Emma-Lou - Look At You!

So we've just booked our week away!  A cottage in Devon, we've been to Devon a few times with the kids now.  Bideford has been great, but we've decided to head further south this time, well that should be we're braving a longer car journey with Willow!  So we've booked a little place called Brixham; by account "The English Riviera".  All seems very twee, the cottage of a good standard, has a telly and wifi.  We'll have a lovely time, does it feel like a holiday if you don't get on a plane? Mmmmmm it certainly has a different feel to it, as carefrees with no children Mr. C and I had a fair few holidays and city breaks, you know jetting off (well to Bruges, Zante and Amsterdam).  We did favour the Greek islands, all very relaxing, sunny, beachy, exotic, non-british, you know abroad.....  We have been up up and away with the children, Crete, Lanzarote and Menorca. They were very nice, a good break, but somewhat stressful.  Why is that?  C

So, School holiday's coming up, I do have to work some of it, and have a holiday to South Devon booked towards the end of August. But there's still a lot of days left to fill, I haven't got pots of money to spend on days out.... I will spend up in Drayton Manor and the like I'm sure (perhaps having to re-mortgage the house...). However I am lucky that my impoverished children like a trip out that costs nil: museums, libraries, art galleries, a little ride on the bus (although bus fare is nearly as expensive as air travel in Manchester).  Where we live in Manchester, we're lucky to have brilliant park action going.  On Instagram, I've been charting my park activities, not a single person is interested mind, but I'll share on here my park summer tour to date.  Bad Mother, I do take beers.... Round-about and Round-about Park Selfie (have to... sorry it's an affliction I have!) Phwoarh handsome husband alert Sorry I am a gobsh

I was chatting to pal just back from Glastonbury; she was full of it, really buzzing from her first festival experience, she's  not dead old or that, but she said it was on her sort of bucket list, got me thinking.... What's my bucket list, so I'm 35... by the time I'm 55: 1.  I'd like to see an Ashes test match in Australia.  2.  Tour through Europe, take a few weeks from work, fly into France, then train it across the continent, stopping and staying as the mood took me (this is a pipe dream, there's no way I'd ever not have a hotel pre-booked... my biggest fear.... I'd end up in one of those.... *breathe*... hostels.... shudder).  3. Learn to play an instrument of some sort, I've toyed with the acoustic guitar, but I'd have to shorten down my nails.... I just couldn't do it!  4.  Learn to swim properly, I currently can manage 60 seconds of breast stroke; but I don't look great, I look like I'm drowning.  5.  Finish my OU E