Down to earth

We've been back in Blighty for a few days now and I've just about come around the fact that I do have to go back to work and earn a living again! I've had a very relaxed couple of weeks and it feels like it's just too much to ask to make me go back to work just yet... However I dutifully made my way to the office this morning and was greeted with 200 emails and a slightly scary to-do list.

I'm actually considering doing away with my signature lists of stuff to do. As good a tradition as they might be, sometimes it's time for a change. Trouble is, I can't think of the non-traditional way of making sure I don't forget anything...

Good stuff has happened in the time we've been off work, though. My sister-in-law and fiance have set the date for their wedding (September next year - not long in wedding planning terms!!!). They also held a great party yesterday to celebrate being engaged and having their house, if not their new kitchen (long story and a sore point, I think it's fair to say). Three new babies have been born in our group of friends at church and another is imminent. And the building work started on my folks' house in France just as soon as we left it in peace - a new bedroom and bathroom will await us next time we're over there.

The other big news is that my parents have finally organised their joint 60th birthday party, which has been a while coming. I need to get some bowling practice in on the Wii as they're planning a skittles evening and I can feel the competitive juices flowing already.....

Things you learn whilst on holiday....

1. maps are better than sat nav. Any day of the week.
2. children have astonishing stamina, even when it's 10pm, if provided with enough stimulation.
3. it's amazing how much cheese and wine can be consumed before the onset of illness.
4. feet can burn. Particularly if they're the one bit that you forget to put suncream on.
5. sand gets everywhere...

Au revoir

So it's au revoir to John and Shirley-Anne, who moved on to the next stage of their holiday today. We've had a lovely, if scarily quick, week with them and have promised not to leave it another year before we see them again.

Holiday update

We are having a great time en France. The boys are loving the outdoors life, despite mixed weather and are particularly enjoying having the undivided attention of Uncle John and Auntie Shirley-Anne, who however infrequently we see them, remain firm and steadfast favourites and always will.

We've not thrown ourselves around the Normandy countryside, unless there's been something particular that we've wanted to see. The beauty of coming to Mum and Dad's in St Germain is that we know we'll be here again and there's no pressure to see everything in one week. Makes for a relaxing and very chilled holiday.

The other relaxing bit is the copious good food and drink we've been consuming. John and S-A have always been good and discerning eating and drinking partners but I think that we have surpassed ourselves this week, with cheese and wine alone....

All in all, a great time being had and a rest that has been much needed. Keep checking the boys' blog as Christopher is being a much more faithful correspondant than I have ever achieved.....

Not to be outdone

Clearly the boys' blog has awoken the competitive spirit in their grandparents. Mum and Dad have now set one up about their experiences of being two-home owners. Content has mainly focussed around refurbishing chairs so far but I'm sure that it will vary as the time goes on (and when I've taught them how to put pictures on....).
cross-channelarnolds.blogspot.com/

Next generation blogging

We're on our holidays at the moment and we've moved on from scrapbooks (like, soooo last year) to scrap blogs. Go to http://rhodesboys.blogspot.com for more from our youngest correspondents.....

You take the children to church...

...and come back with a lion and tiger!

Hooray for youth workers with brilliant talents, even with the wriggliest of 3 year olds....

Living up to my not-name?

I've been practising hard for singing at Mike's cousin's wedding next Saturday. One of the things Lindsay and Ben have chosen is the Mascagni Sancta Maria from the Intermezzo to the Cavaleria Rusticana. This is lovely and very well-known, which is immediate incentive to make sure that I do it justice. However, it also happens to be a piece that my not-namesake, Katherine Jenkins, performs regularly.

I've found myself feeling vaguely competitive about this, which is quite stupid, as I'll never be in a position to be seriously compared with her on anything, let along one of her signature tunes. However, this hasn't stopped me having to resist the urge to check how she does it and make sure I do it better!

This competitive streak in me seems to get wider as I get older. I used to be a lot more sanguine about how I compared to others but no longer. I have to be doing as well as, if not better. I realised that I was taking this to extremes, when I found myself completely determined to better my own score on a Wii game the other day. To be competitive with others is one thing. To be competitive with yourself is something completely different, not to say a little bit odd......

Coming up for air

July has been a funny month. I've been busy but not ridiculously so, work has had its fair share of trials but nothing out of the ordinary and singing has just ticked away, as normal.

However, I haven't really been posting on anything in my usual way.

So - sorry for the radio silence. I'm back now and breathing, not gasping, and will hopefully be posting much more frequently.