Frank and Josie's House

Hi all. It's taken me forever to do a blogpost because life has been busy! There's been crochet (obviously), kids away on school trips, me being ill (again!!!), visitors, organising holidays and housesitters...all very first world problems. But I know you're all desperate to here about what I've been up to so here it is: We tool our visitors into Toulouse for a little bimble. It was a lovely, easy trip and we found some beautiful side streets and ended up having lunch by a haberdashery and yarn shop. It's like I was drawn to it. I picked some gooseberries from our bush. The juice didn't get further than this as I fell ill but it is waiting for me in the freezer to do something with. What a wonderful colour! Oh so much gorgeous nature and beauty around us. It's bloody hot and we're all getting used to sweating (urgh!) but it does produce some wonderful things like cicadas singing in our garden and many, many flowers on our school run. Yes, one day I had...

Hi all. I was tempted to start with post with an apology for not posting the last couple of weeks and then realised it was unnecessary. You are an understanding lot and won't mind that. Especially when I tell you it's been busy as we've had visitors but also I've been suffering with my endometriosis symptoms these last couple of weeks. It's difficult having a toddler and permanent back pain plus fatigue. But it was worth struggling through to see my sister and her family. I'm close to my sister so it was important that she and her family visit us here. We've gone from living 70 miles and one and a half hours away to 500 miles and a one and half hour flight. A slight difference. She also suffers from a long-term illness so at times we became “old women”. and sat on the sofa chatting with knitting needles in hand...well she knitted and I crocheted but that doesn't read as well. We had a lovely week with them. It was U.K. Easter holidays but not French East...

One of my aims for this year is to reduce our plastic usage as a family. I have been thinking on it for some time and just watching the final episode of Blue Planet 2 clinched it for me. As a race we humans use too much plastic and we have become so used to it that we don't even think of it anymore. Plastic is everywhere! From toothbrushes to food packages. From DVD cases to picture frames. From plant pots to toilet seats. From baby bottles to toys. It's even making crochet hooks. I understand why: it's versatile. It can be any colour, it lasts for ages and is waterproof. It can be different thicknesses and have different flexibility depending on what you need. It can be big or small. I can understand why we've become so dependent on plastic as a material. But you know all this. You can see it for yourself. Hell, let's be honest, you're probably reading this on a smart phone or tablet and there's a high probability that that device has a plastic cover on it....

Sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't. Sometimes it's a minor setback and sometimes not. And some days you just need to give in and have that extra sleep, watch the tv and just be who you are in yourself. Not someone's mum or wife, sister or friend. Not someone who constantly needs to do something for other people but just you being you. Sometimes your brain needs it and sometimes your body does. Some days the hoovering can be ignored. Some days the washing can be left where it is. It's ok to have those days, those days when the most you do is play tea parties with your toddler in her play tent. I truly believe all that. So why do I find it so hard to except for myself? Rose makes the tea I have to start admitting to myself that I have a long-term illness which can flare up unexpectedly and throw all my plans out the window. So my plans for today (which were pretty mundane) are now passed over to my husband. I always feel incredibly guilty for this. I see i...

I am fed up of illness in our household! I knew we'd be affected by all these new germs what with the kids starting another new school earlier this month but I'd like one week where someone isn't home sick or in pain. Merida stayed home with laryngitis all last week. A couple of times we weren't sure if we should have pushed her out the door and demanded she go to school, but after she fell back to sleep on both days for at least 3 or 4 hours we knew she still wasn't right. Now it's little Rose's turn. She's like her mum and not good or patient with being ill. She was up every hour in the night so this morning's alarm clock ringing was a bit of a shocker. Poor Frank trudged off to work looking so tired, but he reassures me they have nice coffee at work so at least he'll survive the day...if be a little high on caffeine when he gets home. And then there's Finn. Good old Finn who gets on with stuff in a happy way he so often gets ignored. Latel...

Well hello and a Happy New year to you all. I had wanted to write this post a few days ago but I've had difficulty getting going since we've been back home in France. We are all still recovering from the long drive through France...well, the long drive both ways and driving lots when back in the U.K. All-in-all we drove over 2,500 miles! Sheesh no wonder we were tired. Since we've returned the big kids have started a new school and it's been Merida's birthday. All have gone fantastically well but it has meant that Frank and I haven't stopped long enough to recover yet. But that is what this coming weekend is for. [caption id="attachment_1621" align="alignright" width="493"] Playing in the waves[/caption] We had a lovely Christmas and New Year and managed to see everyone we had planned to and we even sneaked in a bit of relaxation time in front of my parent's fire, next to their gorgeous Christmas tree. Not much relaxation time ...

Making sure those important letters get there.  Well it's just one week to go. Are you ready? It's one of those annoying facts of growing up which means Christmas becomes more about the organisation than the magic but that's part of the trick isn't it: keeping the magic alive for the children and (more than a little bit) for myself. I love Christmas but organising ourselves to make sure we have everything in order to spend Christmas 500 miles way from our now home is a bit of a military operation. I've single-handedly  kept Amazon in business for another year and made sure things get to the right addresses. I normally like to check Amazon packages in advance of gifting  but I'm having to trust this year. Anything that's not right is just too bad (there's always the return button). My dad told me the guest double bed at their house is covered in packages. (I'm always a bit dubious with the amount of packing that Amazon use as I think it's more th...

Firstly a quick catch up. You may recall (if you've come across my blog before) that I've been having abdominal issues. When we were still in the U.K. it was still undiagnosed despite a laparoscopy and many tests and scans. Well the short version is that I have endometriosis. I've basically diagnosed myself by putting together all the facts. I know diagnosing oneself when there is no medical training can be dangerous but let me reassure you that I have had this listed as a possibility. After my laparoscopy I was told I had some endometriosis but not enough to cause the pain I was having. Having looked at a few websites I pieced the puzzle together to discover this has been an issue for 16 years and been missed time and again. The best explanation of what this disease is is this: "Endometriosis can be a distressing disease affecting women's health. It can cause the most excruciating pain and in some women it appears to trigger fertility or infertility problems or as...

This is not an easy post to write. I've had a couple of false starts and being open and honest, whilst it's great and what I preach and teach, it's not easy. Some of you will remember from past posts that I suffer with depression and anxiety. It's a fact, a fact I don't like but it's my life. To those who are new to my site then I should tell you I have no medical training whatsoever and my way of dealing with axniety is my personal way. If you need medical help then I suggest you seek it out. If my story helps you then I'm pleased and my heart goes out to you. Helping people is what I love to do. However, solmetimes I find it hard to just help myself. I feel a bit broken. Like my ipad which I managed to drop on our lovely tiled floor the other day and smash the screen to bits. I fear I'm not making much sense so I shall try and explain. This week the kids went to school for the first time since our big move to France. It was hard and the best way I can ...