A Summer Bucket List Post
__________________________________________________
Most mornings over the last month I have thought; "When I get home tonight I will blog something from the Summer Bucket List". Then when I stagger in through the door to hug the kids or deal ineptly with whatever has been going on with them, I think how did I think I was going to write anything??!!
It has been an extremely rewarding month in the amount I have learned about my new job, the new format I am working in and the myriad 'things' that need to be done to get my new store opened on 28th August! And this is from someone that has been involved in opening 3 other stores. But this one is mine and I am coming from it in a different role, so while that experience has been INVALUABLE it is still consuming. So apologies for being away.
I hope you have been enjoying this summer weather, how glorious it is and how welcome after the never-ending winter and the facsimile summers we have had recently. It is not fun to work in the heat, I think I can speak for everyone there! But to be able to come home at whatever hour and eat dinner in the garden in peace and quiet (well as much as it is quiet with 10 children from our group of back gardens at some process of bath and bedtime going on through the open windows).
I think (*with fingers tightly crossed*) that I have finally recruited my team. I am absolutely blown away (as I am every time I recruit, I find it very, very hard to deselect anyone for interview and even harder after that to say no to anyone, so a massively emotional process for me.) by the new staff I have found. I am tempted to tell you all about them but they may find out and run away from me for being so weird (and sue me). I cannot wait to start working with them.
So I upped and tooken the weekend off.
My initial plan, which I knew deep in my heart was never gonna happen, was to sit in my garden with my summer bucket list scrap box and scrap my little heart out. However, my conscience told me that there was a big job to be done before that...the boys room, it needed gutting out ready for planned decoration in September/October and I knew this is the last realistic day I could get that done. Anyway, you DO NOT want to know any more about that job. Suffice to say.....no, no more to say on that actually.
So, next on the Summer Bucket List to tell you about? Well it was our beach day. I wanted us all to go on a beach day to Woolacombe; our local sandy beach, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I hate to go to the beach for anything less. The kids get wet and sandy, everything gets wet and sandy and it all takes an age to sort out when we get home, so I don't want to do that for a mere jaunt. Also they charge anywhere between £5 and £10 for the parking so you need to get your money's worth, no? The main reason though? Once I am set up, I do not want to shift until I am at that stage of sun, where you are just starting to tingle.
Louis and Alexander, see what I did there? Just reminded you that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, just named their baby son, (you know, the one who is going to be King and all), after my boys.
Do you think Prince George Alexander Louis will hang his tongue out when he is concentrating on the next kick? I should hope so.
Mum had an awesome time relaxing and enjoying her book (although she may have been on Candy Crush, darn that round 29!)
Lauren came, I hoped she would but wasn't sure. She had a nice time and was super happy I took this shot ;) She hadn't done her hair or anythink!
Her maternal Nanny was in Devon too and brought her sisters down to the beach so we nabbed them all to extend the fun and give Lauren and her sisters Lily and Louann time to play.
Then we thought about heading down to the sea as the afternoon waned.
Lauren's boyf Adam came down after his driving lesson and it was nice to see them all together and for Adam to spend time with Lauren's sisters.
Alex wasn't convinced it was warm enough.
Nor were Adam and Lauren!
Louis and Alex gave it a go, but on the whole they decided it was too cold. Louis and I have wetsuits that fit so we went and put them on.
And we had a whale of a time!
We came out once we were exhausted from chasing waves and jogged up to our camp to get our sausages as we were having a sausage sizzle...to be met with a cold camp fire! The gas bottle was empty.
Well we had to get fish and chips on the way home didn't we.
Thanks for stopping by. I do hope to post the next bucket list item soon: geocaching.