Garden Update

 Today I finished our raised planter. I'm planning on ordering some Winter garlic and then I'll get cracking in the new year.

 The veg patch is looking good since I cleared it up too. I'm excited about getting more from the space next year.

 This rose is beautiful right now.

 And I love these autumnal colours in the berries of the hedges. So seasonal and pretty.

 The pond still looks good.

 We also have a lot of purple right now. Here's one of my favourites which is really flourishing since I made more space for it.

 Next to the terrace, the view seems to change almost daily. This tree is in fruit right now and the red berries make me feel Christmassy. Especially since we have a robin who visits us regularly.

I also cleared this flowerbed recently and I'm planning on making it more colourful next Spring.

Garden Update

 As usual, between work, keeping the kids alive and sorting things around the house, the garden has been the last of our priorities lately.

 Some areas are paying off - the balcony looks great and I love both the pots on the terrace and the purple theme surrounding it.

 However, there's lots to be done - weeding, trimming and planting. As you can see, the veg patch is crying out for attention but at the moment it's too hot to get cracking. It's due to cool down at the weekend and I hope we get out then.

Still, the wild look isn't all bad and Nico's got a fair bit growing - grapevines, tomatoes, pumpkins and berries galore!

Project Life Update

I've just officially finished my Project Life album.  It's been getting full for a while and I wanted it to cover eighteen months before I start a new one. 

I'm still really loving this project.  I'm only sorry that I took such a long break in between and didn't document Isabella's early days in the same way.  Who knows, maybe I will go back and cover that at some point.

This album runs from Joshua's early days in January 2017 until the end of this month and it makes me very emotional looking through it as it is such a good record of his development, and ours as a family.

Some weeks are more photo heavy and some are more writing heavy but that's just part of the flow.  Sometimes I have to remind myself to photograph more since I now video every day but I'm getting better at that balance. 

My process is weekly with this project.  I print out the photos, place them and work around that with cards, writing and the layout in general.  I try to keep it simple with the colours and not mix it up too much so that the photos really speak for themselves.

I've invested in a new album and will be starting that next week.  My aim with the next album is to focus on the embellishments a little bit more to give it a slightly more finished look.

I hope that we'll look back on these albums with the kids and maybe even their kids one day and remember how busy we were but also how much fun and love we have in our lives right now.

Skincare Update

This week I have an appointment with a dermatologist for the first time. The medication I take for colitis can lead to a higher risk of skin cancer so it makes sense to get checked out regularly.

With Summer finally kicking off I'll need to find a face cream with SPF although I'm really happy with this at the moment. It's natural, smells good and you only need a small amount.

I've cut right back on using toner, and only use my Clinique one when my face is feeling especially oily. I also rarely use make up remover since I rarely wear make up these days.

Last week I switched to this facewash and I absolutely love it. It's so foamy and refreshing.

For my body, I have also cut back, but again, thanks to the new season, I've cracked out my Soap and Glory body lotion for my legs after I've shaved and I really like it.

Make it Monday - Crossstitch Update

My new year's resolution to crossstitch every day is going really well so far and I am loving how it's coming along. Here are some progress pictures.

Garden Update

So this week we have been getting to grips with the garden, ready for the Spring. Nico has taken out all of the rhodedendrons and the space we've gained is amazing but in need of lots of work.

 Here's the biggest difference. The lamp has been there since we moved in. I call it the Narnia lamp. Until now, it was always surrounded by the rhodedendrons. Now, Nico has put in a small pond / water feature for wildlife. We're planting lots and I hope we'll have a sea of colour here soon.

 This is my main flower area. I'll be tidying up soon and splitting some of these bulbs up.

 Here's the central flower bed. We planted a short hedge around it and I need to get the grass out and turn the soil soon. I'm going to seperate bulbs here too.

And this is the break area. I'm looking forward to sitting here more this Summer. Nico has fitted a gate for privacy and shelter.

40 things.

Before I turned 30, I had a list of things I wanted to do and ever since I've been working on a list for before I turn 40. I was surprised how much I've ticked off already. Here goes...

~try scuba diving
~buy a house
~see the northern lights
~see an opera
~do the three peaks  
~learn to plait Isabella's hair
~hot air balloon
~bake bread
~climb a mountain
~go on a camping holiday
~complete a calligraphy course
~watch the BBC top 100 films
~cultivate a garden
~eat lobster
~eat at a Michelin star restaurant
~buy some 'proper' bedding 
~restore a piece of furniture
~invest in new glasses 
~learn to play backgammon
~fly a kite
~read the works of Charles Dickens
~try three new hairstyles
~capsule wardrobe project
~visit Africa
~learn to play poker
~see a whale in the wild
~sew a dress for myself 
~go on a girls weekend away
~uncover the mystery around my greatgrandmother
~paint Easter eggs & Egg hunt
~go to the shooting festival
~fondu night
~pay it forward
~learn to rollerskate
~cheese tasting
~bake and decorate a cake
~see Stonehenge
~be debt free
~take Isabella and Joshua to Disneyland
~run a half marathon

Hello again!

So it's been a while...

There are a couple of reasons for that. First up, I felt like I was running out of steam again. I'm an all or nothing kind of person - I like to blog every day or I get overwhelmed and give up.

I've used the break to keep my head above water at work and now that we have holidays, I feel much more on top of things. I'm going to try a more relaxed approach when I need a break or have less to blog about.

The second reason I stopped blogging for a while was terrible morning sickness. That's right, we're expecting baby number two in November. Getting out of the first trimester has left me feeling more refreshed and less overwhelmed.

With the half year approaching, I decided to review my goals and where I wanted to be by the end of 2016. Some goals fell by the wayside but I was sure I wanted to start blogging again. So as of today, it's a fresh start.

Make it Monday - Knitted Blanket Update

I'm currently working on patch number forty for this blanket!

I don't really treat this as a project as it's one I keep plodding away at week after week and suddenly it hits me how big it's getting. When I get to fifty, I think I'll start preparing and joining them.

I think it's going to look really nice when it is done and I'll be proud of the technique it shows.

Garden Update

 We've been especially busy in the garden lately while we have time and good weather. Above you can see how green and full Nico's veg patch is.

 Here's one of several pumpkins on the way.

 The flower bed we extended is full and thriving again. We found some snap dragons which I had forgotten all about since childhood.

 We refreshed the hanging baskets and are keeping a careful eye on them.

 We've decked out the terrace with more candles (thanks mum) and a new camping lamp (thanks Nico) to brighten up evenings when we sit out. Last night we even had a spiky visitor!

 The herbs are doing well...

 ...and the fruit trees.

Our next big project is cutting back and shaping these rhododendrons.

Garden Update

 It's been a while since my last garden update and there's sooo much going on right now. This garden was one of the big reasons we bought this house and with this wonderful season and our wonderful little girl, we're starting to live the dream.

Above, you can see the tomato plants! They have gone crazy outdoors. Can't wait to eat them!

 Since Isabella's birthday the main garden area has become more of a play area with swing, slide, sandpit and paddling pool. She loves it, and we love to watch her.

 The first courgette!

 Who needs Heligan? We have our own giant rhubarb...from Yorkshire of course.

 The flower corner by the terrace is still blooming...

 ...and these are my current favourites. Seasonal, happy and bright.

 My planter is still hanging and pretty with pink now.

 The balcony boxes are finally blooming.

And even the lemon and avocado plants are thriving outside.

I love this season!

Garden Corner: Veg Patch Update

Since we harvested and enjoyed the spinach and radishes, Nico used the space to get his tomato plants outdoors. They look brilliant.

At the far end, the carrots are slowly coming on.

The heat got to the cucumbers but we've got more lettuce and spinach planted.

We also discovered strawberries growing amongst the flowers which are ripening quickly in this summery weather.

Lemons!

Look what Nico discovered while we were in the hospital - those lemon seeds DID take and are shooting up now. I can't believe I waited for months before giving up on them and then they appeared! Just little more patience now.

Currently...

...enjoying the pace of work slowing down as the end of the semester nears.

...drinking tea like it is going out of fashion.

...loving getting stuck into some sewing projects.

...enjoying driving 'on the other side'.

...having a House marathon.

...learning a little Turkish.

...relxing into pregnancy yoga on Sundays.

...reading Isabel Allende's 'The House of the Spirits'.

...eating for two - and making the most of it.

...riding a hormonal rollercoaster.

...maing plans.

...looking forward to the rest of 2014!

The Saturday Update

You may have noticed the lack of weekly updates lately.  I haven't been too happy most Saturday mornings with my progress diet wise.  I've stayed the same for the last five weeks.  This morning by some miracle there was a change...I lost a whole 1/4 of a pound!  Yes, I am seriously questioning the reliability of my scales.  The important thing is that I feel good with all the cycling and am starting to get back into some of my smaller clothes.

It's been another busy week.  I've had a relatively normal week at school although year six are away on a trip so I have had some relief there.  Our house guest Frankie was in school with me this week to check out the school system and practise her German.  I did have another run in with the girl who is big on her toilet rights so there may be another run in with her mother before long...we will see. 

I've gotten back into watching German films and finished watching series two of 24 at last so I'm gearing up to tick another off my list of 27 with series three!  

Today is actually a year since Nico and I first met so we are celebrating with a quiet day together and so far the weather is sunny and nice too - touch wood.  

Next week will be relatively busy with year six being back.  On Saturday I have a training course for my new job which starts next month teaching adults again.  Let's hope it's a good week.

The Saturday Update

This week I have ... stayed the same.  I am not impressed.  I have been having three square weightwatchers meals per day with fruit as snacks and cycling for at least an hour every day.  I have never been so good on weightwatchers and had such a bad week.  :-(  

I had a bit of a snacking session at lunchtime out of anger but am back on the wagon already.  I'm hoping that it is just taking a bit longer to kick in.  Nico is trying to convince me that the fat has started turning to muscle with all the cycling but I'm not won over yet.  I'm wondering if the scales may be broken since that weight hasn't changed since the move - and it measures to the half pound!  They may get some vigorous testing later...

First week at work wasn't bad.  With the meetings and pupils not having subject lessons until Friday when I only have one class, I had a fairly light week so we will see how it develops this week with a normal timetable.  On the positive side, I've been invited along on the class trip to the school centre in the forest with my favourite class in September so looking forward to that and on a personal note, became an auntie again when my little sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy - Lucas.  

Tomorrow we are taking a trip with Nico's family to Cuxhaven, where I have never been before so I'm looking forward to that and must remember to take the camera!  Photos of the flat will be online tomorrow now that we have tidied up a bit but the office is not on yet, for that very reason!! 

The Saturday Update

Yep, I'm back with my weekly updates.  After some weeks off the diet to get used to being gluten free and with the move, I'm back on Weightwatchers and trying to get into a routine. 

This week I have stayed the same.  Actually, despite good intentions last week it's been pretty rocky and apart from still being on holiday, it's been up and down emotionally so I think with all the comfort eating, staying the same is a good result.

This week it's back to school and hopefully back into a good routine.  After a quiet week exercise wise, I will be cycling too and from school every day so hopefully that will give me a good boost.

The Saturday Update

Well what a week!  It's been very busy with the end of term and school year.  It was really nice to see my year 6 class get their reports and celebrate their hard work this year.  As soon as school ended, it was Breminale time with the music festival here in Bremen from Wednesday until Sunday.  We were there again last night and the highlight for me was the fire dancing act.  It was amazing to watch at dusk as they danced with different forms of fire without getting burned!  This time the June Bugs left us alone for the main part which was nice too!  

Apart from that we've still been sorting things out for England and the big move when we get back.  Today we'll be finishing preparations before setting off on the long drive tomorrow before (hopefully) a relaxing couple of days in Whitstable together for Nico's birthday.  Can't wait!

The Saturday Update

This week I have stayed the same again.  This is hardly surprising except that I might have expected to put a little more on.  I've been very good on the exercise front and very good while on the trips since all the snacks the others were eating weren't gluten free but the evenings have not been soo good.  At the moment though, with everything that is going on, I'm happy to stick with staying the same until we get settled in the new flat and I can get cracking again.

As the blogs this week have suggested, it's been a mad week with trips on four days and trying to sort things out for the move and the holiday.  Yesterday was the retirement party of a colleague and I was a little annoyed with myself at only really getting to know her at the end of the year.  Next year I'm going to make more of an effort to talk to everybody and get to know people at school.  This year has been more about settling in and getting used to the system but my German's improving and I want to fit in better at school and not leave it until I probably have to leave next year to get to know people.

Another thing also hit home with the retirement speeches.  I'm really looking forward to the next school year because it will be the first time that I am teaching at the same school for two years in a row.  Since I qualified I've taught at three very different schools in three years and I'm looking forward to the relative break of already knowing the system now and being able to concentrate on my lessons more.  It seemed a little crazy getting so excited when I then heard that the colleague had been at the school for thirty three years!  That's longer than I have been alive!  It's also something I'd really like to do though - find the right school for me and stick with it.  I'd better get a move on (or maybe not given the pension set up).  It's hard not knowing what's coming in the next year, and although I'm being given a year off that trial, I'm not looking forward to it the year after, on the other hand, I don't want to jinx it but each period of not knowing has always brought me something better.  I can't imagine how things can get much better than they will be in September but I'm ready to find out!

The Saturday Update

It's been another mad week at work - teaching most of my last lessons for this school year (just one left), experiencing the wrath of certain parents and starting the planning for the new school year.  Also, we got the contract through on our new flat, I booked the car in for the final preparations for our trip to England and finally spoke to my Gran who has been moved out of the hospital to a temporary care home until she gets her strength back enough to be allowed home.

This week I have stayed the same on the scales.  I was a little disappointed as I thought I had done quite well although tracking went out of the window midweek, but it's better than another gain.  

Next week is project week so I'm out on a few trips with some of my year six classes and also saying goodbye to my year tens who leave school this week.