again and the new album on the way to work. I hope you get sometime to listen to their songs that you like on YouTube or elsewhere on the web.

Slow Sunday

Compared to yesterday it was always on the cards that Sunday was going to seem slow compared to the day before. There was so much going on day before and with a day split by Lucy going back to Oakham in the middle of the afternoon it is much harder to get out and have fun.

The morning was much like yesterdays. Lucy woke just after eight and we gathered her stuff together and we came downstairs and watched a little bit of television. Soon we were both joined by Catherine and both girls sat down at the table and had some breakfast both cuddling up together in the chair for a bit. 

By the time I started cooking Sunday lunch the girls had both moved into the family room to play. I looked in the room at one point and I was amazed at the mess a three year old can make. But, I guess the most important thing was they all looked like they were having fun. Later they were joined by Emily at around eleven when she got from Charlie's and the fun carried on.

For lunch I cooked a roast pork. It was the first time in ages we had pork for Sunday lunch and I must say I was looking forward to it. To accompany the meat we had garlic mini roasts, stringless beans, cauliflower, broccoli, roast parsnips and stuffing. A right royal feast as they say in London. Everyone loved it and there was even some meat left over for sandwiches for dinner with sweet pickle.

After lunch we gave Lucy the bath she missed out on the night before. She had great fun with Catherine drying her hair with Catherine pretending to be a hairdresser. As soon as it was dry it was time to get her dressed and return her back to her mummies in Oakham before going shopping in the supermarket. When I got home Catherine remarked on how quiet it was without Lucy and I have to agree it very quiet without her.

It's been great having them altogether for the weekend and I can't wait I have Lucy here again for a weekend. She is off on a mid week break after next weekend I have her so it will be shorter weekend than normal, but all the same I can't wait to have her sleep here again.  

Party time and Sunshine

The weather was set fair and a lovely day was on the cards. There was sunshine and parties to enjoy and as well as having a house full of children making a noise and everyone having fun. There is much more you can reasonably ask for or expect to get out of life with the way things are.

I was woken up by the sound of Lucy calling my name just after eight and the first thing she said was it is sunny with that certain joy only a small child has. They were just the words I waned to hear. We both gathered up her things and went down to the living room. She sat in one chair and I sat in the other and we watched television together while we woke up.

Breakfast was a spread out affair with Lucy having hers first followed by the other two as they appeared from their land of dreams. All too soon I had a living room full of children, with Lucy riding around on her bike. It was nice to have them all in the living room together but it didn't last for long. Charlie turned up and Emily was whisked away for the morning while Catherine and Lucy retreated to the family room until it was time for Lucy to get ready for her party.

I love taking Lucy to parties it is so much fun. Today party was based around a entertainer and disco which would have worked for Lucy if she was a little bit older, but as it was she just went very shy and refused to leave my lap. Although that didn't stop her having a good time. She still seemed to enjoy herself especially when it came time to eat. She had the biggest plate of food I have ever seen in front of a three year old, but I give her one thing she did try and eat it all. While all the older children were joining in on the fun on the dance floor she carried on eating and eating. It wasn't until the end of the party that I managed to get her dancing, something she seems to love at home. She was dancing around and jumping in the air. Shame it was the last song, but I guess all the time she spent watching the other children has taught her what to do at a disco so next time she will know what to do.

When we got home it was to a heated discussion. Charlie wanted Emily to sleep over and Emily wanted to go for tea and come home. She didn't want to miss out on seeing Lucy, but there was more to it than that there always is when it comes to practicing teenagers. Emily was quite happy to have Charlie stay here, although I wasn't given the fact Lucy is poorly, but Charlie didn't want to. It all resulted in Charlie storming off and in the end Emily feeling she had been blackmailed into doing what Charlie wanted and sleeping over at hers. She didn't want to hurt her friends feelings but she had been put in an impossible position by Charlie. It's was catch twenty two situation.

The next place we all went was to the park to enjoy the sunshine. How could we not miss that out on another beautiful early spring day? Emily had found Charlie and made up and they had already headed out towards the park and we followed them, finding them along the way sitting on the triangle, with Charlie trying to get a suntan.  They followed us to the park and soon everyone was at the park. Lucy had a grand time in the park showing everyone all the things she could do. She was here there and everywhere. There was no stopping her. She was having so much fun. Any signs of her being poorly were put aside until she got back to the car when she was sick, bless her. She was alright with it. The infection in her airways is making her produce a lot of mucus and she just brought it up. This meant a trip home to get her changed before we went shopping for dinner and lunch tomorrow.

Once changed Lucy, Catherine and myself headed out to the shops. Thankfully Lucy seemed fine again if not better for getting rid of all the stuff that was in her throat and that had been running done into her tummy. It might not have been best way of getting rid of it, but it was effective. Lucy was in fine form around the shops and soon the shopping was done and there was even some extra money left over for some ice cream that hadn't been budgeted for. Just what everyone needed on a sunny day after dinner.

When we got home I started to prepare dinner, Emily's favorite, spaghetti bolognese but with Emily at Charlie's for the night we got to add some mushrooms to our dish. While I was cooking Catherine and Lucy had settled down to watch "The Wizard of Oz" together in the family room. It must be one my favorite films of all time and Lucy's mummies too. Lucy was loving it and although we had to stop the film to eat she was straight back to see the film to the end once she had finished eating.

When it came to Lucy's bedtime we noticed she was rather warm to touch again. So we decided, instead of giving her a bath tonight it might be a better idea to do it in the morning. Also it was clear she was getting rather tired. Soon we had her tucked up in bed and Catherine read her a story before I took over and read her a few more stories before bedtime. Then with her kiss and cuddles she drifted off to sleep.

Lucy had been asleep for a couple of hours and Catharine was about to go to bed when Lucy woke. The poor little thing had a nightmare. I went up to her and talked to her as she cuddled into me as I talked to her. She was clearly tired but she didn't want to go back to sleep. It took ages before she would let go of me and by then she was wide awake. So after a half an hour of watching Peppa Pig she finally went to bed for the second time with Catherine and thankfully went back to sleep. 

As I went to bed there was a beautiful full moon bathing the hose in in it light. I still think the moon is so magical and have since I was a child. There is something special about its light. I just can't think my finger on that makes it that way it just is.

Spring Sunshine

It was one of those days that started out grey and got better and better in every way and it wasn't just the weather that made feel that way. By the end of the day the house was bathed in beautiful spring sunshine. The beginning was a complete contrast from the end of the day.

The morning started as much as any morning seems to. Emily and Catherine had breakfast and with packed lunches made they both headed to school. The only thing that was different about the start of the morning was a number of texts about Lucy who was still poorly from whatever illness she had on Tuesday. This in the end turned out to be what sounds like a viral infection in her airways and she is going to need to use an inhaler at night until her body fights it off.I just hope it all goes away for her soon.

It was a disappointing morning. I haven't had much sleep lately and I fell asleep in the chair. When I did wake it just wasn't too what I expected of the day. Things were just not right with the world for one reason or another, but I was determined that wasn't going to ruin the day no matter what. It is my day off from work and I just wanted it to be good.

All the times of picking up Lucy had to be rearranged because she wasn't at nursery and she had to go to the Doctors. So instead of picking her up from nursery I picked her up from her mummies house in Oakham and I was given a quick demonstration of how to use the inhaler before we left for there for home. I was so glad to see her and know she was alright and on the way home she was showing me the present she had for the party she is going to tomorrow.

When we got home Lucy got a big welcome from George who was out running around in the garden. Once inside she headed off to find the computer to watch the rest of the film she was watching when she was here on Tuesday.  The timing of all this was spot on because it allowed us to do the things we needed to do before we headed out to the shops to get the things we needed for coming day.

It was lovely out but shopping just to too long to make use of the sunshine and by the time we got back to the village the temperature had drop and there was a chill in the air. Not wanting to risk Lucy's bad chest in the cold, we decided she would be better off inside until we had a real handle on how she is. Given the forecast for tomorrow I don't think she will be missing out on the park over the weekend.

Soon it was time for Emily and Catherine to come home from school and when they did make it through the door they got a royal Lucy welcome before they all went off to play together. Thankfully Lucy's chest didn't seem to be bothering her too much. Their was some coughing but it wasn't too bad, Nowhere near the time when she coughed so much she was sick. This nicely took them up to dinner time.

After dinner Lucy had a go at her new inhaler. I was amazed how easily she used it. I thought she might not like using it but she was fine with it. I also gave her a spoon of calpol because she was getting hot to touch. It is like as she gets tired the infection takes hold. All the same she was soon playing in her large box and pretending to be a jack in the box. She was having great fun with it and so was I. I even managed to snap a lovely picture of her as she popped out the box.

Soon it was time for her to go to bed and she was all snuggled up with stories read, cuddles and kisses from everyone special and spoon full of cough medicine to get her through the night. Emily meanwhile had taken to her room with the phone and the netbook and she was talking about boys with Charlie and trying to get her a date. While Catherine stayed in the family room and went onto the computer there to talk her friends before bedtime and play some games. 

Since Lucy came back home it been a super day. I have really had fun with everyone and I can't wait until tomorrow. The weather forecast is set fine and it should be a lovely day. I know Lucy is excited as she has a party at lunchtime.

Finally, A thought for the end of the day. Maya Angelou, who is considered one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time once said, "I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.". It really is a wonderful thought about life and it something we all know deep down is true if we think about it. If you know the mistakes you have made and you forgive yourself for them and others you have made them and you are sorry for what you have done then you can grow and learn. If you bury the past or change the past in order to hide things away then you learn nothing from it. It is no good thinking to past will go away it remains with us and shapes the future.