All you ever wanted to know about me .... and more: October 2009

Monday, 12 October 2009

Another long absence

So I've had a busy and stressful couple months. Filled with joy and sadness. I'll try to catch up where I can. Lots of pictures to sort through! Sorry for the long gap!

I've never really taken a man home to meet the family. I know it sounds odd but it's true.

11 September

James and I headed up to Derby (very much my second home) for the weekend. I'd say we were both pretty nervous - he meeting my "family" and me introducing him to everyone I call family up there.

This is actually taken after Sunday lunch

Friday night I took James to the restaurant in Castle Donnington that I worked at for years. Love that food! Then we headed to John and Patty's for the weekend.

Saturday I had my haircut (as per my typical routine when I go to Derby for the weekend). Like a trooper James waited in reception reading the Saturday papers (he's a big fan of reading the weekend newspapers).

A bit shorter than I'd planned - oops!

Then we met up with Patty & John, Susan, Ashley and their new addition Amilee for lunch. After lunch we headed across town to say hello to Ken. Saturday night we met up with some friends of mine (and former colleagues) for dinner before heading to a performance by a flying bands (very intriguing) int he city centre.

Sunday morning was church and then back to John and Patty's for lunch with Patty & John, Susan, Ashley and Amilee, Ken and John's mum, Joyce before heading back to London.

Think we did a lot, maybe met too many people? In hindsight so do I. I must say that James was a real trooper meeting so many people in different settings in such a short space of time. Hopefully it'll all be a bit easier next time for him now that he's met everyone :-)

Grandma Sprouse

Betty Sprouse 26 April 1934 - 9 August 2009

This summer was filled with ups and downs and lessons to be learned. One lesson that hit me hard was how precious time and family really are and how often we forget it!

My mom's mom was the grandma that every child wants, a true stereo-typical fussing, doubting, accepting, loving grandma that gave you sweeties when your parents said no :-) She was a vibrant character that I had my clashes with but I loved her to bits! She loved me unconditionally, she accepted me for who I was and was proud of me - flaws and all. She was always excited to hear from me and glowed with love and pride when she saw me.

Just before I went to camp this summer, my mom called and said that she's had a fall and wasn't doing well. I called her in the hospital and we had a good chat about this and that and joked that if she wanted more attention from me she needed fall and go into hospital, all she needed to do was call me. That was the last time I got to speak to her. Soon after I went to camp she was put on a ventilator and went rapidly down hill. Oh how I wanted to get to her before she passed. What I'd give to be able to change my summer and go out and visit her.
I was so busy at work. I was so stressed with my life and my problems. I was too busy doing stuff. I know you shouldn't live with what ifs - the past is the past and it can't be changed. But it doesn't change the pain and regret from not having more time with her.
The weekend she passed was hard for me in England being away from my family and trying to get enough work done so that I could make it to California for her memorial service. I do feel fortunate to have gone to California for a few days and spend the time with my family. I learned a lot about Grandma during those few days. I learned that a lot of my childhood memories came from experiences my mom had with her mom that she passed to my sister and I. I learned that a lot of the silly qualities in my mom that I tease her about (but secretly admire) she learned from her mother. I also learned that I'm not the only mischievous lady in my family ... I get it from my grandmother :-)
I'm SO very thankful that I was able to spend last Christmas with my grandma and family. I will cherish those memories forever. I am a very lucky person to have had my grandma in my life! I miss her everyday.

Ben & Jerry's concert

July 26th - Ben & Jerry's Concert

So my boyfriend is superb at not only knowing what's going on in the city, but also at getting tickets to take advantage of what's going on in the city. I've really been spoiled by all he's taken me to and shown me!

After I got back from camp (a yearly event in the summer) he took me to an outdoor Ben and Jerry's concert in Calpham Common (a fairly big park in south London). Music AND ice cream - can't get much better! Basically you go into the event area, queue up for a type of ice cream and while you're eating it get in a queue for a different type of ice cream. We tried 6 types of free ice cream before stopping. (There is a limit to how much a person can eat before inducing vomiting!)

I have to mention that I came back from camp with "suspected" swine flu (I say suspected as they were quarantining everyone with the symptoms and not testing for it). I felt really rough when I got back Saturday afternoon and was barely moving on Sunday. I'm really happy I went, but at the time I was really dragging!

James and I in one of the ice cream queues. (I've been told many times that I look weird in this picture, but I think I look pretty darn good for having piggy flu!)