A birthday treat for me

Knowing that Christmas Eve was going to be very busy at Church

 we celebrated my 47th birthday a day early -

with a trip to Llandudno (our favourite place) -

 for our favourite treats.

 

Last minute Christmas shopping at Waterstones -

 Fish and chips (fish and salad for me) at Tribells -

Crepes, sundaes and a banana split at Looking Glass -

and a walk along the sea front in the sunshine.

 

Heavenly!

 

 

 

Christingles and New Song

The first day of the Christmas Holidays
(for me at least - Megs has been home since Saturday -

 Ben did his last afternoon in college on Monday and Al is still in work today)

 

In the morning I met Jude for a coffee and a walk

 

In the afternoon we made the Christingles for Christmas Eve

 

And the evening was a wonderfully, blessed time at New Song Café.

 

 

 

The Last Jedi

Christmas shopping and tea in Liverpool One -

 

Followed by "The Last Jedi" -

Are you a fan said the young chap who sold the tickets -

well..... only since I saw Star Wars when I was 7 years old!

 

The last time we will see my beloved Leia -

my forever princess.

 

 

 

 

Results!

While Ben is away adventuring in Switzerland with Aquila Explorers -

 (today he was in the snow and inside a glacier at Jungfraujoch) - 

I got to pick up his GCSE results.

I am so proud of him -

 7 (A) for Maths ,3's (D's) for English Lit and Lang, B for Science, D for Humanities, Merits for PE and iMedia and a pass for ICT !

When I think back to all the years of battling to get him the correct diagnosis and support - 

when I remember all the worries and traumas of Nursery and Primary School -

today the high school Senco recalled reading Ben's statement when she first met him - 

and her concern about how the school would meet his needs.

Then she said "He did it all himself"

And then I cried -

Because he really is a wonderful young man

Sadly the 3's in English proved to be a barrier to starting a Level 3 course in ICT -

 but after a day of battling at the Sixth Form College, and a bit of a strategic maneuvering on my part  

Ben will be starting a Level 2 course in Engineering, which I think he will really enjoy - 

plus there is a bonus that one of the lecturers is a family friend.

Plus we now have an agreement that he can move to a Level 3 course next September, even if he still hasn't got a 4 in English after retaking it. 

I'm calling that a win for us.

Ben is back on Saturday - 

but I've already had a text conversation with him - 

and he is happy about the course - if not about having to retake English.

Roll on September  - and new opportunities.

Clare, Emma and Titus!

With Ben still off at KISC Megs and I had a day trip to Stratford to see my lovely friend Clare, my Goddaughter Emma and Clare's mum Gill.

We had a wonderful day of strolls, lunch, coffee and cakes.

In the evening Megs and I saw Titus Andronicus at the RSC -

£10 teacher tickets for great seats :)

The play was very dark - but also very funny - a clever trick to pull off.

It was a long trip home - much of the M6 down to one lane, so it was 1.30 before we arrived back!

Ben at KISC

Pictures of Ben at KISC - collected from various facebook and twitter accounts :)

Great to be able to see some of the things he is up too!

Sunday afternoon at Quarry Bank Mill

With Ben off at KISC in Switzwerland - 

and Megs staying in Sheffield for the weekend -

after church we went to the National Trust Quarry Bank Mill in Styal.

Lunch in the new garden cafe -

then two woodland walks along the river Bollin -

with a stop for afternoon tea in the mill cafe on the way.