Back with random pics.

It has been a very busy few weeks, but lots of exciting things have happened.

First up, and most recent, was Zoe's Debs. The guy in the photo is a friend from band. She had been to his debs the previous week, so they were old hat at posing for photos! Don't they look lovely?

Can you see the bruises on her legs? She has started college, and is cycling to and fro. She was knocked off her bike on Tuesday morning by a taxi. He did stop, but I don't think he really took responsibility, and tried to convince her it was at least half her fault. I don't agree. Luckily, she was wearing a helmet, PHEW. But her poor legs and one elbow are badly bruised. I know that insurance probably advises drivers to get away and stay away, but it would have been nice to get a phone call to double check that she was ok. That is how (i think) it would have happened in my days of cycling, but all that has changed now, and it's all about not admitting liability. She is doing fine , and is back on her bike.

In other news, it's been hectic at school. I've got some new projects going on this year. One is called Dissolving Boundaries, and for that one we link with a school in Northern Ireland, do a joint project, some videoconferencing, and bring the students to meet each other. Should be exciting! The kick-off meeting for that was last Wednesday night and Thursday, though I only made Thursday cos of the Debs.

Hubby and I had a lovely lunch out at the end of summer, and this picture is the dessert I had. It was so yummy! i just found the picture when I was uploading from the camera, and it brought back the lovely memory of a happy afternoon.

One other happy afternoon, spent at a local beach, yielded this picture, and again, it reminded me of that lovely afternoon when I uploaded it.
I'm going to try to do a post each Saturday from now on, as I feel I have neglected my blog, and discarded so many photos that I simply didn't have time to upload. We'll see how it goes!

Band is busy again; we are going to a competition in Armagh soon, so lots of practice scheduled, but tomorrow we have a day off as there is a replay of a football match that ended in a draw last time. There is too much traffic and not enough parking in town on those days. Part of me hopes tomorrow is another draw!!!

Last trip of summer

This week, we made one last trip, before school starts again, and we're caught up in homework, activities, routine.


I flew out to Brussels on Saturday to see my friend Cee and her daughter, Ais. I wrote about Ais and the operation here. We had a lovely two days together, timed so Ais was home from the rehab unit for the weekend, and I could give her a massage as promised. Ais is doing really well, she walked 15 steps, on her own . It's still awful to see her struggle so much to make just one step, remembering how she would run around, and it's hard that she needs a wheelchair for outings, but it's a big improvement in a short time. Thanks to everyone who has prayed for her, and kept them in your thoughts.

We chilled out, our only outing to a bookshop-cum-restaurant. That's a whole other post.



When looking at the return flight, I just couldn't face the "silly o'clock"/ 5am at the airport" start. Ryanair had lovely, cheap flights to Madrid from Brussels, so I decided to make a detour on the way home. The girls flew out from Dublin to join me- their first "alone with no adults" flight.











We loved Madrid!










Perfect weather, friendly people, and lots of good food









- all the ingredients for an enjoyable break.















We didn't do a "whirlwind", preferring instead to savour fewer activities and leave some for a future visit.



















But we did do the bus tour, just to get a flavour of Madrid,

and we saw what I think is the most beautiful train station in the world

Where did that week go to?

I'm sorry that I haven't been around much this week. I do not know where the week went to.



Life has been pure hectic, on all fronts.



In school, we have a WSE (whole school evaluation) next week, and boy did my inner perfectionist (IP) decide to come out! I told her to go away, but she kept coming back, often just as I put my head on the pillow at night. Whispering little things in my ear "wouldn't it be good to buy new folders for your notes, and to colour co-ordinate them?" - I gave in on that one. "It's time to do a complete clearout of your press"... "you need to re-write all your notes" - you get the picture. I'm struggling to keep her at bay, so if anyone has a magic cure, please let me know!


I've been busy with aromatherapy too. A local school invited me to talk to their Transition Year students, which I'm delighted to do. Just not this week, please. (Luckily, my available times this week didn't suit, so it's postponed for a couple of weeks). Which gives me a chance to properly prepare the talk!


And it's been busy with the kids- it's music exam season! And Feis season too! So lots of running around.


Then we got invited to a table quiz fundraiser at the primary school where our kids went. It was a fantastic school, our kids got such a good education there, and we've still loads of friends there, so we went along to that. IP kept whispering in my ear "you should be at home, doing more notes" . Guess what? Going out was the best thing I did all week- showed me there is more to life than WSE's. And guess what else? Our team WON! I feel a bit of a fraud saying "our team", cos in reality I contributed very little. I have no memory for general knowledge, but luckily Hubby is my opposite on that front, and a friend at the table could fill in the gaps in his knowledge. So the other friend and myself got to sit back and enjoy the night, and the team came home with 4 lovely bottles of wine for our efforts!

Plus I won this prize in the raffle.




Would you like to see what's inside? Of course!






Just what I need, and even though I could easily make these myself, it's nice sometimes to use something made by another. And Rose oil is one of my favourites!


So, it has been a good week, if a busy one.


I just hope that I can do myself and my school justice in next week's evaluation. My job doesn't depend on it, but my pride does.