Tag: family

2021: a look back

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Hi, Like the year before, 2021 seems to have been an odd fellow. We seemed to have a brush of normality, and yet, COVID never seemed far away. The long shadow of Xmas Before and the long winter that followed. As a family, we’ve kept up with mask wearing in shops and in public places. Yes, I’ve not been as rigorous at Chams, but – and let’s skip any jokes about cheese & wine it’s-not-a-party umm ‘events’, sorry business meetings – with there being a small number of us, and by keeping social distances, we have remained okay. The good news this year is that while the Ever Lovely Mrs J’s health took a bit of a dip, her changes […]

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Slow time

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Hi, This week the Ever Lovely Mrs J and I have been trying to slow down and be kind to ourselves. The internal less than friendly voice that nags me – Major Panic? – does not seem to like this. So, I’m doing what I can to just kick back and drift gently into Christmas. Perhaps it’s hangover of the now-now-now of work culture that needs to jog on for both of us. Sure, there’s wrapping to be done and we do need to get a few items in food wise. With the kids being teens and neither Mrs J nor I feeling in need of anything in particular, I think this year’s wrapping activity may be thankfully low. Both […]

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…and breathe

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Hi, The out of office button’s been pushed, the timesheet goblin fed, and I can close the laptop lid until next year. Oh, that feels good to write. Due to a spot of luck around holidays, I’ve managed to save some days back to match the Ever Lovely Mrs J and the kids’ break too. Not that I imagine the teenagers will surface before Mrs J and I are back from our morning walk 🙂 I am planning on slowing down and taking a break from the busy-busy of work. I was talking to a friend last night and indeed work colleagues have said similar, in that November and December really seem to have hammered people’s energy levels. I would […]

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Time away

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Hi, This year in Notts, October half-term is two weeks. Child 2 has been kicking back, while Wee Man has been going in to Uni (and doing well in trying new things and meeting new people too). For the Ever Lovely Mrs J and I, we’re about to have a week off and I’m looking forward to it The out of office was set, the inbox emptied, and there’s no more sofa office for a full week. Plus, while I don’t mind going away, I do love the home comforts, long walks around the fields, and that amazing feeling of not having to pack & travel. With a bit of luck, we’ll get some long walks in, breathe that Autumn […]

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Pastures new

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Hi, It’s been a somewhat funny week this time around. Some good news in that we managed to get the downstairs bathroom shower replaced – I know, first world problems eh? But it will give the kids (both teens) more privacy. True perhaps for the Ever Lovely Mrs J as well who uses the ensuite one upstairs. Like most early teens, our youngest has been back at school for the new term, although due to an Inset day for the staff, had today off. Wee Man on the other hand, will be making his way to university this coming Monday. Quite a change for him, I think, and I hope he finds what he needs. It was an age since […]

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Then, now, and what next?

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Hi, Last week’s post about growing up and Sue’s comment about the next generation made me think about the positive changes I’ve seen in the T community. While we seem to be having a slight dip in the Mostly Upwards Rollercoaster of Rights at the mo, I think we’re in a better place than the 80s and subsequent decades. Listening to my kids talk about their classmates who are out – all the way across the LGBTQ+ rainbow, bless them – it’s, well, heartwarming. One of the good things, IMO, about the Internet is its ability to bring people together. I think that that’s helped our community share our experiences. Through that, new language and stories have arrived. Now, I’m […]

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