I returned last night from a weekend in Bedfordshire. Although Hampshire is the county where I was born and I now happily live, I will always feel a strong attachment to Bedfordshire. We moved into the village of Clophill when our children were two and six years old and I think because it is the place where we raised our family it will always remain special. Clophill is situated on the A6 part way between Bedford and Luton, the small market towns of Ampthill and Shefford a few miles on each side of the village and the places you had to go to see a Dr and do a bigger shop. In the seventies the population of Clophill was 2,000 but had steadily raised with the building of new properties, no big housing estates, mostly infill. The village consisted mainly of the high street stretching a mile from the main road with an assortment of properties, at one end the village green, which as Village greens go was rather small and insignificant. We were very lucky to have an exceptional village school, It's head a very small demure woman who headed a very small dedicated team who nurtured and encouraged their pupils. My two sons were probably not their easiest of students, but their strengths were recognised and valued in this small community. This was a church school, so the whole school were crocodiled down to the church for each holy festival. (While in the village yesterday I spotted small children in the very familiar uniform heading off to the Mothering day service).
When we arrived in the village there were three shops, a large general store and post office, a butcher and a bicycle repair shop! By the time we left in 2004, only the shop and PO survived and that was under threat of closure.
On our first full day in the village I wandered up to the top of the village to find the 'playgroup' with Matthew to put his name down. As he wasn't yet three he was able to attend if I stayed with him, so a couple of mornings a week we would drop Ian at school and wander up the lanes to join in the fun. For the next few years our lives were instringently tied up with the communities of the school and playgroup. Each summer a large fete and carnival procession was held along with an air show! yes an air show, it was such a unique occurrence for a small village that people would come from a very long distance to see it! It had come about because of a villager's involvement with the RAF, an arrangement was made and for many years the sale of the 'fete programmes were donated to the RAF benevolent fund and the fete was fixed on the day of large air shows and the planes were diverted to fly over our small village. I remember the children maypole dancing while a hurricane flew low over the show ground and the times we watched at the end of the day as the red arrows flew down the High street! Friends were made, mainly parents of other children, we joined in social events, summer BBQ's, quiz nights, barn dances and many more events.
The children had to go out to Shefford, Ampthill, or Flitwick for Cubs, Scouts, swimming lessons etc. We were surrounded by farms, country lanes and woods so we were able to walk in the surrounding countryside. Maulden Wood was our favourite place to walk and the annual Christmas eve walk to wear the children out became a ritual! The boys at nine had to travel further a field for school, making friends in other villages and we became a' taxi' service' transporting to parties, school events etc. In senior school years, school was ten miles away in Bedford and the boys soon learnt to use the bus services with parental back up when the limited bus service wasn't in operation!
We were sixteen years in Clophill and it was quite a difficult decision for me to leave, though Steve was very keen. I still have the memories of happy family life, the friends who we are still in touch with and the ones who have left. The new village shop is now situated on the Green, in a bungalow which has been built up and which had belonged to a very special and perhaps unlikely friend, Margaret. I knew Margaret for a few years, her husband had died shortly after she had come down from the Lake District and I would spend time with her, she was nearly blind, had fascinating stories to tell and baked scrumptious cakes! I'd help by taking this wonderful lady to the Dr's or shopping and in return my life was enriched. Margaret died a year before we left the village and this weekend I went into her 'home' the new shop, I thought I would feel sad, but realised that she would have been delighted that the 'village shop' continued to be the centre of village life!
I stayed with friends Jane and Barry and had a really nice time, we went to Jean's for a meal and went for a lovely walk on Sunday morning.
Reading back through what I have just written, it seems too 'Rosie' life wasn't always perfect, I wouldn't want to go back and live, but its nice to have visit and to remember.

This evening we are having friends around for supper! We will all be cooking our own meal and I made it very clear that its more like an indoor BBQ and not 'cordon bleu'. We were given the raclette by our German friends, having enjoyed meals cooked on theirs when we had visited them in Germany. So far it has always been a success! I enjoy the informality and the pressure that is lifted when I don't have to plan an exotic menu, spend hours in the kitchen or worry about how the food will turn out! After all spending time in good company is the important aspect of the evening. Jane and Tim are new friends that we have made since moving to LOS nearly two years ago, Jane is an excellent cook and for the past year she has managed the catering at the sailing club. Tim is a very quiet man, who has a gentle humour, he is a keen sailor and gets on very well with Steve.
Last night we were again at the sailing club. We enjoying a delicious meal(more food) with an Irish theme prepared by Jane. Were getting to know ppl at the club quite well and were thinking of joining another couple on a sailing holiday in Croatia! 'Thinking' long and hard about it at the moment, as anyone who knows me will know that 'sailing' isn't my thing. I know it won't be at all like dinghy sailing and I'm being persuaded that I would really enjoy pottering around little islands, stopping for swimming in little bays and relaxing, social evenings in tavernas and bars! Phil and Sandy have said we can share their boat, but as we don't know them too well, we will probably go with the option of a smaller boat each, that is, if I'm talked into going. I think we will all need our own space and I wouldn't consider sharing accommodation that small with anyone, other than my nearest and dearest or oldest and best friends: the ones who already know all my little .idiosyncrasy's:).
It's now the day after the night before as they say and a really enjoyable night it was. Thankfully our guests enjoyed the novelty of cooking their own food. We didn't go to bed until after midnight and it was 9.30am before I awoke, it really is becoming rather an enjoyable habit and something I could get used too.
Its a glorious sunny day, we have been shopping in Southampton to buy a new cooker at John Lewis, it will be delivered in five days time. We stopped on the way back at the car park at the far end of Lee beach, 'The Shack' has just started opening at weekends again and as it was now 3.00pm it seemed opportunist to sit and have some refreshment sitting on the beach. What a beautiful site, there were a lot of large sailing boats in the distance, the IOW was looked like you could reach out and touch it, the gliders were out from Daedalus and were gliding gracefully above, while below the ski jetters were showing off their fast machines. After our appetites were satiated, I abandoned Steve to walk home, he was happy to take the car home as he wanted to get on with preparing his boat ready for the sailing season which begins on 1st April. I called in on my Mum on the way home to give her a list of the shipping which is due to sail down the Solent in the next year. Steve had picked it up at The shack and knew that she would like it, perusing the list, it contained so many of the ships that she and my father had sailed on so often. Mum was sat in her little sun lounge, trousers rolled up, door open enjoying the rays. I wandered home with a box of fudge that Mum had made.

Its five days since I last made an entry to my blog, so thought I'd better start and put something down, though its been a very ordinary time so not sure what to write or more importantly what would be interesting to read! Three very busy days at work passed in a flash, one thing about working shorter hours means that every minute is filled and the days at work go so quickly. In fact, I'm finding there is not really enough time to do all I need to do at work and I'm finding each day I'm working over my hours. Not sure how to remedy this, as I don't want to go back to four days.
It's been really cold all week and although we have had only snow flurries, the chilling wind has been biting. There have been some sunny moments and in the garden the daffodils and crocus are coming into bud, I need to get out and do some tidying, but I'm finding it too cold to be out there! Had ane mail from Friederike, she said they are really fed up with the snow, because it hasn't yet melted from when we were with them. Had an e mail from Theresa, I went to primary and secondary school and we met up at a school reunion a few years ago. Made contact with her again after we moved south and had a nice evening out about a year ago. Going to meet up with Theresa and another couple of girls from school at the end of the month.
Today has been a pretty ordinary day, went to the beauty salon! Up to a year ago I had never stepped into one, but decided to take the plunge and have some treatments. I happen to be one of those females who have a problem with excess hair, although Helen my therapist assures me that there are many woman with this problem, I don't think I know any of them. I'm becoming pretty used to the pain of the electrolysis and the waxing and in a funny way I enjoy my time on the couch. Helen always has relaxing music playing and we chat. I used to feel guilty about spending money on myself, but have got to the stage in life when I feel comfortable with it.
I Visited My Mother afterwards and she made me lunch and we chatted. Mum talked about her parents and there families, I hadn't realised that my Grandfather was one of seven children. I hadn't heard of George or Alfie or Jean or Mary or any of the others. Two sisters apparently emigrated to either the USA or Canada! One of Mum's uncle's had been a POW in Changi and lived for a few years on his return. I'd always thought that I had a very small family, but out there somewhere must be lots of second and third cousins! I must try and find out some more about them from Mum.
It's Friday night, St Patrick's night, so were off to the sailing Guinness and Irish Stew and tomorrow were going to a fondue night, all our social life seems to centre around food and my waist line is beginning to suffer! Tomorrow were off to choose a new cooker and most of the weekend will be spent on the kitchen refurbishment.....

Its the last day of two weeks leave and tomorrow I am back to work! This morning I checked my diary for the work I have ahead this week. Development checks, baby massage sessions, support for parents finding toddler behaviour difficult, post natal groups and clinics. A good variety to look forward too. Back to the last day of my leave, I didn't wake up until 8.30am, how on earth am I going to get back into the routine of getting up at 6.00am and out the door for 7.00am. After a slow start and a few mundane chores, some washing, at least the glorious, sunny, windy day allowed me to peg out the wash. I always enjoy getting all my laundry out on the line to have a good blow. The laundry always smells so nice when dried in the open air and I feel virtuous that I haven't used the decreasing worlds resources, though I rarely use the Tumble dryer and prefer to use a clothes horse!
Chores done, I headed out (oh dear in the car) to meet Maggie at the garden centre. As usual I arrived before Maggie and spent fifteen minutes wondering around looking at the array of goods on sale. I wondered around the book department, kitchen department and deli, infact all departments except the 'garden shop'. I was in a dream when I bumped into Maggie, we made our way to the coffee shop where we sat and chatted for more than an hour, the time slipped by as we talked about lots of things, including concerns about both our younger children! We parted and Maggie went of to her part time job and I popped to the local shops in LOS as I had the desire to cook a roast for dinner. Rang my Mother and invited her to come and join Steve and I. Collected Mum at 4.00pm as I know she doesn't like driving home in the dark, forfeited my glass of wine with dinner, but small concession to make and I know Mum enjoyed the meal of roast pork and apple sauce, some early evening television before I took her home at 8.00pm. I'm now back and enjoying that glass of wine and about to watch a docudrama about Kenneth Williams. Early to bed tonight as it won't seem ong before the alarm is waking me from my slumber!

I have just returned home from a memorable day in London. I left home early to drive to Southampton airport, no I wasn't flying to London but catching the train from the station. I'm always early for everything and was glad that as usual I had allowed oodles of time to catch my train. The station car park was completely full, so I had to park in the airport car park.(ouch! the £14.00 to park encroached on the cheap day retutn!). I enjoyed the train journey as I sat back and enjoyed reading my novel to pass the time. I had arranged to meet Claudia at the Tate Modern at 11.00am, so I had plenty of time to meander along the South Bank. I prefer to find my way over ground than use the underground, so I enjoyed the walk along the river, looking at the familiar sights along the route, even though it was drizziling with rain. After I had met up with Claudia we wandered around the exhibits and chatted as we went catching up on news. I don't know a lot about art, though I know that I don't understand a lot of this 'modern stuff', if I like a picture its usually because 'I just like it'. Claudia was very interested and tried to explain her interpretation of some of the pieces we saw! If I'm completely honest, some of the works I saw could have been created by some of the five year olds that I have worked with.'
We left the gallery and wandered back along the South Bank and over Westminster Bridge to 'The Houses of Parliment', Claudia is a 'spouse in the house' in other words she is married to Patrick who is a Labour MP. Claudia has a pass into the the parliment buildings and although any member of the public can queue and visit the palaces of Westminster, we were soon admitted into the great buildings. It was surrreal to be being given a guided tour of the seat of government by an Italian lady, but Claudia arranges tours for her husbands constituents and certainly had done her homework. We had lunch in the restaurant and then we went into the public gallery to listen to a debate on the chidcare bill. It was really interesting as an honourable lady member from Dorset was proposing a change of one word in the bill about an early years curriculeumn for 0-2 year olds! The word was 'taught', and the debate centred around the need for children of a young age to learn through experiences rather than be 'taught'. I personally believe that introducing a curriculemn for 0-2 year olds is preposterous. It was interesting listening to the dabate,though we didn't stay long enough for the vote, though a little later we were in the 'Portcullis building' the glass building which houses the offices for MP's, when bells rang calling MP's to vote. We didn't see a mad rush of members, but we did see Claire Short (hows that for name dropping)!
I left Claudia and made my way back to Waterloo, I boarded a train immediately and thankfully boarded a train and bagged a seat. The train was full to bursting, apparantly a lightening strike had knocked out some signal stations, causing mayhem, trains cancelled and delayed. My train crawled to Woking before it got up speed and carried me back to the airport, where I collected the car and now I'm home again, sitting watching Eastenders and drinking hot chocolate!

Wishes do sometimes come true: I had wanted snow for our Munich trip and boy did we have snow. Snow fall was recorded as the most abundant for twenty four years. By Sunday morning there was about two foot of snow and that is without exaggeration. Our hosts were amazed and Friederike had never experienced anything like it.
We arrived last Tuesday evening, delayed by a couple of hours, due to weather conditions in Geneva. It was lovely to see Vic, Friederike and Thersa and as usual they had arranged some great things for us to do. Because childen are so unpredictsble and Theresa was a little unwell we wern't all able to do everything planned. Despite mother and daughter being unable to join us the most memorable of days was the one we spent in Salzberg, Vic Steve and I went by train and it was well worth the three hour train journey. It was bitterly cold, but it was such a beautifull city. As it was Mozarts anniversary everything Mozart prevailed. We visited Mozart's birth place and early childhood home. Later in the afternoon we travelled the venichula railway up to the fortress. Six hours wasn't enough time to see all that Salzberg had to offer, I hope that we may return for another visit,
perhaps during a spring or summer time. I'd like to do the 'sound of music' tour, see the Eidelweiss on the mountains where Julie Andrews taught the 'Von Trapp children to sing Doh ray me, the fountains, the abbey from where the family escaped over the mountains into Switzerland from the Nazis.(sorry reader if you are cringing)!
Away from the memories of a 1964 movie, the rest of the holiday was equally enjoyable. Time spent with our friends, plenty of hot chocolate and cake, playing in the snow with an excited child,a trip to Ikea. A chinese meal out was quite an experience, lovely food, thank goodness for our hosts linguistic skills, ordering the food in German a difficult enough task and doubly so because I had left my glasses behind!
Holiday over and back home, Steve has to set the alarm and return back to the office tomorrow, I'm lucky enough to have another weeks holiday, so I'm looking forward to a lie in tomorrow....
We arrived back home this afternoon,relaxed