It doesn’t seem like a whole month has gone by since my May post, probably because we spent all of June travelling and time flies so quickly in new places.
We are feeling pretty good that we survived a month away from home with an eight month old. In fact I think survive is too negative a word, Felicity loved being out and about all day and seeing new things, she genuinely seemed to thrive on it. She even slept better than she ever has before for a good portion of the trip – teeth have now wrecked that happy spell sadly. I’m hoping her early adaptability is a sign she will be a traveller when she’s older, and that we haven’t put her off with the epic car journeys that she was distinctly unimpressed with (screamed her lungs out at) by the end of the month.
Obviously almost everything is new when you’re a baby, but there have been lots of firsts for her on this trip. First train ride, first time up a mountain, first sight of the sea and first time on a beach. Weaning continues apace and being out so much has meant she has tried a variety of things, there have been some unexpected successes: Venison (she’s clearly training to be a tiny Tudor monarch), raw onion, rocket, spring onion mash and fried bread all were received with enthusiasm; grapefruit was the only real failure and her expression when she tried it was amazing!
Having grandparents around for two of the weeks we were away also meant Will and I managed our first meal out as a couple since Felicity was born, and even managed to get a sauna, hot tub and swim on our own whilst in Northumberland. It was rather heavenly to reconnect as adults rather than just parents for even a short time.
Then there was, of course, the EU Referendum, and the subsequent apparent disintegration of UK politics. I was upset at the result, but I was also not very surprised either. I can’t work out whether it is more depressing I always thought that it might go this way or if I was saved the nasty shock that it did. I still count myself very much as a European and am just praying that the impacts are not as terrible as predicted. On a personal level I am so sad that people I care about have been affected by the anti-immigration tone of it all. Several friends are now in limbo due to jobs being funded by the EU, couples from different nations are worried about residency and what it will mean for them, it just seems like a terrible mess.
The continuing depressing news, and the end of our holidays, meant it was rather back to earth with a bump when we got home properly at the beginning of July. Will was back at his desk on Monday morning and I was completely solo parenting for the first time in almost a month, I had some work admin to sort out urgently and slightly unexpectedly and then the dreaded teeth made themselves known. Lunch was cooked and then abandoned on Monday for both me and Felicity as all she wanted was cuddles and quiet. Back to reality! This is my excuse for why this end of June post is going up a week late…
Home, make, be 