thisissue

Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T14:30:00.000+00:00

Now working full time in Year2 this is my 3rd year. Not sure infants are my thing but I still persevere!!
Family is growing up and becoming more independent. Cath is living in Sheffiled, Chris has a girlfriend and Phil has gone to university.

March 2011

2011-03-27T11:12:00.001+01:00

Here we are start of spring again.. thought I might add updates.
The photo was taken at Christmas to celebrate Phil's 18th birthday at Silversmiths.
So far 2011 has been a good year. All of us are healthy and working.
Phil is preparing for university next year. Richard has retired from his job at the pupil referral unit and is now doing some 1;1 tuition with primary school children.
I am enjoying a smaller class and a bit more work life balance!!!

March 2011

2011-03-27T11:09:00.001+01:00

family at york

2010-07-24T20:19:00.000+01:00

What a lovely photo here of our two youngest!!
We were in York for a family gathering to celebrate the publishing of uncle Martin's book.

Good holiday weather and lovely walks....

2009-08-09T19:22:00.004+01:00

Just had a lovely week in the Yorkshire Dales with good weather,fantastic scenery and good company.
The Dales really are a fantastically scenic place full of charm and character, which we have thoroughly enjoyed.

Summer Again

2009-07-28T22:51:00.002+01:00

Here we are two weeks into the holidays and still no sign of using suntan cream!! What happened to the long hot summer.
This year we are holidaying in England the first week without the kids in the Yorkshire Dales the second one to Cornwall with Catherine,Jimmi and Phil. Let's hope the weather hots up or at least the persistent rain stops!
Chris is staying here with Phil for company hope the house is still in one piece when we return!!

unlucky blackburns........

2009-06-18T22:45:00.002+01:00

This has been a week of mixed emotions. At work we have had yet another review and we managed to improve all of our teaching, but still our results let us down!It seems the harder we work the longer it takes to gain success!!
I missed the best mark by a whisker... then it has been followed by Chris missing success in the next stage of his application to join the Police force by just 4%.
Let's hope lady luck changes her mind soon

holiday rain..

2009-05-25T21:21:00.001+01:00

We were lulled into a false sense by this weekend's weather, now however it is just back to rain!!!!!

easter 2009

2009-04-09T21:43:00.000+01:00

Here we are again admiring the coming of Spring,tidying the garden, walking

Sue's 25 things you might like to know about her......

2009-02-28T21:31:00.002+00:00

I am who I am and proud of it…

My children continue to delight me, make me feel sad, entertain me with their lives and frustrate me with their failures!!!
I am outwardly confident, but quite easily put down.
I am loyal and supportive to friends, family and colleagues,
I have a great network of good friends who rallied round during my crises.
I have a good sense of humour and able to have a good time, even though I lack the energy these days.
My husband keeps my feet firmly planted on the ground and does everything I hate to do….
I enjoy my job and find teaching children a constant surprise, not all pleasant I may add.
I can be very hard on myself and prone to self doubt.

10.I am not good at secrets….all my kids will tell you that!!

11.I have lived longer in South Yorkshire than anywhere else

and have a good accent to prove it.

12. I would like to travel more but don’t have the money.

13. I would like my children to achieve all their dreams and live happy healthy

14. How difficult is this I have just got past half way and am struggling…….

15 I wish I could overcome my fears.

16 I need to get fitter but lack the energy and don’t like doing it alone.

17 I love all sweet things which is my downfall.

18 My obsession with colour matching can sometimes hamper me.

19 I would like to be very good at just one thing in my life!!

20. My technological skills aren’t too bad for my age, but my family disagree.

21. I regret that some of my family live too far away to pop in for a chat.

22. I look forward to being a grandparent but not just yet!!

23. I like entertaining and consider myself quite good at cooking and Richard is even better at the clearing up!!

24 My new hair is a pain and now I understand what my brother and sister have had to put up with all these years!!

25. I love reading but mostly popular fiction as my days of serious stuff are over although maybe after doing all of this I could take it up again!!!

Growing up...........

2009-01-01T16:01:00.001+00:00

Philip all dressed up for his Year 11 ball in his first suit!!

Boxing day delights

2008-12-29T17:27:00.001+00:00

Here we all are in our conservatory playing ARTICULATE which had some very funny moments,the age span of our contestants were from 12 to 80 so we were well represented,and lets' say the team with the oldest members in won by a whisker!!

December parties...

2008-12-13T16:30:00.005+00:00

You know you're getting old when you go to a birthday party with your daughter dressed in fancy dress as a Domi-Matrix and then you are the first to leave!!
This was quite a memorable party as we have known the twins since they were babies...where have all the blond curls and pink dresses gone I wonder?

building starts

2008-11-14T23:12:00.000+00:00

Here it is the first part of the portugal property project.. How long i wonder?

Think Pink

2008-10-17T21:44:00.002+01:00

Today at school we managed to raise £70 for Weston Park cancer hospital where I had all my treatment. I was touched by the staff's enthusiasm for all things pink and pleased we made a statement together. It was nice to feel part of it all and amazing that so many people contributed!!

family likeness

2008-10-07T19:14:00.000+01:00

Any Tunnicliffes out there reading this....My family have always said I look like Auntie Sal!!
Any takers?

80 th Birthday celebrations........

2008-09-22T10:31:00.002+01:00

We have just celebrated Dad's 80th birthday a great achievement for all. Andrew and family were able to share the weekend with us, all the way from New Zealand and it was lovely to see their twins enjoying time with the English cousins. Unfortunately as with most big families we had several members missing, for one reason or another, however we continue to think of them all.

Time ..stretching?

2008-09-12T20:48:00.003+01:00

We've been back at work for 2 weeks now...why does it feel like 6 ?Good point ...it's nice to be part of a team again.
Bad point .. if you are not careful it takes over your life.
I have declared this weekend a school free one,as I have Monday morning off I will do all my work then!!
That's my plan anyway..watch this space.

Happy times.....July 2008

2008-08-31T13:04:00.002+01:00

This was a very large pizza............

End of summer holidays...

2008-08-31T12:50:00.003+01:00

Tomorrow we go back to work.Things we have done...
After our lovely hot relaxing holiday we thought we would catch up with jobs that needed doing in the house, so we have new paint on ceilings,in the Hall,Kitchen and Bathroom,new paint in the Conservatory,downstairs toilet,Sitting room and gloss paint on all Hall and landing doors. The final job being the outside wooden windows, which meant sleeping one night without side windows (not to be recommended). My contribution in all this has been to supply constant drinks and food and dish out the occasional advice.
The funny thing is I only wanted to have the dining room decorated and needless to say that is still in its original condition...oh well

Birthday treats

2008-08-09T09:48:00.002+01:00

Yesterday was Richard's birthday, so I decided to treat him to a surprise meal out. this was the first time in 28 years of marriage I had ever done anything like this and now I know why I haven't done it before.
He was clearly uneasy about the whole thing... his first comment.. I don't like surprises!!
The questions were;
Who else is coming?
Do I have to wear smart clothing, I thought shorts would be ok!!
You're not going to try to park on Eccleshall Road are you?
Do you know where you are going? (at this point I had taken a wrong turning off Eccleshall Road)
You could have let me drive...(doing a u turn in the jaguar garage!!!)
If it's near the pub... you need to go further on...
Anyway once seated in the Mediterranean ( a restaurant that specialises in fish...) he quickly said to the waiter I'm driving!!!
So was it the fact that he didn't know where he was going, or just my driving that spooked him!!
Or do I just resign myself to living with a control freak!!

PS. the meal was lovely..Richard had Seafood salad which included a baby octopus followed by Red Mullet and I had baby aubergines followed by duck and caramelised onions.

Holidays....

2008-08-01T20:45:00.002+01:00

We have just spent a lovely 9 days in Portugal,some of them at this cottage, with its beautiful views over towards the sea. At times I had to pinch myself and remember where I was at this time last year......

one week and one day..

2008-07-12T09:13:00.002+01:00

Am counting down now.. am proud of myself for:
keeping going
changing classrooms
not being ill again
managing the family and school
ready now for the last week at school then a quick get away...

half way there..

2008-06-25T19:25:00.002+01:00

Managed to get to half way of the term, only 3 and a half weeks left.Last week I had my check up and all is well.So now we wait for August and the next mammogram followed by a visit to the Prof in September. I am feeling much better this week although tiredness does get me down a bit.The family is all home and the house is full of boxes and washing.....

Barbeque season...

2008-06-15T19:31:00.003+01:00

We have now entered the official BBQ season which means as soon as you invite people for a pre-arranged BBQ (or go to one yourselves) the weather takes on an arctic feel, but being good British citizens you wear your summer frocks/shorts and sit there with teeth chattering, till some one suggests you go inside, then you spend the next few hours thawing out.Does this sound familiar?

ps Next event is Wimbledon anyone for rain?