Happy Birthday Claire!

Claire is 19 - as I type it's 9.18am the exact time she was born! She LOVES birthdays (and Christmas) and has been counting down to her birthday for the past month. Today is the day!! Here she is waiting for everyone to come down so she can open her presents. Jon is working from home today so we didn't have to get up super early but by 8am she was anxious to get started.

Presents piled up next to her and she can start opening.

One from Emily

The final one came in a little jewellery store bag - she had no clue what was inside :)

I think she liked it!

Couldn't resist adding this photo of Hugh. He doesn't enjoy being hauled out of bed when he doesn't have an early work shift but is a good sport and gets up for all birthdays. I think he was just counting down till he could go back to bed!

As you will have realised, Claire got back safely from Dublin yesterday. She brought little presents for each of us, which we weren't expecting! She knows me well, I love my little notebook and pen and you can never have too many!

Birthday wishes also go to Morag and Duncan - two members of our extended family with birthdays on the same day ;)

I'm sure there will be more photos soon.

Enjoy your day - I know Claire is certainly going to enjoy hers.

xx

What a difference!

I know, two posts in one day is virtually unheard of for me but I had to share these photos :) As most people who read my blog will know, Emily is my youngest child.

Emily, Faith and Claire - photo taken last month

Well, tonight Emily and I went to have our hair cut and before we left, Emily was trying to decide whether to have hers cut short or not. She found some photos of a hairstyle she liked and took them along. After chatting to Mary, she decided that she would go ahead and have it cut short.

Unfortunately, I didn't think to take photos until Mary had got to this stage This is how much was cut off and .... .............................. .............................. ..............................

Isn't she stunning!

xx

She's gone!

Claire has just left the house with her friends, Sam and Iain, and is on her way to Gatwick Airport! They are off to Dublin for a few days - how wonderful to be young and carefree. I'm so proud of her, she knew she wanted to do something with her week off work and has more or less organised this trip (though I know the boys have had input as well). We've had a couple of last minute hiccups when I realised she didn't have a padlock to lock her case or a luggage label. I've made a label and she's going to pick up a padlock at the airport. Now they're on their way and I hope they have a fantastic time. If I'm honest, I'm quite envious! I travelled when I came over the the UK in 1984 from South Africa and I LOVED IT!!! I'm so glad Claire's doing the same and hopefully she'll take loads of photos to remember her travels.

Claire, Sam and Iain Getting a lift to the airport with Iain's dad.

They're back late on Wednesday - in time for Claire's 19th birthday on Thursday - and hopefully she'll update her blog with photos.

Off to town with Emily now, have a lovely day (we've got sunshine again - yippee!!)

xx

UPDATE: Have just had a text to say they have arrived safely in Dublin and it's raining! She shouldn't really be too surprised ;)

I had been doing well

I had been managing to post more regularly but I'm afraid you're going to have to realise that when the sun comes out I go outside more and spend less time on my laptop :) This is what's making me happy at the moment:

Getting the towels washed and being able to dry them outside on the line - which results in ...a big basket of clean towels ready to go back in the airing cupboard. The dogs enjoying lying on the top step in the sunshine or, in Cloud's case, getting to sit in the sun on the grass!

Seeing the flowers start to bloom

Charlie soaking up the heat from the wall while lying in the shade (in the flower bed)

Blue skies

Being able to sit outside and have lunch or a cup of tea

More wallflowers opening up and

tulips making an appearance.

All things that take me away from blogging - but I'm sure you understand ;P

Today we invited Mum and Dad for a braai/bbq and hoped that the weather would hold. We had sunshine and it was very pleasant - though when it clouded over it was cooler!

Jon had just taken a bite when I snapped this one.

Mum and Dad getting some food.

Emily is now on holiday for two weeks and we're looking forward to getting a chance to relax and, hopefully, not rush around so much. Still hoping to do a few days out but already things are being added to the calendar!

Hope you've had a good weekend and here's to some more lovely weather next week (I can always hope!)

xx