how did a week come and go?

Time travels too fast. A week already since I last posted.

wild and woolly on the beach

charming - self-portrait found on my camera - by Tiggy

It's been a busy week. One evening and most of the next day taken up with adoption playshops conducted with Jane Brown. It was just amazing and although Tiggy coped with the sessions, I was a blithering mess for two days afterwards.

Our children have so much that they will have to contend with in their lives. Extra layers that children living with their birth families, will never have to even think about. In spite of the playshop being brilliant it left me feeling somewhat inadequate and completely unprepared and unqualified to be my children's mother. Both Tigs and I were really exhausted me emotionally and Tigs probably physically too. The children's session was quite active with tug-of-war and 'adoption power' chants!! Having spoken to some of the other mum's who went with their children too it seems we shared similar experiences.

dear little one

just scootin' around

By Friday I pulled myself together a bit, although the magnitude of it all is still with me - no hang on I was still a mess.

I must have pulled myself together by Saturday. That's right, I did! Flossy and I went to see a movie. I haven't been for too long. We saw Coco avant Chanel. Wonderful. Beautiful. French. Audrey Tautou every bit as lovely as you'd expect.

The story of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel before the rest of the world knew about her. Her rise from humble, unfortunate beginnings. Her exotic, rebellious, daring, journey to her success and permanent place in fashion history. It is beautifully filmed against simple French backdrops with Audrey Tautou capturing Coco’s wild, determined yet feminine and elegant personality (what a bundle of contradictions she was).

On Sunday Twinkle turned 11 months.

my how you're growing baby girl

We left early for breakfast at the beach – something we did every weekend before children – and a lovely, freezing walk along the beach afterwards, Tigs scooting, Greg and I walking and Twinks, well she was fast asleep!

On Monday we had a fun three year old party. Trains galore, happy children everywhere, super-fun activities set up by Annie so that the children were busy and the mummy's enjoyed themselves too.

Back soon with a new apron. I’m helping my friend Lisa learn to use her new sewing machine this week and told her today that we’re going to make one start to finish.

And that, my friends, is how a week evaporates!