This week has been book-ended by gatherings – an upbeat (albeit bittersweet) one last weekend for the Land’s End – John O’Groats Association annual awards and a sadder one yesterday being with my extended family for my Auntie Peggy’s funeral. It’s been an emotional week, reliving quite a lot of memories: our two end-to-end journeys, previous awards weekends (the first of which Jessica was there for), and memories of family occasions and visits with my auntie.
The LEJOG Association weekend is always an interesting one and I love hearing the stories of the various end-to-end journeys that have been done over the past year. This year, the trophy for the youngest person to do the journey (which Sophie won back in 2017) was an 8-year-old girl who had walked it with her dad. There was also a 9-year-old boy who cycled it with his dad last year and is planning to do the same again this year, and a couple who did the journey three times last year (the first by paddleboarding, then walking the return journey, then cycling the journey again!). Amazing. Everyone was really friendly and it was nice to catch up with people that we’ve got to know through having been at previous awards weekends.
There was sadness yesterday when the family came together to say their goodbyes to Auntie Peggy, my mum’s older sister. My mum’s family is a very large one – she is the second-youngest of 11 children, although there are now only four of them still living, three of whom (including my mum) were at the funeral. I have a lot of cousins on that side of the family and it was nice to catch up with some of them although I wish it wasn’t a sad occasion that had brought us together. Sadly, it often seems to be the main reason we do see each other these days though.
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 34 – I am grateful that the daffodils I brought Jessica today will last a little longer than most of the flowers I bring her as the deer don’t like eating them.
- Day 35 – I am grateful for a lovely evening at the Land’s End – John O’Groats Association annual dinner.
- Day 36 – I am grateful that all the home learning for this half-term is now done.
- Day 37 – I am grateful that Thomas enjoyed getting creative with shapes.
- Day 38 – I am grateful for the excitement of Daddy coming home with fun things from an event.
- Day 39 – I am grateful that I now have all my costumes ready for show week. Only 2 weeks to go until opening night!
- Day 40 – I am grateful for being able to be with my uncle, aunties, cousins, mum and siblings today, remembering Auntie Peggy with much love.
Other things that have made me smile this week:
- Having good traffic both getting to Torquay and coming home which meant that we were there in time for dinner on Friday night (which is a first for us) and were back in plenty of time for Sophie’s first Chitty rehearsal on Sunday afternoon.
- Spending time on the beach at Torquay, building sandcastles, paddling (in wellies!), drawing in the sand and flying a toy glider.
- Playing crazy golf.
- Sorting out some of the clutter in the house.
The importance of good traffic really can never be overstressed!
Absolutely! 🙂
I am sorry about your Aunt. It is sad that these occasions are the only time we catch up with some of our families. The dinner sounds like a lovely evening out and the kids look like they really enjoyed the beech and golf 🙂
Thank you, yes it is sad that these kind of occasions do often end up being the only time we catch up.
Funerals do seem the only time everyone gets together, especially if they are spread around the country. I’m sorry for your loss and I’m sure you gave her a lovely send off. You really did bookend the week with gatherings. The LEJOG must be a lovely and uplifting evening, as well as a reminder of good times for you. I’d love to do the route one day. Thomas looks like he is having fun on the beach.
Thank you, it was a lovely send-off as these things go, and it was nice to see my cousins in spite of the sad reason for getting together.
Sending love and hugs. It does sound like an emotional week.
The LEJOG dinner does sound interesting and a fun event. So sorry about your Auntie Peggy. x
Thanks Kim x
I’m glad you had a lovely evening at the John o Groats awards, but sorry to hear about your auntie’s passing. The last time I saw my cousins was at a funeral. That’s an interesting fact about daffodils.
Thanks Anne. Funerals do tend to be the only time I see some of my cousins too.
I’m sorry to hear about your Aunt. She for sure is smiling at you from above.
Thank you Kyram x
Nice to be able to see family even though it wasn’t under the best of circumstances.
We love a bit of crazy golf although we’ve not played for a while.
It was nice to catch up. Hopefully next time will be a happier occasion.
Sorry to hear about your Aunt. It must have been bittersweet to catch up with relatives. We are the same now, it is either weddings or funerals and there seem to be more of the latter. Love that Sophie is doing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – I’d love to do that. My kids are doing Shrek Jr
Thank you. Hope that all is going well with Shrek Jr.
Sorry to hear about your Aunt. Sadly it does seem to be mainly funerals when everyone gets together.
Glad there wasn’t much traffic for your trip!
Thank you – funerals are definitely the main time we catch up these days but hopefully we’ll have a happier event next time to meet up at.
In the last decade we have been blessed with lots of births in the family but most of the times that we get together have been funerals sadly. I am doing LEJOG virtually and would love to do it for real one day. #project365
Lovely to have lots of births but it is sad that funerals tend to be the main reason for meeting up. Good luck with your virtual LEJOG. I’ve done it twice by train and bus but would love to walk it one day.
Sorry to read about your aunt. Both of my parents come from large families and we only see each other at sad events. The John O’Groats Association sounds like an interesting gathering. Who knew you could travel that distance som many ways? #WotW
Thank you, yes it’s interesting hearing about how people do the journey in so many different ways!