C-bomb.

It's only Wednesday and it's already shaping up to be a very strange week. On Monday came the news that a friend had passed away after her fight with cancer. And boy did that woman give it some.Then yesterday, well it just felt weird. Trying to act all normal and happy at work when really I just wanted to go home and have a good cry felt more than a little strange.

Today does feel a little different though. The news has settled and as I'm not trying to put on a false smile on for anyone, things are feeling more as they should. So onwards and upwards I suppose. In the meantime I know that Dan and I will never forget the special woman who left us in awe at the positivity and gumption she showed throughout the whole thing.

Cancer. You really are a cunt.

Camping Wishlist

It's that time of year again and that means lugging the camping gear down from the attic, dusting it off and wondering for the millionth time where the bloody poles/tent pegs/sleeping bags are.

In a week's time we'll be taking Alessi to her first festival and I cannot flipping wait! We have decided though that our current tent is on the small side for the three of us so have decided to upgrade. WOO!

We had a look over the weekend and decided that we wanted one that a) had a separate area for Alessi to sleep in, b) had a living area large enough to hang out in comfortably when the weather turns sour and c) something big enough for Dan to stand up in without hitting his head. We've found one that fits the bill perfectly. Now if Millets can just pull their fingers out and send it out that would be bloody awesome.

As my visual wish list at the top of this post shows, some of the other things I'm convinced we need* are:

1. Camping table
2. Head torch
3. Gardening trolley - yes we're becoming those campers that pull their kid around a festival site in a trolley. Not even remotely sorry.
4. Tent - Millets, I'm looking at you guys here. Fingers. Pull them out.
5. Glow sticks - FANTASTIC means of distraction and amusement for children after dark
6. Flexi bucket because they are so useful to lug stuff about it. 
7. Kettle - my last one broke and I get ragey without coffee. Even at a festival.
8. Cupboard unit - Ok so you may have noticed that not all of these things are essential for camping at a festival. I still want one of these things though for general camping. I am beyond sick of having bags, plates, food etc littering the living area. Not to mention tripping over the lot of it during night time loo trips. I need one of these cupboard things.
9. Portable phone charger. Because duh.

I have to admit. As well as being super excited to take Alessi, I'm also a little anxious. Not that it will be stressful, but that she won't enjoy herself. I remember the last time I felt like this was when I first went camping with Dan. I was convinced he'd hate it and I'll never forget how happy it made me when he said he genuinely enjoyed it. And baring in mind his first camping experience was a Glastonbury festival which was a complete wash out, that was really something!

I really hope Alessi loves this as much as I do because it would be something great to share together in years to come. She loves camping in general though so hopefully she'll love this experience too. 

Fingers crossed!

*The husband questions my use of the word "need" here.

Sunshine and juggernauts

Well how the bloody hell is everybody? I'm like a pig in mud over here at the moment. This weather suits me well and despite not having been camping at all this year (pull your finger out, Kim), I have to say I'm holding up well. To be fair, we will be going to a small festival at the end of the month so I'll be able to scratch the camping itch then. It will be Alessi's first festival too and I can't bloody wait!

Although I haven't had much time to think about it or make sure we've got everything we need. *cough* TENT! *cough*
As far as the shop goes, I've been busy pulling together a rough plan for autumn. After taking the impromptu break earlier this year I really want to add some new stuff now. Yes, yes I know what I said; "things are going to be slow for the rest of the year.." yadda, yadda, yadda. In my defence, it still will be. I'm just talking about a few new items for the autumn, a couple more to hit the shop before then. Just enough to keep me out of trouble really.

It can't be much more than that as I want to work on some other more mundane 'home' stuff before the winter sets in and forces us all indoors again. The memory of last winter and how bloody long it felt is still very fresh so I want to do everything I can to make sure it's less, well depressing.

Which brings me to a thought I had earlier which came crashing through my brain like some kind of rude arsing juggernaut; this winter will be the last one where it will just be me and Roo at home together. Next year she will be at school and the baby/toddler part of her life will be over forever.

CRASH!

Now if you don't have kids, I'll spare you details of the lump that caught in my throat, the water that threatened to seep from my eye holes or the fact that I am now fucking TERRIFIED.
I'll just end this post by saying that it's made me realise that time is precious blah, blah, blah and I need to make the most of it, blah, blah, blah.

Just as soon as I can scrape my body from the metaphorical tarmac.