September, Six, and School

Hello, hello!! Oh how lovely it is to be back in Blogland, how I have missed you all!
We came home on Saturday night from the most wonderous weeks holiday, oh it was fabulous in every way imaginable. But yes, it is good to be back.
I spent a long while sat in bed on Sunday morning with my baby laptop and a cuppa, trying to catch up a little with all of your news and reading your comments left after my last post :: gosh, all your well-wishes for a happy holiday, how kind you all are! I was so touched, very many heartfelt thanks.

Our week in Northumberland was everything I hoped it would be :: the cottage, the village we stayed in (although very sad to discover the village shop had closed down), the beaches, the castles, the gardens, the picnics, the cafes, the shops, the weather. Yes, even the weather was on our side and we enjoyed day after day of being outdoors and not getting  wet!! Oh, how lovely it is to say that, to be so thankful for dry weather.
Did you know, I have a talent for enjoying holidays :: I am very very very good at it. I can't think I have ever been on holiday and not enjoyed it immensely. And do you know what? I think I really did myself proud this year, I enjoyed my time away more than I thought possible. Honestly folks, there were times last week when I felt fit to burst, I was sooooo happy.

And now I am back. But that's ok, I am glad to be back actually. There is something so satisfying about coming home, no matter how damn good the time away has been. Mind you, everything is in one hellava mess around here, there is stuff dumped everywhere, no clean clothes, every single room needs a good tidy and a clean. But hey, I am gearing up for a very belated Huge Spring Clean this month. It's well overdue. It has to be said my housekeeping leaves a lot to be desired. Do you know that most the time I simply cannot stand the thought of cleaning and tidying (in fact I go out of my way to avoid it wherever possible), but on the occasions where I do decide to give it a go, I find I really enjoy it and cannot for the life of me think why I avoid it so vehemently for most of the time. One of life's mysteries, that is.

 

So the summer is over, and September has arrived. I don't know about you, but I always enter September with such mixed emotions :: a mixture of anticipation and lethargy, of happiness and mild panic. I never want the summer to end, yet am glad for the return of routine.
I turned my calendar pages this morning and began to think about the changing seasons, the end of the long summer days and the onset of Autumn, the focus gradually turning from outside to inside. I do quite like this time of year, but am also slightly saddened by it somehow. Mind you, can't complain about the weather today here in North Yorkshire :: I think you might call it Bright and Breezy. Lots of clouds scurrying across the sky, alternating shadow and light. It's quite lovely.

So. I have lots to talk about this week. I am desperate to share some of my holiday with you :: I uploaded my photos to the computer yesterday (two hundred and sixty three of them) and it was lovely to see all those images recounting our week away. But I am still deciding how best to record it all so I don't bore the pants off you :: I most certainly don't want you to slink off and wait for it to be over, wait for normality to return to my blog. Don't want to find you yawning your way through my holiday snaps, that would never do. So I'll ponder it for a few days, see what comes to mind.

In the meantime, I want to tell you a bit about my lovely Little Man who is growing up faster than I can keep up with. He turned Six on Saturday which was the last day of our holidays, so his birthday ended up being a lovely day of castles and  woodland, sand dunes and picnics, playgrounds and rock pools. It was relaxed and fun.

 

We had asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he chose this from a little local toy shop whilst we were away on holiday. And as an extra surprise we also bought him this. His friends here in our neighbourhood are a few years older than him, and all summer long they've been out on the streets playing together. Usually their method of transport has been a scooter, but occasionally they've been able to borrow a skateboard from a neighbour, and you can picture this can't you  :: three boys all sat astride the board, legs outstretched to both sides,  zooming down the hill shrieking with excitement. It was fun to witness, if not a little hairy at times. So now Little Man has his own board and he is as pleased as punch. There's nothing like being The One With The Cool Plaything to make you really feel special when you're six years old and your best buddies are nine years old.

There were never any plans to have a party. But yesterday afternoon when his Skateboarding Buddies were at our house, I dug out the box labeled "Birthdays" and got out balloons, streamers, party poppers and candles. Went to the shops to buy a suitably garish cake and we all had an impromptu singing of "Happy Birthday To You", followed by the Blowing Out of Candles.

It was brief. Party poppers popped, streamers were slung, juice was slurped and cake was scoffed. Then it was back outside to play. No time for sitting still when you're six years old and you have a new set of wheels.

And that was quite suddenly the end of the summer holidays ::today it was Back to School for Little Man.

Back to school with New Shoes. Needless to say, he did not want to entertain the idea of School or Shoes. He wanted it to be another Skateboarding day. It was tough. Getting out the house by 8.30am proved hugely difficult (we were ten minutes late), and a new classroom, new teacher and no familiar faces was tough too. There were tears (his and mine). I ended up wandering around the aisles of Tesco at 9am this morning crying and trying to pull myself together and control my snot and tears with no tissues to hand. Like I said, it was tough.
Then I also had the emotional experience of taking Little Lady (who starts school on Thursday) to the hairdressers for her first proper haircut (a rather grown up chin length bob). Try not to cry for the second time in one day, then do the only thing I can think of and go quick-smart to the Cafe where I know Lovely C will be working, to share my sorrow and drink cappuccino. She cheers me up no end by deciding there and then to make our Knit and Natter sessions weekly instead of fortnightly (I am mighty pleased).

So off we go into a week of rollercoaster emotions folks. I'm trying to feel positive, to not let all this emotion pull me down, but its gonna be tricksy.
Can't end on a  tricksy note though, so let me show you something altogether more uplifting....

...dandelions picked for me by Little Man whilst we were on holiday and presented to me in this little coloured glass of water. It was a special, unexpected moment, full of joy. To be honest, I still  can't believe that a) he went to the trouble of locating a glass in the holiday cottage cupboard and b) that he could actually reach the tap to fill it with water, he's grown so tall this summer.
And look, there's my new handmade glass ring,  bought in Berwick-Upon-Tweed.
It's  on my finger now and is a beautiful reminder of our wonderful week of late summer holiday happiness.
I'm holding on to the memories.

Comments

[Georgie]

How sweet you Little Man is! Those daffodils looked absolutely stunning in their simplicity & the coloured glass. That did sound like a tough day, touched my heart too. Xx

[Gill]

Lovely to have you back Lucy, I missed your lovely posts! Sounds like you had a fab time, I don't get bored by holiday snaps so show us as many as you like...
September is one of my favourite months, I've had enough of summer now and want to get wrapped up in warmer clothes and get cosy in the evenings. Happy Birthday to your little man, I remember my boy (who's nearly 20 now)being mad about skateboards for quite a few years, it's good to seem them out in the fresh air burning off some energy.

[Alice]

Ahh first of all, happy belated birthday to your Little Man!! Glad to hear that all of you (esp you!) had a fab holiday. I'm so glad you were away for a week - gives me less to catch up on your blog lol. I've been away for 2 wks and I actually thought about your blog while I was away, thinking... 'gosh, I'm gonna have so much to read on Lucy's blog when I get back' lol !! Anyway, welcome home!

[Ange]

Welcome back! Luckily I've been on hols at same as you (in fact near Bridport!) so it's been lovely to get back into work and have you're fab blog to cheer me up (my little man back at school today!).
Hope Thursday is not too traumatic - and can't wait for holiday pix!

[Fi]

glad you are back, and that you had a lovely, lovely holiday!

[julia]

Hurrah, you're back! So sorry to have shattered your fridge fantasy! Happy 6th birthday to your little man. First day of school for my baby tomorrow - I'm still in self denial! Looking forward to those holiday photos.
Julia xx

[Jennifer]

oh lucy, youve made me cry, what an emotional post!...hope the little people settle into school ok...and bless, little lady's first proper hair cut!

anyways, its LOVELY to have you back, i have SO missed reading your blog while you were away!

oh and i SO feel the same as you during this time around, i dont like that summer is over and the darker evenings are coming but at the same time its a new season to look forward too - weird, eh.

x

[Anna]

Beautiful ring Lucy, and very lovely indeed to have you back. Tea time just hasn't been the same without your inspiration!
Glad you had a wonderful holiday x

[Lesley]

what a lovely holiday it seems!!! we have had birthdays and about to go back to school for one and a new starter for No2 child around here so I may be a sobbing wreck in our Tesco on Wednesday morning as well!! How did your little one manage his first year as he must be one of the youngest? I ask as mine was only 4 last Tuesday so will be the youngest in his class and as my blog keeps going on about it I am quite bothered by this!! hopefully by the time he is 6 I will be ok with it ? :-S Looking forward to the holiday blogpost!!
Lesley x

[Lisa]

Oh Luce I have missed you, I did manage to read a couple of your blogs from Florida but with me away then you left as soon as i came back its ben ages since i had my Luce fix :-). So glad you had a nice time away and your little man had a fun birthday he has the same shoes as my little man who would have liked the shoes with a hidden toy much more!!!. I also now have reading glasses (hmmmm must be since i am now 40!) anyway makes reading your blog alot easer now. So lovely to have you home back in Attic 24 xxx lisa x

[Lisa]

So lovely to see you back and hear that you had such a great time. Very much looking forward to seeing your photos and reading about your hols.
A belated happy birthday to your little boy, I bet he was very tired this evening after the first day back at school.
Will be thinking of you as the week goes on and your little girl begins school too. Proud and emotional moments.
Thank you so much for the lovely comment you left on my blog before you went away. It was incredibly kind of you to take the time and say the things you did. All was very much appreciated and very much needed.
Take care
Lisa

[Joanne]

May I first say how great it is to have you back here in blog world as I have missed reading your daily musings.
It sounds like you had a great holiday even better with the dry weather can't wait to see the photo's.
Today must have been hard and Thursday I can just amagine how this is going to be as my little guy starts school on Friday and I've been really emotionally about it for the last few days. I'll be thinking of you on Thursday. Hope all goes well.

[sally]

Welcome back Luce - really missed you! But so pleased you had such a wonderful time. Am thinking of you this week and sending lots of hugs to help you get through it.
Sal xxx
P.S. LOVE the ring!

[Marisa]

How wondeful you are back, great to see that you and the family had such a brillant time, you do sound so excited. Must wish your little man Happy Sixth Birthday - yes it does get scary that when they are small you just don't quiet see the change in them, then one day you look and they have grown. And you wonder when did that happen. My youngest started secondary school last week and next week my eldest starts a PLC course in college, tonight he is at his schools debs, he looked so handsome. We may just enjoy them when we can!!! Look forwrd to your holiday photo's!!!

[simone]

I have missed you! I am so looking forward to hearing all about your holiday! I didn't have one ths year so I have to imagine what it's like! I had the new school shoes trip out today ready for schools return on Thursday. I love the posy your little boy got for you. He even went to the trouble of getting a colour matching glass! He is definitely his Mum's child!

[jane]

Great to have you back, you've been missed!
That's great that you really truly enjoy your holidays, fabulous times spent doing wonderful things with your loved ones, what could be better? You've a tough week ahead of you but I'm sure looking back over your holiday snaps and all your happy times will cheer you up no end. I can't wait to see them. x

[driftwood]

what a lovely holiday, and how lovely to be home too! I loved your tidying comments, I'm really hopeless at it, but I just love having a tidy house.... Hope that the return to the school routine goes smoothly, take care. x

[Rosie Graham]

So glad you had a great time on holiday. Give the children a week and they will be desperate to get to school each morning. You brought back great memories of when one of my sons got skateboard, it was special, just for him and he was so excited.
Rosie

[Steph]

What a wonderfullu joyful post! Glad you had such a wonderful time, looking forward to seeing your pics. Happy birthday to your little man and hope he had a good first day back (it's B's turn tomorrow). They really do shoot up don't they, love your dandelions! I get daisy buttonholes whenever we visit the playground and I wish, wish they'd last longer. I want to cry when he presents me one with that huge grin.
Lovely to see you home.
Stephx