![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
londonronnieMy LJ has been filled with sadness recently, and sometimes it's difficult to remember that there are still good things happening in my life.
The best and happiest of those things is this little angel - my new granddaughter, Annie Mae, who was born on 1st June!
She's such a happy smiling little thing, and it's a joy to watch her and big sister Izzy laughing at each other.
What other good things have happened? Well, back in May I had a great weekend meeting up with fellow Pros fans at WINK. And as an added bonus we had our Sunday lunch at a Pros location, the Metropolitan Police Sports Club in Bushey, otherwise known as the cricket ground where Bodie almost got his century in Blood Sports!
Another good thing - I've just come back from two weeks holiday in Brighton. Not our usual type of holiday, I have to admit - no yomping across the countryside, or exploring the streets of London, which is our usual thing. We had an ulterior motive though, we were actually there carrying out a recce to help us decide whether we fancied renting a flat there for six months next year. We're still tossing up whether to plump for Brighton or London at the moment, but I think Brighton is winning out. We like the town very much, the rented accommodation is considerably cheaper, and we could still be up to London on the train in less than an hour. The South Downs are right on the doorstep too, and we quite fancy exploring that area. So, the next step will be to go back next year, probably in March, and hopefully view some properties with the intention of renting something from May onwards. Exciting, innit!
More travelling this coming weekend too as we're going to the Lake District for a few days to celebrate my birthday. Should be a nice relaxing time, gentle walk around the lake, good food, good drink. Fingers crossed that it's not peeing down! (What am I saying? This is the Lake District we're talking about...)
So, good things are still happening. I just have to stop and take a look around me sometimes...
The best and happiest of those things is this little angel - my new granddaughter, Annie Mae, who was born on 1st June!
She's such a happy smiling little thing, and it's a joy to watch her and big sister Izzy laughing at each other.
What other good things have happened? Well, back in May I had a great weekend meeting up with fellow Pros fans at WINK. And as an added bonus we had our Sunday lunch at a Pros location, the Metropolitan Police Sports Club in Bushey, otherwise known as the cricket ground where Bodie almost got his century in Blood Sports!
Another good thing - I've just come back from two weeks holiday in Brighton. Not our usual type of holiday, I have to admit - no yomping across the countryside, or exploring the streets of London, which is our usual thing. We had an ulterior motive though, we were actually there carrying out a recce to help us decide whether we fancied renting a flat there for six months next year. We're still tossing up whether to plump for Brighton or London at the moment, but I think Brighton is winning out. We like the town very much, the rented accommodation is considerably cheaper, and we could still be up to London on the train in less than an hour. The South Downs are right on the doorstep too, and we quite fancy exploring that area. So, the next step will be to go back next year, probably in March, and hopefully view some properties with the intention of renting something from May onwards. Exciting, innit!
More travelling this coming weekend too as we're going to the Lake District for a few days to celebrate my birthday. Should be a nice relaxing time, gentle walk around the lake, good food, good drink. Fingers crossed that it's not peeing down! (What am I saying? This is the Lake District we're talking about...)
So, good things are still happening. I just have to stop and take a look around me sometimes...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2015-07-20 08:40 pm (UTC)Brighton sounds good. I'd like to go to that area one day. I'm all for situations where you don't spend as much money as you might, yet still can do the things you want to do. This whole renting for six months thing really sounds like a fun idea. You can try out a place, see how you like it--and the whole idea of different, then go back to "normal" if you choose.
Enjoy the Lake District--yet another area I've never been to. (There are, actually, tons of areas I've never been to in England. Despite all my trips. *g*) I hope the rain only falls during the overnights.
Yes, there are Good Things. There always are. And the older I get, the more I appreciate that, and find that balance we all need.
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 03:38 pm (UTC)Yes, I know! Tempus really does Fugit, doesn't it! *g*
and the whole idea of different, then go back to "normal" if you choose.
That's definitely the idea - to do something different, something out of the usual routine that we've been in for god-knows-how-many years, and to do something 'for us' after all the years of caring for elderly parents and so on. And recent events, of course, make you realise that if you've always fancied doing something you'd jolly well better get on and do it!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-20 08:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 03:40 pm (UTC)LOL, kind of you to offer but daughter no. 2 and her boyfriend will be homeless after returning from their six-month trip overseas, so we've got ready made house sitters. The timing has all worked out perfectly, in fact! *g*
no subject
Date: 2015-07-20 09:35 pm (UTC)I love the Brighton area - it's got all the advantages of being close to London, but with the sea and nice countryside thrown in. How lovely to be thinking about trying out a new life the way you are - I hope it all works out for you. Life's too short not to be having a ball whenever possible.
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 03:43 pm (UTC)Life's too short not to be having a ball whenever possible.
Absolutely! That is now my mantra! *g*
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:00 am (UTC)Renting is a great idea. It's something I've considered when both girls have properly left home. I'd like to rent somewhere by the sea to check that I really, truly, properly, actually want to live by the sea and I'm not just being carried away by my ideas of it! Brighton is a lovely city as well, great fun and as you say, easy to get to London but quite a bit cheaper.
Have a great birthday weekend in the Lakes, and fingers crossed for dry weather!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 03:52 pm (UTC)It's a good way of checking an area out, isn't it, especially if you're considering settling there permanently. In our case it'll just be a six-month holiday of sorts, as we don't plan to actually move there. We did consider moving back to Essex but decided it was just too far away from the family.
Having said that, moving house is definitely in the plans for when we return home after Brighton!
Have a great birthday weekend in the Lakes, and fingers crossed for dry weather!
Thank you! And to be honest it won't spoil the weekend if the weather is wet, it'll just be nicer if it's not!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:29 am (UTC)It's funny that you've managed to talk me into Brighton, even though I've never been there. It sounds like the perfect balance between pleasant location, affordability and access to London. *g*
Have a nice time in the Lakes district even if it does rain.
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:12 pm (UTC)Have a nice time in the Lakes district even if it does rain.
Thank you! I know it's going to be lovely!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:22 pm (UTC)enjoy your birthday x
Thank you! *g*
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:47 am (UTC)My Mother was born in Brighton and I would have loved to go there, so when you give it a try I'd like some photos, please. *g*
You do have quite a few things going to take your mind off the sad happenings, so enjoy your weekend away. *HUGS*
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:27 pm (UTC)Oh wow, fancy that! I will most definitely take some photos for you next time we're there. If you know of any addresses where your mother lived then let me know and I'll try to get photos of the actual places.
enjoy your weekend away
Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-22 03:53 am (UTC)It was such a long time ago. :sigh:
no subject
Date: 2015-07-22 12:56 pm (UTC)Ah, but you forget that you're talking to a genealogist here! If you're able to provide me with a bit more info I should be able to find the family on the 1911 census and then we'd have an address to look for.
I'll drop you an email about it later today.
PS My auntie May was also born in May, a couple of years after your Mum!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:53 am (UTC)I hope your plan to rent somewhere in Brighton (I've never been but whenever I've seen it on property programmes it looks really lovely) works out for you.
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:31 pm (UTC)Thank you!
I hope your plan to rent somewhere in Brighton (I've never been but whenever I've seen it on property programmes it looks really lovely) works out for you.
There are some parts of Brighton that are a bit rough, like any big town, but away from the main shopping areas etc it is very nice indeed. I think we'd settle in quite nicely there!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:55 am (UTC)I think I'd choose Brighton....
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:33 pm (UTC)I think I'd choose Brighton....
Me too...
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:41 pm (UTC)Annie Mae? (a lovely name, by the way). Definitely something in showbiz because of her granny's influence. Either a successful, leading actress or the writer of a cult TV series. And she'll make LOADS of money. No pressure on her, whatsoever...
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:50 pm (UTC)Annie Mae? (a lovely name, by the way)
Thank you! I have allowed myself a little smile on the couple of occasions when my daughter has asked if I can "look after Annie" *g*
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 08:11 am (UTC)Well WINK/Bushey, Brighton and the Lake District do sound like very good things too. I'm glad you have all that and more, and I hope that all of your lovely family are as well and as bright-eyed as the latest arrival :-)))
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:39 pm (UTC)Thanks for all your good wishes!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 09:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:40 pm (UTC)Yep, we're rapidly coming to that conclusion! *g*
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 10:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 01:02 pm (UTC)So glad you enjoyed your time in Brighton. Somewhere I've never been but plan to at some stage. We don't know that part of the south coast at all, tbh, and I know we're missing a trick. Good luck with finding somewhere to rent. What an exciting idea! Have a lovely time in The Lake District too.
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 07:46 pm (UTC)It's lovely to watch the interaction, isn't it! *g*
That part of the coast, and inland towards the South Downs, is really lovely. We really want to get to know it better.
Have a lovely time in The Lake District too.
Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-21 09:20 pm (UTC)Your Brighton stay sounds wonderful, go for it! I had never been there until recent years, as my new daughter-in-law Scarlett's parents both live there and a couple of times I have gone down for a night or two while R & S have been over from Dubai. It's a lively place but has character, too. And a wonderful base for a change of scene.
no subject
Date: 2015-07-22 12:53 pm (UTC)Just got to find a place that ticks all our boxes now!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-23 11:08 am (UTC)I agree, Brighton is "almost-London" and very easily connected, but still closer to beautiful coastline and countryside. Of course, especially in summer it gets a bit chaotic at weekends, but mainly in the city centre, and it's much less polluted than London.
Best of luck in your house-hunting!
Paola
no subject
Date: 2015-07-30 05:46 pm (UTC)Brighton is "almost-London" and very easily connected, but still closer to beautiful coastline and countryside
We're definitely leaning towards choosing Brighton over London, for all the reasons you've quoted. Thanks for your good wishes!
no subject
Date: 2015-07-24 06:50 pm (UTC)The Brighton venture sounds very exciting - keep us posted. And enjoy the Lakes, come rain or shine :D
no subject
Date: 2015-07-30 05:48 pm (UTC)We had a great time in the Lakes, thanks. It was a perfect weekend.
The Brighton venture sounds very exciting - keep us posted
I certainly will! *g*