The Gallery - Something beautiful

...yes, I know, another sunrise - a few years of blogging and I'm getting pretty predictable! Give me a photo prompt like 'something beautiful' and I can't help thinking Sky. Again.

Thing is, if I see one like this I just want to try to catch it. To catch that beautiful, magical, fleeting moment. Always lifts my spirits, unless I've forgotten to bring the blinking camera.

It is another school run photo; another, 'Hurry up mum, we're going to be LATE!' photo. Definitely one of the benefits of being up and on the road so early, though not sure the kids would agree…

Many more beautiful things over at The Gallery

Early Bird

another school run photo, and when it comes to early morning skies, there have been some right stunners this month...obviously some pretty dismal, depressing ones too, but thought I'd focus on the good days, in a cup half full kind of way.

I know it doesn't get the best press, November - the first real icy blast of winter and fading autumn colour, yet for me it's more than just the dull inbetweener because it's my birthday month. Not that I get remotely excited about that anymore, but it's never a month I wish away either.

We pick up a friend's son a few times a week, and this is the sky view just past their house. Well, sometimes it is, when the clouds lift high enough to let the light shine through.When the weather's good there's that moment of anticipation as we turn onto the road heading due east, and get our first proper look at the sun rising behind the hills. Even more spectacular when the clouds catch the colours. For a minute on a chilly November morning it drowns out the racket in the back of the car and never fails to lift my spirits.
Hope ahead.

The Gallery theme this week is November

Jumping back in - part 2

I almost sobbed when I caught a brief glimpse of the kid's old school bus on friday;
gone are the days of waving them off at 8.35 in my slippers, before a 30 second amble back to the house.

Things couldn't be more different.

They're all at new schools, we're out the door at 7.20, and every week day I'm going to be in the car for over two hours, FOR EVER. Well that's what it feels like. The years of school runs are stretching before me.

But hey, it was our choice; and the problem with having it easy for so long was I was getting lazy. Some days I didn't leave the house. Some days I didn't see anyone apart from the kids and Beryl the bus driver.

How lucky was I getting all that time and space during the day? And no complaints about avoiding the school gate malarky either; but the more time I spent on my own, the less effort I was making to go out, anywhere. It really was next stop Hermitsville.
I also found I was getting less done at home. Things were starting to drift. It was time for a change.

So my plan is to squeeze every drop of positive out of our new daily routine. I needed a kick up the arse, and maybe this'll do it.

Totally out of the blue I got some work over the summer. Up to now I've talked a good game, then fear of failure has made me back off before things got too real. This time I didn't get the chance to wiggle out of it because it all happened so fast. Nothing very exciting, just some voice over work for a legal firm. But it's a start, I can fit into my day, and I'm in the early stages of setting up a website, which is going to be interesting for a techy biff like me. I will definitely need some help.

The other thing I'd really like to do, though does sound a bit lofty, is turn my Roll up to the Zoo posts into a kid's craft book. I haven't a clue how to go about it, but it's got to be worth a try?

Makes me laugh sometimes when I think how this blog has morphed into a glorified excuse to spend more time in charity shops, make soft toys, and fashion zoo animals out of loo rolls.

It has become a rather accurate reflection of the big kid that I am. But maybe some of it will lead somewhere? It's all stuff I love.

Anyway, lots to think about during the long school run.

Everything's a bit up in the air at the moment.

UP!