February: Home and Away

It seems I’m called back to this space every month or so; not a conscious thing really - more of an intuitive one. I need to record our family happenings and adventures.

Between navigating the general busy-ness of life and leaving large gaps unfilled, a month seems about right. It’s a good compromise.

So, what have we been up to?

Winter seems to be retreating again (for now). Catkins and crocuses, nature’s small place-markers, tell me that we’re at the point of no return; there’s no going back despite the odd frost or the biting winds that still tear across the moors. Spring’s almost upon us and I’m glad of it.

That change in the air is prompting us to venture out.

During half term, Joe spent a few nights with his grandparents.

It gave Jay and me a chance to go into Leeds on the train together; to wander around the city, do a bit of shopping, have lunch. We struggled a bit with the notion of not having to rush home for the school pick up. You become so accustomed to getting things done within that six hour window, it’s difficult to stop keep checking the time.

I know I’m always conscious of there being a cut off point (usually when I’m just hitting my stride work-wise, it’s time to wrap up and head out).

But we had a good time, despite that rushed feeling that’s so hard to shake.

The Saturday before school reopened, we met up with friends at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

It’s a long time since we last visited - maybe four or five years - so it was good to go back.

We had a walk around the sculptures and grounds, took in the exhibitions and enjoyed a windswept picnic. I only made one little purchase from the shop (a poster) so was quite pleased with myself…

On the home front, the building work continues.

Our new kitchen extension’s taking shape but things have been difficult; we had to empty the conservatory in readiness for it to be pulled down, which meant lugging the fridge, washing machine and dryer into the already cramped kitchen. The dining table had to go in order to make room so we currently eat in the living room, plates on our knees (Joe’s not complaining).

There was never any plumbing in the kitchen for the washer (!) so we decided to make do with using a launderette until the building work’s finished.

That didn’t work out due to the cost, the travel and the fact that the settings were near impossible to figure out. So the builders temporarily plumbed the washer in outside; the laundry’s now done al fresco. It’s very strange.

The dryer died after being moved (admittedly it was old) so that needed to be replaced.

It’s been… trying.

And then there have been the trips to the tip, the charity shops, the storage unit.

Jay’s been super busy and super stressed.

Of course, never one to keep things simple, I’m having misgivings about the deep blue living room.

I know it’s winter still, so the days are short. But I’m craving light. And moody walls and shadowy corners aren’t doing it for me.

Plus, it’s as though dark colours actually showcase the dust - and having a wood burning stove means there’s generally a fair amount of dust around. We’re clean people but you can’t get rid of it all, you just can’t.

Jay says I’m welcome to repaint it all if I like. Just count him out.

I’m going to do it. Soon. And try not to think about all that expensive Farrow & Ball paint we used…

Fortunately, the upstairs rooms are perfectly lovely. Pistachio green in our room, dark olive in Joe’s. And I’m hoping to do the bathroom maybe a plaster pink but daren’t tell Jay yet there are lots more jobs to do first.

We’re still waiting for an allotment. It could take months, years even.

The garden’s currently a building site (the dreaded portaloo’s back) but my sunflower seedlings are doing well on the kitchen windowsill.

And the new front door will be arriving soon.

Things are happening.

Athough they’ll start to happen more slowly, as we’ve reached the point where it’s about saving up for each project and job first. No more plundering our resources.

I’m currently reading the first of the Dales Detective series, by Julia Chapman. I think I’ve guessed whodunnit.

Also, dipping in and out of Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes. I picked up a nice vintage copy from the post office last week. And despite not liking him very much (from what I’ve read about his treatment of the women in his life), I’m trying to read it objectively…

Before the above I finished Mrs March by Virginia Feito. It was a good one.

Life’s as busy as ever.

This past weekend was spent at home (the previous one having been mostly away from home, travelling all over the place). But there was so much to do, it felt less restful than if we’d just gone out somewhere.

Joe’s working on a project for World Book Day: Book in a Box, where he has to make a 3D model of his favourite story within the confines of a cardboard box.

We worked on it yesterday and it took ages, and there’s still a lot to do. He’s gone for Tintin paddling a canoe through the Brazilian rainforest, so nice and simple…

There’s been a lot going on with my brother too. It’s entailed many hours of phonecalls with various agencies.

And then there’s the journal, which I’ve been sending out and promoting. It’s going well and (fingers crossed) taking off, so that’s positive.

Coming up, we’re looking ahead to Easter and beyond that, our trip to Edinburgh in May.

Of course, it’s now 3pm almost so time to head up through the village to school. To be honest, time’s flying by and despite my working days being confined to school hours, I know I’ll miss this come September. He’ll be boarding the yellow bus and leaving an hour earlier, and getting home without me.

No more chatting as we walk through the churchyard, followed by the cat. We’ve already had our last primary school autumn, and now almost winter too. Looking back through my photo archives it all seems to have passed so quickly.

So I try and savour these last few months of ‘little’ school, and I encourage Joe to do the same. Although, of course, he doesn’t. But at least he’ll have happy memories to look back on.

This is all getting a bit morose, isn’t it? Just as the clouds have gathered outside. The room’s plunged into gloominess and I think I need to find my umbrella before venturing out…