Hello again

Well here I am back in Lanzarote. I did say that I would write something in the blog as often as I could, and I haven’t. I lied.
Trouble is, what is worth noting and what isn’t.?

I haven’t recoded anything in ages. Not for seven months I am reminded. And I have done a lot, an awful lot. But it’s all rather presumptuous to think that anyone else is interested to know.
Anyway, you stop reading now and I won’t feel so vain, and I shall carry on adding a few bits.

I suppose the biggest event over the past months is the trip to Abu Dhabi to see the gang. Only in November but it seems like ages already.
To those of you who don’t already know, James (eldest) married Kirsty (mummy to Ava and Hattie) then took up a teaching contract in Abu Dhabi some fifteen months ago. A brave thing to do, starting in a new country with two babes of eighteen and three months of age. Very brave. Andd now Kirsty has herself got a job which can only be a good thing. Both babes go to the same nursury that Kirsty now works in.
Now I, like the other grandparents visit when we can. This time it was my, Grandys’,  third visit.
I had a wonderful time. Just because of the way things worked out, I ended up babysitting the two girls a great deal of the time and I loved it. Knackered by it all. It is a full on life style out there with two babes but I have the advantage of being able to say goodbye and get a rest.

My first week there, I spent days with Hattie, who is the cutest, laid back babe. As she had been ill the week before it was best she stayed home with me while Mum went to her new job. I had spent so much time with Ava when she was that age, that it was inevitable that we would be close. But, until now, I hadn’t had the chance to really be with Hattie to anywhere near the same degree. It was a wonderful opportunity to see her up close.

Although nervous about it, I really am pleased she seemed to enjoy the time together. We did things and she was so, so cute, and funny – and I am sure she knew she was being funny. I know she would be like that with anyone, I know. But, I can fool myself, at least it gives me the chance to feel special, and I certainly did for those few days.

And, of course I still managed to see Ava, as I babysat her alone twice and in fact for a couple of days I had them both to myself. Absolutely full on but fantastic. Two little characters, the same but different. Wonderful.
I love them all to bits.

Of course I came back very ill !! I always do from Abu Dhabi.We had a weekend at a motel where we had a two day pass to a fantastic Water Theme Park called Dreamland (I think!) We all enjoyed it but obviously the babes especially. Well the air conditioning in the motel was the culprit I am sure. We all seemed to go down with a bug straight away – one after the other once we returned. But my illness lingered. Boy did it linger. I am only now, some six weeks later, able to say I think I am over it. Whatever it was hit me very hard indeed.

It didn’t matter. Just to see them all enjoying themselves and having a good life is great. But it’s hard work. Full on for Mum and Dad for sure…..but they’re doing a fine job !