![\"Map](\"/2007/10/14/cindys-gravestone/NBGjJ9epoJ-650.webp)
Hooray!!
Toby got his A level results last Thursday. He got an A for Geography, B for Biology and B for Chemistry. It was a grade lower than Sheffield University had offered him for medicine, but they decided to have him anyway!
Hooray!! Toby's going to medical school.
He's decided (in the last couple of weeks, while the rest of us have been away) to have a gap year, so at some point soon he'll be off round the world. He doesn't know where he's going yet, but definitely hopes to have Christmas in Australia with Will and Sarah – on the beach no doubt.
Amazingly proud of him of course. Well done for all the hard work Toby.
", "date_published": "2009-08-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/11/10/life-at-the-moment/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/11/10/life-at-the-moment/", "title": "Life at the moment", "content_html": "Sorry about the rubbish title, couldn't think of anything more inspiring as just posting about general life at the moment! Been about 4 months since I last posted - had a busy summer away in Greece, the lakes and now started college. Posted ages ago that I finished my GCSEs and got my results at the end of August, did very well and have my awards ceremony next week.
Rose has settled very well into Millthorpe enjoying it and did eventually run her race for life - raising a lot of money. John is in the school production of the Wizard of Oz and has been very busy in the evenings with lots of rehearsals. College is good very different from Millthorpe and I am enjoying it a lot more.
Everyone is out at the moment at Granny's (Mary's) ceremony as she is becoming a Lay Reader. Going out for a meal at Meltons tonight which will be very nice. Off out into town so I might post sometime soon or it might be in a few more months!
", "date_published": "2007-11-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/10/14/cindys-gravestone/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/10/14/cindys-gravestone/", "title": "Cindy's Gravestone", "content_html": "Well at last, Cindy's gravestone has been put up in the cemetery. We all went this afternoon after Meeting, had a look at it and lit some candles Pat and Maurice had sent for Cindy's anniversary and birthday.
The text says:
Cindy Michele Tarrant
9.10.1961 - 11.9.2005
run because you can
\"Why the tiger?\" I hear you ask. It was Rose's idea, and it comes from something that Cindy used to joke about with the children. She often told them that at night, she unzipped her tail, turned into a tiger and ran around Rowntrees Park. So it really reminds us of her. And it goes well with the lower case writing at the bottom, which is an adaptation of the last sentence in her diary -
\"Certainly if there is life after death I am going to be a runner and I will run every day because I can.\"
If you want to go and see her grave, it's in York Cemetery (the Victorian one on Cemetery Road near the Barbican) and here's a map to show you exactly where.
I've had a great week this week. The weather still hasn't been very good, but not too bad. Spent a couple of days in town, played some football, saw Shrek 3 and been mountain biking.
Mountain biking was great. My bike didn't break - this is the first time on 3 attempts that me and my dad have got all the way around the bike trail without my bike breaking! The weather wasn't very good, lots of rain and the tracks were coated in deeps puddles and mud everywhere. We had such a good time! Came back soaked, coated in mud and the car an absolute mess. I had to have a cold hose down before I could put my trousers in the washing machine, because the layers of mud would have broken it. I've got a couple of pictures that we took at the end which I'll upload.
Rose got her SATs results yesterday, but I don't what they are because she is sleeping at a friends all weekend. Dad and John are in London watching Live Earth - very exciting! I sleep at my friends house and I've got back from town so I'm about to have some lunch. Oh and I've got a new phone the Samsung u600 which is very nice!
Go to Greece in 2 weeks!
", "date_published": "2007-07-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/29/great-yarmouth/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/29/great-yarmouth/", "title": "Great Yarmouth!", "content_html": "Got back from Yarmouth last night after an exhausting journey, but having had a great time. The first train journey took 6 hours due to flooding on the tracks so we didn't get in until 7. Had a good first night with me and Josh cooking Pizza with a chocolate pudding and then we went out for a midnight walk along the beach.
The second day was a bit cloudy, but we walked down the beach and went on some of the amusements. Had fish and chips on the pier and went in some of the tacky shops! That used up most of the day. Katie and Jenny cooked tea that evening and then we had a party with some other people staying who had also just finished their GCSEs.
On Wednesday we went down to the beach and it was very sunny. We went in the sea and on Josh's inflatable whale which I bought him for his birthday. Found this lovely cafe on the seafront and bought a toasted teacake, soup and a bread roll for £3 - great value. Got all dressed up and went out for a lovely curry in the evening.
On the final morning we had sausages for breakfast and went for a last walk along the beach, whilst getting ice cream. Had to rush to get the train, but made it in time. Journey took four hours so was still an hour slow, but not too bad. Had a great time and I'll post some pictures when I get them in a bit.
Rose's Race for life has been delayed until July due to rain - so there's still time to sponsor her if you haven't yet! Hope everyone's ok. Bye
", "date_published": "2007-06-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/23/past-couple-of-days/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/23/past-couple-of-days/", "title": "Past couple of days", "content_html": "Had a good couple of days recently, although the weather hasn't been very good. Spent Friday in town with friends - dashing into random shops when the heavens opened. It was my friends party last night and he was quite worried because it was going to be outside and it had been raining. Got luck though and the rain stopped at about 6 and then didn't start up again till this morning, so it was a good party.
Haven't really done much this morning. Spent the morning recovering at my friends house then played badminton this afternoon. Had some tasty lamb chops for tea and I've just got in from my run around the river. (Second one in 3 days - that's dedication for me!) Dad's downstairs having his birthday meal with Helen, Josh and Sharon. John cooked the meal and it looks delicious. I'll be off now and I'll try and write again before I go away on Monday.
", "date_published": "2007-06-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/21/dads-birthday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/21/dads-birthday/", "title": "Dad's birthday ", "content_html": "Dad's birthday yesterday. Got a nice selection of presents. A hand made pillow cover from Rose (made by Rose), a hand cooked meal from John, and I got him a bag for his bike! I think I get most marks for effort! G & G gave him some money because he keeps on thinking on getting a new bike and can't decide if it's worth it. Went out for a lovely meal at La Piazza. Good as Usual.
Today I've spent the day in Leeds with friends and bought some new clothes for the hols. Looking forward to Greece very much. Everyone's out at the moment seeing John's play that he has done with his theatre group. Got a busy week ahead, and I'm going away with friends next week to Great Yarmouth! Should be great. Anyway I'm off out now, so bye.
", "date_published": "2007-06-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/19/dad-turns-39/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/19/dad-turns-39/", "title": "Dad turns 39!!!", "content_html": "Believe it or not dad is now 39 which considering I'm 16 still makes him pretty young, but still he's almost 40! We're off out for a meal tomorrow night at La Piazza one of the best Italian's in York - defiantly our favourite. I cooked today for the first time in about a year. I made mussels in a white wine sauce, with hand cut chips. It was delicious. Not at school, but still being incredibly busy - didn't manage to get everything done today; probably because most of days start at about half eleven! Anyway I'll be off because I have to get up tomorrow to give dad his present before J & R leave for school - so up at half 7!!!
", "date_published": "2007-06-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/17/finished-gcses/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/06/17/finished-gcses/", "title": "Finished GCSEs!", "content_html": "Just finished taking my GCSEs so I'm on holiday for the next three months. Very happy! Got to wait till August until I get my results though, but they were quite easy.
Toby
", "date_published": "2007-06-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/05/16/race-for-life/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2007/05/16/race-for-life/", "title": "Race for Life", "content_html": "Rose is doing the Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK. It's a 5km run around the Knavesmire on June 27th. Quite a lot of her friends are doing the run too, so it should be fun.
You can sponsor her online here.
", "date_published": "2007-05-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/11/27/roses-website/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/11/27/roses-website/", "title": "Rose's Website", "content_html": "Rose has got a website here.
", "date_published": "2006-11-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/13/john-and-toby-have-a-day-off/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/13/john-and-toby-have-a-day-off/", "title": "John and Toby Have a Day Off", "content_html": "Millthorpe have got a training day today, so John and Toby are at home. John and I are going together to Tropical World in Leeds to look at butterflies and things and then coming home for Rose's assembly - she won a £10 voucher in a raffle for people who cycled to school (!) and is going to have it presented to her this afternoon.
There was a fantastic article by Mark Thomas in yesterday's Guardian all about the withdrawal of the right to protest near the Houses of Parliament. Apparently people are protesting about this by sticking to the letter of the law - and producing huge amounts of paperwork for the police.
", "date_published": "2006-10-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/12/badminton-with-simon/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/12/badminton-with-simon/", "title": "Badminton with Simon", "content_html": "I won. Hooray.
Very close though. It's always great having a really good run around and getting disgustingly hot and sweaty.
", "date_published": "2006-10-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/11/millthorpe-open-evening/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/11/millthorpe-open-evening/", "title": "Millthorpe Open Evening", "content_html": "On Monday evening Rose and I went up to Millthorpe for their open evening. It's very odd to think that next year I won't have any children at Scarcroft - for the first time in 11 years! I'm already missing the morning school run, because Rose is walking to school by herself and next year I won't get the afternoon one either. When on earth will I pick up all the gossip - or some days talk to anyone at all!
John was busy at school being a model pupil in a French class, which we went to watch. We managed to avoid having to listen to the head's talk, which was a relief because he isn't the world's greatest speaker. We vaguely wandered around looking at bits and pieces - fantastic art rooms
Richard Ogden popped in on his way home from Monthly Meeting to say that I've been accepted as a member of Meeting.
After 16 or so years of attending it feels more like an acknowledgement of a relationship that already exists than anything else! Now I'll have to make sure I'm good at saying no to more committees!
", "date_published": "2006-10-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/08/cindys-birthday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/08/cindys-birthday/", "title": "Cindy's Birthday", "content_html": "It would have been Cindy's birthday tomorrow so we went out for a meal with Lance and Mary to celebrate. A good way to spend her pension. We would have gone out on the day itself, but it's the Millthorpe open evening - John needs to go as a model pupil and Rose and I are going to look around in preparation for next year.
", "date_published": "2006-10-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/08/all-busy-except-toby/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/08/all-busy-except-toby/", "title": "All Busy - except Toby!", "content_html": "Toby had his first weekend lie in for ages as the paper shop has now shut, so he's unemployed. He's hoping to get a job in the bike shop where he did his work experience soon, which would make his Saturday's less leisured than today's was.
I cycled with John over to Canon Lee for his dancing, and then went into town for coffee. Rose had Lily over to play during the afternoon - they made burnt chocolate buns! We had delicious mussels for tea.
John went to Tom's for a birthday sleepover and I left Rose and Toby \"home alone\" while I went to the theatre with Sam to see How Many Miles to Basra? It was very thought provoking - quite heavy and political.
", "date_published": "2006-10-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/06/squash-not-badminton-john-to-ytt/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/06/squash-not-badminton-john-to-ytt/", "title": "Squash not Badminton - John to YTT", "content_html": "Yesterday I taught Luigi and Clara - for the first time this week as they've been in Italy. I had lunch with my dad and then went off to play badminton with Mark.
Unfortunately, there was a school using all the badminton courts, so we ended up playing squash and as I'm no good at squash he beat me. Pah!
John went to Youth Theatre Yorkshire at the Theatre Royal in the evening. Another new activity for a new year. It was his third session, and he really enjoyed it again. They're doing things related to Sing Yer Hearts Out for the Lads so it was all football chants last night.
I was worn out so went to bed early.
", "date_published": "2006-10-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/04/coffee-with-andrea-and-roses-yoga/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/04/coffee-with-andrea-and-roses-yoga/", "title": "Coffee with Andrea and Rose's Yoga", "content_html": "I had coffee with Andrea this morning - two hours putting the world to rights.
Rose went for her third yoga session and really enjoyed it again. We've been looking for a children's yoga class for a while and these have finally started up - and they're dead local. She goes with Gemma and at the moment there are only the two of them in the class. They were doing handstands - definitely more than I can manage!
", "date_published": "2006-10-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/03/well-long-time-no-post/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/03/well-long-time-no-post/", "title": "Well - long time no post", "content_html": "I've really got out of the habit of writing here - partly because it felt as though I was trying to say the same things in different ways all the time!
Anyway - I'll start again and see how I go this time round.We had a good summer holiday, visiting Mandy and David, going to Wales with all the extended family and going to Florence with Helen and David.
John has started secondary school at Millthorpe, Rose is in year 6 at Scarcroft with a new male teacher (who was on my PGCE course) whom she really likes, and Toby is working hard in year 11.
I'm doing some tutoring of Clara and Luigi, who's mother has taken them out of school.
Over the summer I managed to do some yoga most days, and am still trying to keep that going. Rob has stopped doing daytime classes which is a shame, so I've started going to an evening class - longer and more difficult, but good. I feel a lot better for doing a little each day.
I've been out a lot to the theatre - notably recently to The Man with Two Gaffers with Judy and Keith, To Kill a Mockingbird with Toby and A One Man Star Wars Trilogy with Mark. Also still having coffe or lunch with friends - many thanks to Mark, Cathy, Kath, Andrea and Michelle. Still playing badminton whenever possible with Mark and Simon.
Life is busy and generally fun!
", "date_published": "2006-10-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/03/memories-of-cindy/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/10/03/memories-of-cindy/", "title": "Memories of Cindy", "content_html": "Cathy Holman and Chris Hughes wrote this wonderful piece about Cindy for the Meeting Book of Memories.
Cindy Tarrant
It was a real gift and a pleasure in our lives to have been a friend of Cindy Tarrant.
Cindy was born on the 9th of October 1961, the middle daughter of Pat and Maurice. Her sister, Jayne was 2 years older and Mandy 4 years younger. Cindy lived in a house by the sea, which her father had built and her love of the sea remained with her throughout her life. Cindy cycled 4 miles daily to her primary school and moved onto secondary in Chichester. She attended two sixth forms in order to study for the A levels she was most interested in. Cindy always enjoyed sewing and knitting and made many of her own clothes. Cindy went on to the University of Surrey, the first person in her family to go to University. She was determined to follow a career path which she knew was for her and all her life took a pride in furthering her knowledge and skills in Home Economics and teaching. During her finals Cindy managed to fit in making her sister's wedding dress.
Following her degree and her teaching qualification Cindy worked at Sarah Bonnell School in Newham. Cindy loved the work and enjoyed being a member of a hard working team however her love for travelling won out and she began a round the world journey with a good friend, Karen Cseleda. She was always ready to meet new people, travel to new places and was optimistic and cheerful about the future. They travelled through India, Nepal, Tibet, China and Hong Kong arriving in Australia. She made connections with people and formed relationships which endured the years, despite years of little contact. Cindy worked in Australia in the catering industry before heading off to travel again. She met Edward on her travels and they wandered Asia together, meeting many people who were touched by her flair and energy but also by her friendship and care.
They returned to this country for a while and Cindy took up her teaching before heading off again with Edward to South East Asia and Australia. Whilst in Australia Edward applied and was accepted to study at York University and they planned to have children once Edward graduated. However the children did not wait that long to arrive and Toby was born in 1991. Cindy got a temporary job while pregnant and worked after the birth of Toby and after the births of John and Rose. Cindy worked long hours with travelling on top and she did a lot of the work around the house. She did this all with good humour and grace.
Meeting for Worship and Quakers became very important to Cindy, having attended at Westminster when she was working in Newham. When she and Edward moved to York they began attending at Acomb Meeting, which they found friendly and welcoming. They moved to worship at Friargate Meeting following the birth of Toby. Cindy and Edward were married in Friargate on 22nd August 1992. Cindy was a valued member of the Friargate community and had a clear sense of her own spiritual beliefs. She was loved by many. Her wonderful laugh, her dismissal of pomposity or verbosity and her readiness to contribute, enriched our communal life beyond measure. Cindy was never daunted by tasks, no matter their nature or size. Cindy just got on with things. Her cooking and baking were sublime and the residents at the Arc Light project for the homeless regularly thanked Quakers for and commented on her sticky toffee pudding. Cindy took on the jobs no one wanted, including running the Link group, organising rotas and spending many Sunday mornings in crèche or Fox group. She organised numerous meals at Barmoor, enlivened the knitting and book groups and gave us much to think about. She could make things so easily, be it a wedding dress or costumes for John's dance company. Cindy was hospitable and was really good at connecting with people. She had many friends.
Cindy loved clothes and especially shoes; she adored good coffee and food, loved parties, enjoyed electronic gadgets and was such fun to be with. At the age of 36 and with children aged 6, 2 and 1, Cindy was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had a lung removed followed by radiotherapy and it looked for several years that the cancer had gone. Unfortunately it returned and Cindy faced her illness and the treatment with such an enormous amount of courage and bravery, it left us all staggering.
Cindy was a wonderful mother. She was immensely proud of all her three children, loved them dearly and was determined to continue treating them exactly as she always had, despite knowing that she would not live long. Her love for Edward was clear and as they both struggled at times through some of the horrors of Cindy's illness we could see how important this was to get them through.
What more to be said - she was hopeless at receiving presents and I suppose compliments too. It is hard to accept that Cindy, our energetic, inspirational, fun-loving, giggly, loving, thoughtful, giving, caring friend has gone and is not coming back. She had so much to offer and in her too short life she was so generous with her time, her friendship and her many talents.
Cindy kept a diary called \"Having A Good Time: thoughts about my family and other things.\" The very last thing she wrote in it was
\"How can I not think every day that time is limited, especially when I wheeze just climbing the stairs. Certainly if there is life after death I am going to be a runner and I will run every day because I can.\"
We love her and miss her.
", "date_published": "2006-10-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/06/07/emma/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/06/07/emma/", "title": "Emma", "content_html": "We stopped off at Katharine and Simon's on our way home from Holland to see Emma.
She was born on the 31 May 2006, so was 3 days old when we saw her. She's lovely.
Katharine and Simon and Thomas looked well too. I hope they weren't too overwhelmed by their visitors.
Over half term we went to one of the Center Parcs in Holland. We drove via the Eurotunnel, then stopped at Antwerp on the way there and Bruges on the way back. All together I drove 1015 miles!! A bit too much really.
Once we were there though we had a great time. There was a big \"tropical\" swimming pool, with slides and waves and bubble pools and so on, where we spent most of our time. We also went climbing, played badminton and bowling and played a couple of board games. We had most of our meals out, and on one evening cooked a huge indoor barbeque.
We'd rented bikes - traditional Dutch one gear, back pedal brake, sit up and beg things they were. There were no cars allowed on the site except on leaving and arriving days, so we could all cycle round without worrying about bumping into anything.
It was great spending time with Will, Sarah, Jack and Grace, particularly as they are leaving for Australia in September.
The stop in Bruges on the way home was fantastic. Will had found an amazingly central hotel, we had a nice Italian meal and spent the lovely warm evening wandering around the beautiful city. There seemed to be loads to do there, lots of galleries and museums, and it would be a good place to go back to. You can get there easily via Eurostar, so maybe some weekend…
… came for supper. Very nice evening.
We watched quite a lot of the Eurovision Song Contest, which was won by some Finns in orc costumes. How strange.
", "date_published": "2006-05-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/20/phoenix-dance/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/20/phoenix-dance/", "title": "Phoenix Dance", "content_html": "John and I went to see Stories in Red the current Phoenix Dance production at the WYP last night. John has gone a couple of times before, but with Cindy, so I've never seen them before.
It was quite strange, and very gripping. Some of the dances didn't have much of what I would think of as \"dancing\" in them, but that is probably just my ignorance! We saw Jeanetta, who used to teach John dance, and John would like to go back, as long as Isaac will go too. That's a result in itself.
", "date_published": "2006-05-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/19/tobys-new-job/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/19/tobys-new-job/", "title": "Toby's New Job", "content_html": "Well that didn't take long!!
It isn't really a new job, because it'll still be at the newsagent's. Two hours from 6am to 8am on Saturday and Sunday morning working in the shop sorting out papers, serving customers and other things - it'll become clearer what exactly when he starts - tomorrow morning.
Toby says that the best thing is that as he won't be ruining his bike by using it to deliver papers, and ruining it, he can get a nice new mountain bike.
", "date_published": "2006-05-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/18/paper-round/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/18/paper-round/", "title": "Paper Round", "content_html": "Toby is feeling rather agrieved this morning, as the papershop where he has diligently and very reliably done a paper round for the last 2 years has changed hands (again - that's twice since Christmas) and are stopping deliving papers. From next Monday. So he'll be out of a job. I expect that for a short while the lie in will nice, but it'll soon be out weighed by the lack of money.
It seems very short sighted of the shop - they can't expect to sell all the papers that they deliver at the moment. Surely not everyone will get up, get a paper, and then go home to read it?
Actually I am fired as of today - that's zero days notice! Oh well I find a new job soon
Toby
", "date_published": "2006-05-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/15/like-two-old-crocks/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/15/like-two-old-crocks/", "title": "Like Two Old Crocks", "content_html": "Played badminton with Simon at lunch time today. He'd cycled into a lamppost and had a very sore and stiff shoulder and, for some reason, I'd woken up with a stiff and aching back. So we shuffled about the court and neither of us played very well. Still fun though.
Toby was trying to coach me this morning - \"What could you do to get better?\" I don't want to have to think about it, I just like playing (but if it meant I won more often…)
", "date_published": "2006-05-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/13/lal-and-paulines-second-anniversary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/13/lal-and-paulines-second-anniversary/", "title": "Lal & Pauline's Second Anniversary", "content_html": "We went over to Lal and Pauline's today. Last year they had fantastic weather, but unfortunately it was grey and drizzly today. Still a lovely afternoon though. They'd got a bouncy castle for the children to play on, and even though it was damp and cold, Toby, John and Rose all enjoyed it. Toby as enjoyed making very knowledgeable comments while watching the FA cup.
", "date_published": "2006-05-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/09/visiting-will/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/09/visiting-will/", "title": "Visiting Will", "content_html": "Will is off work at the moment because of an operation to his knee. He damaged it playing football - I knew those rough games were a bad idea! I went to visit him today while the children were at school.
He gave me details of our half term holiday at one of the Center Parcs in Holland, which looks really fun. He also showed me all the family tree information that he's been entering onto his computer. So far he's put on the stuff that was researched by both of our grandfathers. This goes quite a long way back and also spreads out wide to include \"interesting\" people like Ben Nicholson and the Sackville-Wests. Then it'll need updating with two generations worth of children. Then all the foreign relatives need their sections including. THEN he can get onto the interesting part of seeing if he can discover anything new. It seems to be much easier nowdays, with all the information on the web, than it was a couple of decades ago, when you had to visit places and look in old books. Not as atmospheric perhaps. He's put what he's done so far on a genealogy website.
", "date_published": "2006-05-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/05/what-a-glorious-day/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/05/what-a-glorious-day/", "title": "What a Glorious Day", "content_html": "I'm sure it's mainly the weather, but I've had a lovely day today. It was really warm and sunny and made me feel very cheerful.
I went to yoga at lunch time. There were only four of us there, and Rob looked around and said \"As you're all quite experienced,\" (I was feeling good already) \"we'll have an energetic session.\" And it was. It left me feeling very stretched and energised, ready for the rest of the day and weekend.
I was supposed to be playing squash with Mark in the afternoon, and after that yoga I'm sure I'd have beaten him, but he was being sick. So instead I played croquet with Lance and very civilised it was too. I got the children from school and chatted in the sun for a while before going to Lance and Mary's. John had his first swimming lesson, so we had a good cycle across Hob Moor.
In the evening, I went to the theatre with Jackie. We went to see Foxes, a play about asylum seekers in Leeds.
", "date_published": "2006-05-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/04/work-play-food/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/04/work-play-food/", "title": "Work, Play, Food", "content_html": "I think I've picked up some work this morning. Someone that Simon knows wants to withdraw her children from Tregelles and teach them at home. Except that she doesn't actually want to teach them herself, so it looks like I'll be teaching them three mornings a week from next academic year. Slightly odd situation, but it should be fairly straightforward work.
Then this afternoon, I went with Rose's class to watch an adaption of Journey to the River Sea at the Theatre Royal. It was very imaginatively done, but the story was quite hard to follow (I don't know it) and Rose said they missed out some of the best bits!
Rose and John went off swimming with Gemma this evening, and Toby and I had the lovely soup at a reasonable time. By the time they got back from swimming, Rose was too tired really to eat, so she'll be starving in the morning.
", "date_published": "2006-05-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/03/lunch-out/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/03/lunch-out/", "title": "Lunch Out", "content_html": "More washing!! Another three loads washed, sorted and away today. Just about back to normal after Turkey and the Lake District.
I went for a long run this morning and my legs are aching now. I haven't been running for about a month, I've done a lot of yoga and played squash and badminton though.
I had a lovely lunch at the City Screen with Michelle today. She had been to the Star Inn, Harome with Mark and her boys for her birthday, so we compared notes on its deliciousness!! My meal there with Cindy last February is definitely about the best meal I've ever had. In fact the whole experience was wonderful. Michelle was equally impressed by the food, but didn't stay the night. Quite fancy a trip back myself. Anyone fancy a £50 lunch?
Roast guinea fowl for tea, the butchers had a couple in, so I thought I'd try one. Nice - stronger chicken, and the butcher's chickens are not good, so this was definitely a better alternative. I think tomorrow I'm going to do the pea and feta soup that I had with my mum.
", "date_published": "2006-05-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/02/blast-from-the-past/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/02/blast-from-the-past/", "title": "Blast from the Past", "content_html": "Pea and lemon soup with feta black pepper
Frozen peas are fine to use - especially the sweet little petits pois
- and are among the best vegetable sources of fibre and protein, and also contain vitamin C, iron and zinc. Serves 4.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1 red chilli, deseeded and roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
800g/1lb 10oz peas
1 small round lettuce, leaves separated and washed
1 litre/1¾ pints hot chicken or vegetable stock
grated rind and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon
75g/3oz feta cheese, crumbled into small pieces
a few fresh mint leaves
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion, chilli and garlic for five minutes until softened.
- Add the peas, lettuce leaves and hot stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes until the peas are tender.
- Take off the heat and, using a hand-held blender, roughly blitz until coarsely pureed. Stir in the lemon rind and juice and season with salt and plenty of black pepper.
- Ladle into bowls and scatter over the feta and mint leaves.
I bought a pair of Doctor Marten's shoes (not boots) today. They are black with yellow stitching around the sole. Very 80s.
They're not made in England anymore, but in Thailand. What a sign of globalisation.
", "date_published": "2006-05-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/01/home-and-doctor-who/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/05/01/home-and-doctor-who/", "title": "Home and Doctor Who", "content_html": "It was raining this morning, after lovely weather for the rest of the weekend, so we left by about 9:30 after packing and tidying. Before leaving the village we went to see Arthur Ransome's grave, which was in the village churchyard.
Toby had lots of course work to do, which was another reason for leaving early. I cooked a big pasta sauce, because we'd invited all the Holmans and all the Cadbury Parkers around to have tea and watch Doctor Who. Much enjoyed by all (except Cathy - who thinks it's all nonsense!)
", "date_published": "2006-05-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/30/meeting-and-a-play/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/30/meeting-and-a-play/", "title": "Meeting and a Play", "content_html": "We went over to Swarthmore for Meeting this morning. The village Meeting House had had a fire, so Meeting was held in the Hall itself. There were about 10 people from the village, and about 40 from Friargate, almost half of them children.
Lunch was amazing. Loads of different salads, quiches, lovely breads, cheese…
We rehearsed the play after lunch. I must admit I quite enjoyed the rehearsal (I was George Fox, John was Priest Lampitt (we had to argue) and Rose was a servant). I did not enjoy the performance at all though, and have decided just to say \"no\" if anyone asks me to be in a play again.
More food in the evening, another much smaller bonfire, and then back to Rookhow.
", "date_published": "2006-04-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/29/go-ape-mountain-biking-and-a-bonfire/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/29/go-ape-mountain-biking-and-a-bonfire/", "title": "Go Ape, Mountain Biking and a Bonfire", "content_html": "Rookhow is only 3 miles down the road from the Grizedale Forest Visitors centre, so there were lots of activities available. I'd booked Go Ape for 12 of us. It was Rose's first chance to go, after hearing about it for three years, so she was really looking forward to it. We all had a fantastic time. Others who came with us didn't enjoy it quite so much. Well done to Jeremy for getting around in spite of not enjoying it at all.
After a fantastic lunch at the Grizedale Cafe, we all rented bikes and went mountain biking. Because there were lots of adults around, we were able to split up into various groups. Rose went around fairly gently with Lily and Chris Hughes, John enjoyed a good cycle with Cathy Holman and Milly and Anna, while Chris Holman and I went with Toby and Luke round a new mountain bike trail. This new route had lots of \"single track\" sections, that were rocky, or boggy, steep and on boardwalks. It was really fun and just at the edge of what I thought I could manage! Some of the corners were banked, so some people obviously go much faster than I was.
We had a fantastic meal, prepared by Nan. Everyone from both houses came over to Rookhow and we had a bonfire in the woods. With singing.
", "date_published": "2006-04-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/28/exercise-and-the-lake-district/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/28/exercise-and-the-lake-district/", "title": "Exercise and the Lake District", "content_html": "I had a busy day today. I spent the morning sorting out packing for the Meeting trip to the Lake District - following a day of cooking yesterday (1 huge lasagna and a bread and butter pudding to take with us, and a hotpot for tea). We're staying in quite basic accomodation, so we need to take sleeping bags as well as all the normal stuff. And as it's the Lake District, I'm making sure the children have about 5 changes of clothes, just in case!
At lunchtime, I went to my normal yoga class, which is always exhausting and sweaty. Then I went to the RI to play squash with Mark - even more exhausting and sweaty! I used to think I got hot playing badminton, but it really doesn't compare with squash.
We left for the Lakes at about 5:30 and had a good journey, except for the last 3 miles, when we drove round the village about 4 times trying to find the right way. We are staying at a place called Rookhow, which was built as a Monthly Meeting House. What used to be the stable block has been converted into a hostel. Also staying here are most of the other families who've come on the weekend, with Ruth and David Corry, and Nan. Other people are staying at Swarthmore Hall, which is rather more plush apparently.
", "date_published": "2006-04-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/25/lunch-with-kath/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/25/lunch-with-kath/", "title": "Lunch with Kath", "content_html": "I had a lovely lunch today with Kath. The last of the Ikea gravadlax, salad and a glass of wine. Followed by a very nice chocolate cake that she had brought with her.
I also went to the supermarket and continued to try to get to the bottom of the washing basket!
Rose went to gymnastics for the first time this term, and Toby went off to squash practise. He said it felt like hard work today, partly because he hasn't played over the holiday, and partly because he got put into a higher group. I told him that I always lose, and that it must be good for his game!
", "date_published": "2006-04-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/24/washing-badminton-and-bookgroup/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/24/washing-badminton-and-bookgroup/", "title": "Washing, Badminton and Bookgroup", "content_html": "A general sorting out day today. Several loads of washing dried and sorted. Supermarket not visited, must do it tomorrow!
A good game of badminton with Simon at lunchtime. He beat me 2-1 in spite of me being up by quite a lot in each game. Very frustrating the way I let the games go.
Bookgroup at Simon's this evening. Discussing \"Heart of Darkness\", which I found really hard to get through, didn't enjoy, and didn't feel I understood. Nice to discover that most other people hadn't got it either.
", "date_published": "2006-04-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/24/morrissey/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/24/morrissey/", "title": "Morrissey", "content_html": "I just watched 4 music presents… Morrissey from earlier in the month. He's aged really well and the new songs sound good. I bought the new album for Toby for his birthday, so must make sure I get to listen to it too.
Morrissey performed a Smiths song as well, Still Ill. The Smiths are possibly the one band that most represent my late teenage years to me. Their songs are instantly familiar and I still know a lot of the lyrics by heart. Oh those evenings spent discussing the most hilariously depressing lyrics!
And if a double-decker bus
Crashes into us
To die by your side
Is such a heavenly way to die
And if a ten-ton truck
Kills the both of us
To die by your side
Well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine
Wonderful.
", "date_published": "2006-04-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/23/turkey-holiday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/04/23/turkey-holiday/", "title": "Turkey Holiday", "content_html": "We've just got back from a lovely holiday in Patara, Turkey.
The hotel was pretty luxurious, and was run by two lovely people, Anne Louise and Muzaffer. Muzaffer was a fascinating person, when he was growing up his family was still nomadic, and he was full of information about the region and its history.
We spent most of our time on the beach, but we did visit some ruins, go on a boat trip, visit a couple of the local towns and play a lot of card games. It was very sunny for most of the time, but it did rain for a couple of days, and was grey on a couple of others. We've all come home very brown, and feeling rested.
![\"Turkey\"](\"/2006/04/23/turkey-holiday/ZeDJ6LnNod-150.webp)
I've put some more photos on the website. There are some of John and Rose ready for World Book Day, and one of us all at Alton Towers with Pauline.
On Thursday night Just the two of us started, on BBC 1. I thought it was okay, but the celebrities weren't very good because I hadn't heard of most of them. And I had only heard of one of the proper singers, which was Jo O'Meara only because she had been in S Club 7. Vernon Kay and Tess Daly presented it and I think that they were good especially Vernon because he is more fun than Tess. They were following in the footsteps of Richard and Judy, Vernon and Tess are married and this is their first presenting job together. But I'm sure that they will have more to come. I knew one of the judges which was Trevor Nelson from Radio one, but I've vaguely heard of Lulu was she a singer? I want Matt and Jocelyn to win because I thought that they put on a really good performance and Matt can sing a bit, but Jocelyn has an amazing big voice. Visit the website for more info and to find out when it is next on.
This is my first ever entry but I will continue.
John
I finished the film that was in Cindy's camera this weekend in Manchester. It had some photos from the summer holiday on it, some from the day after Cindy died when we went to Whitby and a couple from Manchester.
We were looking through lots of old photos last night, and Rose wanted a copy of the some of her eating when she was a baby. While I was scanning those, I did some others from the same album. Some are of the children, some are of Cindy and one is of me. They must be from about 1997, Toby was 6, John 2 and Rose 1.
On Sunday we went over to Manchester to see the Kodo Drummers, for John's Christmas present.
We went on the train in the morning and first went to the newish Imperial War Museum in the North. We had lunch in the cafe there, and then John and I took part in a dance workshop doing the Big Apple - a dance from the 20s/30s. The teachers were both fairly old, and started by showing us a jive - which showed that they were still pretty fit. John was very good and I almost got the hang of it. Then we moved onto a jive which I didn't get the hang of at all. We spent a while longer in the museum (the highlight of which seemed to be the free table football game in the cafe).
Tea in Pizza Express - should have tried harder to find somewhere more interesting, but can't do everything. And on to the Bridgewater Hall for the drumming - lovely concert hall with a brilliant acoustic - the flute that got played during some of the pieces was still really clear over the hugely loud drumming. The toweling thong jock straps that the drummers wore during one of the songs caused some amusement! Highlights were a piece with 7 tuned drums, each one about a semitone apart, but not all tuned to a western scale, which beat in and out of time with each other sounding like a train or plane; a sort of comic bit with three players playing a tiny drum, cymbals and a flat tennis racquet like drum, who strode around the stage pretending to beat huge instruments; and the encore with all the drummers on at once. It's very difficult to describe what was good about each piece - I bet people who play percussion have a whole vocabulary that I don't know.
We got home at half past midnight and so I was very proud when all the children managed to get up for school on Monday morning!
", "date_published": "2006-02-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/02/06/weekend-in-london/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/02/06/weekend-in-london/", "title": "Weekend in London", "content_html": "We went to London this weekend, primarily for Eleanor Garner's christening - of which more later.
John, Rose & I caught the 3:55 train after school (Toby didn't want to come - he spent the weekend at the Holman's), and arrived in London at six o'clock. We stayed at David and Helen's and David met us at the station and went with us to his home. Helen got home that at midnight after a fortnight in India.
On Saturday, we said hello to Helen then went into Waterloo to meet Mandy and Amy. We had lunch at a café in Regent's Park and then Mandy and Amy took John to Madame Tussauds while Rose and I went to London Zoo. John loved Mme Tussauds, he \"met\" lots of celebrities and took photos of most of them. Rose & I enjoyed the zoo, particularly the spider monkeys who were eating their tea just behind a pane of glass. We had another cup of coffee with Amy and Mandy and then went our separate ways.
In the evening we had a great italian meal with Helen and David and Sam. John and Rose were absolutely exhausted, so I told them to see how long they would sleep for and not to worry about waking up for a train to north London. Which is how we managed not to get to Eleanor's christening - sorry Eleanor. I'm sure it went just as well with three fewer guests. It would have been good to see Andrew and Emma though.
Instead on Sunday we spent the afternoon in the British Museum looking at Egyptian things, as Rose is doing them at the moment and John did them last year. Then we got the six o'clock train back to York and were picked up at the station by Mary. Another exhausting weekend!
Great excitement, as I've booked us a holiday in Turkey over Easter. We're going to stay in a hotel that David Campbell recommended, and fly from Gatwick to Dalaman. It's just about on the beach, and in April Turkey should be pretty warm, so I expect we'll spend quite a lot of time not doing very much. Then in the summer we're going to Florence with Helen and David. So plenty of holidays this year.
It's been so cold today that it makes the idea of a warm holiday even more enticing. I've been feeling a bit run down today, so didn't do anything but doze in a hot bath this afternoon.
", "date_published": "2006-02-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/02/01/booklists/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/02/01/booklists/", "title": "Booklists", "content_html": "The Guardian published top 10 book lists that three authors think children should have read by the time they leave school.
I've read most of the books in JK Rowling's and Philip Pullman's lists, and only two (plus watching the play of a third) of Andrew Motion's list. His looks very intellectual to me.
", "date_published": "2006-02-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/30/coffee-cinema-and-parents-evening/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/30/coffee-cinema-and-parents-evening/", "title": "Coffee, Cinema & Parents' Evening", "content_html": "I had coffee this morning with Mark and Michelle - nice to see them at the same time!
After lunch I went to the cinema to see Brokeback Mountain - in the afternoon, all by myself. Wonderfully decadent. It always seems strange coming out of the cinema into daylight. Great film, beautiful scenery, very touching love story.
It was Toby's parents' evening today. What a star he is - his (in fact all three children's) parents' evenings are always very straightforward. Lovely to have people telling me such nice things about Toby!
", "date_published": "2006-01-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/29/sunday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/29/sunday/", "title": "Sunday", "content_html": "I went to Meeting this morning with Rose, while John had a leisurely morning. Lily came home with us to play with Rose.
Lal and Pauline brought Toby home, they had taken some photos of Toby skiing.
He had had a fantastic time and had only fallen over a few times. He's only got one visible scrape, on his chin. Predictably enough he learnt very quickly and was one of the better pupils in the group.
We've had lovely roast lamb for tea and now everyone is going to bed.
", "date_published": "2006-01-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/28/tiger-in-the-well/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/28/tiger-in-the-well/", "title": "Tiger in the Well", "content_html": "I read the penultimate chapter of this fantastic book to Rose last night. Sally managed to escape from the cellar without getting drowned, was then arrested for attempted but pulled out (from her stocking top) the page she had cut from the ledger which she thinks will prove the plot against her; Jim got back from South America, broke into his own house with Kid Mendel and his gang, had a fight with Parrish and his men and won, then dashed off to Spitalfields to see if Sally was ok - they only knew that the house she was supposed to be in had collapsed; Parrish got knocked unconscious for the second time when Sarah Jane dropped a chamber pot on his head.
And this chapter was nowhere near as eventful as the previous one, in which Dan had had a fight with Parrish and his men (the first knocking unconscious with a chamber pot), rescued Harriet, been arrested, escaped, prevented a riot by telling the rioters a story; Sally had found out who the Tzaddick was and what was going on.
I can really recommend this book. It is incredibly exciting, and very interesting with lots of information about Victorian life. I think Rose has learnt a lot from it, as well as being very caught up in the story.
", "date_published": "2006-01-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/28/skiing/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/28/skiing/", "title": "Skiing", "content_html": "I've dropped Toby off this morning at the Sheffield Ski Village where he's going to take part in a learn to ski in a weekend course. One his Christmas presents.
Pauline's picking him up this afternoon and then he's staying with her and Lal, and she'll take him back tomorrow morning for the second part of the course. I expect they'll have a curry tonight and generally give Toby a good time.
", "date_published": "2006-01-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/25/tea-at-saffron-and-jennys/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/25/tea-at-saffron-and-jennys/", "title": "Tea at Saffron and Jenny's", "content_html": "We've been out for tea tonight at Saffron, Jenny and Nok's - except for Toby, who cooked for himself.
In spite of their protestations that they couldn't cook reliably, they made a super chinese meal with three separate dishes.  They are vegetarian, so it made John and Rose be a little more adventurous in what they tried. Jenny had made a delicious cake and everyone helped make the butter icing.
After tea we played a game of Taboo - Andrews vs Walklings. Ha ha, we won!
", "date_published": "2006-01-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/24/oven-fixed/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/24/oven-fixed/", "title": "Oven Fixed", "content_html": "Fixed - well it wasn't actually broken! As I suspected, a button had got pressed. If you hold down one of the buttons for ten seconds, and then press a different button, the oven gets put in \"demo mode.\" This means that it won't turn on the heating elements or the fan whatever you turn the knob to. The lights come on, and the buttons adjust the temperature, but nothing happens. And it remembers it has been put into this mode even if you turn it off and on again at the wall!
So fortunately it wasn't really broken, and I should have read the small print in the manual more carefully!
", "date_published": "2006-01-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/23/john-on-the-radio/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/23/john-on-the-radio/", "title": "John on the Radio", "content_html": "The BBC rang up on Friday asking if John would do a report for Big Toe. They had our phone number because he was on last year, when he did a report about Chinese New Year. They must be very short of reporters to be phoning around!
This time round he did a report on scuba diving, which he actually did a while ago, but he pretended that it was recent. A very good account, well written and well read.
You can listen to it for the next few days from the BBC Listen Again player. It was Saturday's Big Toe.
", "date_published": "2006-01-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/18/lovely-oven-broken/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/18/lovely-oven-broken/", "title": "Lovely Oven Broken", "content_html": "I used our super new oven to grill sausages on Saturday, then when I came to use it to make baked potatoes on Monday, it didn't work.
Someone is coming to look at it on Tuesday next week. I hope they find something silly that I haven't noticed. I've tried everything obvious though, and it won't work. Urgh!
", "date_published": "2006-01-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/16/party-party-party/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/16/party-party-party/", "title": "Party Party Party", "content_html": "Yesterday (Sunday) was the day of the Meeting Mid-Winter Party and then in the late afternoon and evening we had our party here.
The Meeting party was great. There was a really good bring and share lunch to start with, then Helen Cadbury had organised a children's play. John was a milkman (married to Lily), who took in a down and out man over Christmas. Rose was a Quaker carol singer and \"girl number 2.\" Toby played the hand bells and did sound effects (quite reluctantly!) After the play Toby and Luke went into town, while Rose, John and I enjoyed the ceilidh. They were both very enthusiastic dancers and the Meeting room got much hotter and sweatier than normal!
We came home at about 4 and got ready for our party. By half five, there were loads of people here, and there were until half nine. Just about everyone I had asked or vaguely mentioned it to had come. There was the usual problem of drinks being in the kitchen, so everyone had to process through two full rooms to get to them! An excellent party that has left me feeling very good about things. As usual I hardly had time to chat to some people, but it was great seeing so many people here. It seemed like there were hundreds of children running around. Rose had some party games in her room, John lots of his friends in his and Toby had several big boys playing on the xbox in his room. At 9:30 there were only 3 people left, who helped me sort out the kitchen for the morning.
Today Billy came back to help finish off the tidying, which was great and made it much more interesting than it would otherwise have been. The house is now almost tidier and cleaner than it was before! We don't seem to have broken a single glass!
", "date_published": "2006-01-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/14/football-town-and-sketching/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/14/football-town-and-sketching/", "title": "Football, Town and Sketching", "content_html": "Rose went to her dancing at Southlands this morning - the normal tap, ballet, disco and drama she's been doing for a few years now.Toby went to watch Huddersfield play this afternoon (2-0 against Blackpool), while John went into town with Tom and Rose and I went to the sketchbook workshop at the Artspace. This is part of her Christmas present - they run workshops that are partly teaching techniques and partly getting on with making a sketchbook, really more of a scrapbook, using photos, cards, bits from magazines and whatever else you can find.This evening I read Rose a huge chunk from The Tiger in the Well, another fantastic book by Phillip Pullman. It's got to an extraordinarily exciting part, where she just wants me to read on and on to see what happens next! They're very long chapters though, and after one and a half I was read out. So John and Rose are now in bed and I'm just starting to wonder what Toby is watching on the telly.
", "date_published": "2006-01-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/13/out-of-the-habit/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2006/01/13/out-of-the-habit/", "title": "Out of the Habit", "content_html": "I've really got out of the habit of posting here, so I'm going to try and get going again.
I enjoyed Christmas much more than I expected to. We had a very busy time - an excellent Christmas day at Lance & Mary's with all my side of the family. Then we went down to Fareham to stay with Mandy and David and saw Pat & Maurice too.
We spent new year with James & Emma - the adults just about managed to stay awake, while Toby, John and Rose were full of energy. Then we came home for a couple of days before the start of term.
There has been one whole week of school and a few days before that. Everyone seems to have settled back into it alright. John had a good work assembly this afternoon which was really good. His class performed a version of Julius Caesar. John was the soothsayer, and kept wandering around saying \"Beware the ides of March.\"
Toby and I went to his award ceremony for the Duke of Edinburgh scheme this evening, so he now officially has his Bronze Award. He's just written the letter to apply to go on the Silver Award, so I hope he gets on to that.
I'm having a party on Sunday afternoon/evening, so if you're in the area drop in for a drink from 5pm!
", "date_published": "2006-01-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/23/happy-christmas/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/23/happy-christmas/", "title": "Happy Christmas", "content_html": "I'm afraid I'm not going to get around to posting christmas cards this year, so here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
", "date_published": "2005-12-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/09/technology-projects/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/09/technology-projects/", "title": "Technology Projects", "content_html": "Toby and John have both brought home technology projects this week.
Toby's was a DVD display stand that he made for graphics and John's is a pencil case designed to look like a pizza. Both are excellent - really well made and designed.
I carry on trying to play badminton regularly. I've had to miss a few games over the last month or so, as people have been off school so often, but I've played twice this week to try and make up for it.
I still play Simon most regularly, and he still generally beats me
John's been at home today, just exhausted I think because of the school play and so on this week. Rose has been to school every day this week - the first time for ages. Toby, of course, is doing his paper round, school, youth club, squash… as usual.
", "date_published": "2005-12-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/07/what-will-survive-of-us-is-love/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/07/what-will-survive-of-us-is-love/", "title": "What Will Survive of Us is Love", "content_html": "", "date_published": "2005-12-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/07/scarcroft-christmas-play-and-choir-concert/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/07/scarcroft-christmas-play-and-choir-concert/", "title": "Scarcroft Christmas Play and Choir Concert", "content_html": "Philip Larkin - An Arundel Tomb Side by side, their faces blurred,
The earl and countess lie in stone,
Their proper habits vaguely shown
As jointed armour, stiffened pleat,
And that faint hint of the absurd -
The little dogs under their feet.Such plainness of the pre-baroque
Hardly involves the eye, until
It meets his left-hand gauntlet, still
Clasped empty in the other; and
One sees, with a sharp tender shock,
His hand withdrawn, holding her hand.They would not think to lie so long.
Such faithfulness in effigy
Was just a detail friends would see:
A sculptor's sweet commissioned grace
Thrown off in helping to prolong
The Latin names around the base.They would no guess how early in
Their supine stationary voyage
The air would change to soundless damage,
Turn the old tenantry away;
How soon succeeding eyes begin
To look, not read. Rigidly theyPersisted, linked, through lengths and breadths
Of time. Snow fell, undated. Light
Each summer thronged the grass. A bright
Litter of birdcalls strewed the same
Bone-littered ground. And up the paths
The endless altered people came,Washing at their identity.
Now, helpless in the hollow of
An unarmorial age, a trough
Of smoke in slow suspended skeins
Above their scrap of history,
Only an attitude remains:Time has transfigures them into
Untruth. The stone fidelity
They hardly meant has come to be
Their final blazon, and to prove
Our almost-instinct almost true:
What will survive of us is love.
This afternoon I went to Scarcroft to watch their Christmas play. It was mostly acted by year 6 children, with singing from all the rest of the juniors. John was Narrator 1 and spoke first and last. The play was about \"Santa's Christmas Special \" - a train that goes back in time and space to an ancient British mid-winter festival, Queen Victoria's Christmas, and the birth of Jesus.
Rose is still at school, going off to Selby this evening with the school choir to sing in Selby Abbey. John and I are going to watch her later.
", "date_published": "2005-12-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/06/bright-and-cold/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/06/bright-and-cold/", "title": "Bright & Cold", "content_html": "I went for a run today along the river. It was a really crisp, bright day. Two minutes after leaving our house, you can be beside the river; and within about five minutes you can be running alongside trees and a hedge through a field with sheep in it. It was a bit muddy today, but not too slippery.
Also today, I've had coffee with Michelle at the Blakeshead, and then Ted popped in this afternoon on his way home after an early finish.
", "date_published": "2005-12-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/03/day-of-treats/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/03/day-of-treats/", "title": "Day of Treats", "content_html": "On Friday, I had an excellent day. It started off with Rose going to school, definitely a good start, making four out of five days last week.
I went out with Ted and Dave, first to Bob Jackson Cycles in Leeds. Ted has been given an old frame that he wants cleaning up and respraying. They had a fantastic range of colours to choose from - he chose an unusual pepperminty blue colour - a rather more restful colour that peppermint toothpaste though. The bike shop had some lovely bikes in it, and managed to make Cycle Heaven look rather expensive (it's not as convenient of course).
We went on to have a bit of a browse around the art/book/kitchen shops in Salts Mill. Also of course, to have some lunch. Lovely wild mushroom rissotto for me, tasty looking sausages for Dave and a pizza for Ted.
Got home in time to pick up Rose - John to Nathan's. Rose had Sarah to tea (pizza) and then Toby went out to youth club.
Most unexpectedly Kath rang to say she suddenly had a free theatre ticket that evening, and would I like to go. Managed to get Beth to babysit at the last minute and went out to see Horror for Wimps.
", "date_published": "2005-12-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/01/eleven-not-ten/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/12/01/eleven-not-ten/", "title": "Eleven Not Ten", "content_html": "Of course, I can't count. Yesterday's post looked back ten years to the night before John was born. Of course it was eleven years. So Toby was doing his christmas concert at Knavesmire Nursery, not Scarcroft. The rest was right.
We opened presents this morning after Toby got back from his paper-round. John seemed pleased. He was excited and woke at five this morning, but was considerate enough not to wake anyone else then.
Scarcroft is being inspected by Ofsted yesterday and today. John is leading school council today, and showed one of the inspectors the school allotment yesterday. So the inspectors will probably wonder if any other children do anything!
We had a chinese takeaway this evening, by special request. Katharine was here, and so were Lance and Mary. Delicious meringues for pudding (in spite of being spooned out)!
We finished off the evening by playing John's new board game - The Simpson's Game of Life. Enjoyed by all. And I won!
", "date_published": "2005-12-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/30/jcb-song/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/30/jcb-song/", "title": "JCB Song", "content_html": "I heard the JCB song on the radio for the first time today. John and Rose have been watching its fantastic video on the net for a while, ever since Sam Ballard showed it to them before the summer holiday.
It's quite touching and fun. There's even talk of it being Christmas number 1.
", "date_published": "2005-11-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/30/icing-bag-nozzles/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/30/icing-bag-nozzles/", "title": "Icing Bag Nozzles", "content_html": "I've been making meringues for John's birthday this evening. Cindy always used the icing bag to squirt them out quickly, so I thought that I'd do the same. But I can't find the nozzles anywhere. I can find the icing bag, but not the nozzles.
I think this just shows that it really isn't my job.
The meringues look good though, just not as neat.
It's very odd looking back ten years to the night before John was born. Toby must have been coming towards the end of his first term (part-time) at Scarcroft. Cindy was fantastically well, working hard in Norton, car sharing with Jean. I remember sitting in our kitchen with David while Cindy had contractions, enjoying a sausage sandwich. We were lucky to have so many good times together.
", "date_published": "2005-11-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/26/school-for-scandal/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/26/school-for-scandal/", "title": "School for Scandal", "content_html": "I've just got all the children into bed after coming back from seeing The School for Scandal at York Theatre Royal. It was colourful, funny, bright and interesting - all things that last week's Hamlet weren't. Unfortunately it was also long and combined with the heat this sent both John and Rose to sleep - one on either side of me.
Earlier on today, Toby went to see Huddersfield play with Keith; John, Rose & I played the Harry Potter boardgame and then Rose went off to play with Lily.
", "date_published": "2005-11-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/26/johns-birthday-treat/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/26/johns-birthday-treat/", "title": "John's Birthday Treat", "content_html": "It's John's birthday next Thursday, and he decided to have his birthday treat before his birthday. So last night he had 5 friends (Tom, Robert, Nathan, Jean Luc & Livvy) round for tea and then went on a ghost walk.
For tea we had burgers and chips (his choice honest) and then a chocolate cake from Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes cook book. It was Bruce Bogtrotters cake - the one a child has to eat all of in Matilda. It was incredibly rich and really rather good.
We went out on the ghost walk at seven, all wrapped up in coats, scarves, gloves and coats as it was so cold. Unfortunately we didn't have any snow here, unlike other parts of the country. Everyone enjoyed the walk and didn't get too scared - it was story telling rather than full on scaryness. We came home and had more chocolate cake and warm drinks, and everyone except Tom went home at 9:30. Tom stayed for a sleepover, and went home as I took Rose off to her dancing this morning.
We seem to have got into a routine of all watching What Not to Wear every Wednesday evening, even though it goes on too late for a school night!
We all love laughing at the terrible \"before\" parts, and marvelling at the transformation at the end of each show. I realise that I don't have a leg to stand on in the fashion stakes, but it's still funny. As these reality tv makeover shows go it isn't too bad, and sometimes the changes in people's self-confidence, like last night, is astonishing.
", "date_published": "2005-11-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/24/rose-and-johns-instruments-arrived/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/24/rose-and-johns-instruments-arrived/", "title": "Rose and John's Instruments Arrived", "content_html": "I picked up Rose's flute and John's saxophone on Tuesday and today is the day of their lessons. Rose had borrowed a flute from Sam, so she's had one lesson already, and can play G, A, B & C!! It'll be John's first go though, we haven't even put the reed in his sax yet, in case we got it wrong. He has of course been posing with it, standing on a chair in the kitchen waving it around this morning for instance. Perhaps this evening he'll actually be able to make a note.
After Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday morning off school, Rose went back on Tuesday morning, and had a good time.
She had been exhausted, full of a cold and finding school very difficult. It seemed too busy, with no time for her to be quiet. Rose also finds it difficult to talk about anything like that, so it took a lot of time to be able to talk calmly about when she would feel ready to go to school. However, we managed to on Monday, so on Tuesday I wasn't panicking about getting her up and was able to let her sleep in, so she got about an hour and a half extra sleep. By the afternoon she was quite positive about going back, and she seemed to have a good time.
After school she went to Gemma's and then straight on to gym.
", "date_published": "2005-11-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/21/theatre-theatre-gym-dance-cinema/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/21/theatre-theatre-gym-dance-cinema/", "title": "Theatre, Theatre, Gym, Dance, Cinema", "content_html": "On Friday evening I went to see Jerusalem at the WYP with Lance, while Mary looked after the children (babysat is no longer the right word). Judy and Keith, to whom I had given the tickets, had discovered that they couldn't go after all, so after looking for anyone else who was free, I went.
It was a very good play, seven actors who all played instruments and sang. They burst into modern pop tunes at various points to fit into the story. The put upon son sang a Smiths song and the granny sang a very drunken, aggressive version of Take Me Out. I'm glad I've been back to the WYP before we go to see Alice in Wonderland in the new year.
On Saturday Rose went to a birthday party, and then to a sleep-over. Toby and I went to see Hamlet at the Theatre Royal with Lance and Mary, and John was looked after by Jean. Hamlet seemed really dull, so Toby and I left at half time!
On Sunday, John had a gym competition, in which he won silver for his floor. He'd made up the routine himself and it was brilliant. Rose was at the dance festival with school and did a really good dance to Chattanooga Choo Choo. Then we went out to La Piazza, followed by Harry Potter at the City Screen.
Very busy weekend.
", "date_published": "2005-11-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/17/thursday-already/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/17/thursday-already/", "title": "Thursday Already", "content_html": "- where does the week go?
The problem with writing several days at a time, is that I can't quite remember what I did when! However looking at my diary -
Monday - supermarket and in the afternoon to Millthorpe with John and Rose's classes to see Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, their Christmas production. Excellent. As Toby has been so uninterested in this sort of thing, we've had practically no idea it's been happening, but there are obviously lots of opportunities for singing, dancing and acting. Some of the main parts were pupils in year 8, so that could be John in 2 years time! It was also good for John to have another chance to get into Millthorpe, so it isn't so unknown next year.
Tuesday, I saw Ted briefly, before having coffee with Alison and then lunch with Lance and Mary.
Wednesday - John was off school, and Rose was off school today - so I had to cancel badminton with Mark again. Oh and I went to the pub with Steve on Wednesday evening.
", "date_published": "2005-11-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/13/brimham-rocks/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/13/brimham-rocks/", "title": "Brimham Rocks", "content_html": "We went to Brimham Rocks today with Kath and Louis. It was a fantastic day, really bright and warm (in the sun), but crisp and properly autumnal. Apart from the café being rushed off their feet, and almost out of food, we had an excellent time. Lots of climbing up and sliding down these really oddly shaped rocks. Then we came back here for neck of lamb hotpot and pears and chocolate cake.
The last time we went to Brimham Rocks was in the spring I think. I seem to recall that it was one of the first places we took Cindy in the wheelchair. It's very strange going back to places without her.
", "date_published": "2005-11-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/12/training-day/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/12/training-day/", "title": "Training Day", "content_html": "John and Rose were off school yesterday, as it was a teacher training day.
Rose's friend Anna had organised a day filming a play, so Rose was over there all day and had a super time.
John wanted to go to Eden Camp again (he went with school last year.) We left after dropping Rose at Anna's and spent several hours looking around this very interesting museum. His history topic last year has left him very interested in World War II - he keeps getting books, Vera Lynn cds and other bits and pieces.
Toby had to go to school, of couse, but Fridays are a good day for him, so he wasn't too put out. He's got a training day in a couple of weeks anyway.
", "date_published": "2005-11-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/12/steptoe-and-son/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/12/steptoe-and-son/", "title": "Steptoe & Son", "content_html": "I've just got the children into bed after going out this evening to see Steptoe & Son at York Theatre Royal. Rose and I went on a tour round the theatre on Tuesday and liked the look of the set.
We all enjoyed the play, Rose didn't get too tired out and everyone needed pittas and muffins when we got home. The set was great - a very crowded \"totters\" front room, which opened right out at the end to allow them to depart on their horse from the back.
The play was about the death of father Steptoe (can't remember either of their names - was one of them Harold?) at the hands of his son after years of provocation. The son comes back to the house, which has been preserved by the National Trust, as an old man, and meets the ghost of his father. Most of the play is flash-backs through the two men's lives.
Most of the rest of the day was spent stuffing envelopes for the latest Lammas Records mailshot. Lunch with Lance and Mary.
", "date_published": "2005-11-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/09/toby-still-home/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/09/toby-still-home/", "title": "Toby Still Home", "content_html": "Toby slept from 7:30 yesterday evening till 8:30 this morning - I had to phone the paper shop to say he wouldn't be in. He also had a bit more sleep from about 9:30 to 11 this morning, but then he got up and had something to eat. He ate his usual huge amount at tea today, so I think he's getting back to normal. He had headaches, runny nose, sore throat and a cough; but mainly he was just tired out and run down.
John went to an athletics thing at Millthorpe after school this afternoon. He had a fantastic time, and the Scarcroft team came second.
Rose had Gemma to play after school. They got lots of embossing stuff out in Rose's room, and then put it away. Shock, horror!
", "date_published": "2005-11-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/08/theatre-trip-and-toby-home/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/08/theatre-trip-and-toby-home/", "title": "Theatre Trip & Toby Home", "content_html": "Toby's been off school today - dreadful cold, headache and runny nose. He slept for over three hours in the middle of the day, so he must have been worn out as well. He still feels rather ill tonight, so I'm not certain he'll go tomorrow.
I went with Rose's class to York Theatre Royal this morning. It was great. A very interesting tour with talk of ghosts, sailors backstage and pantomimes. Both sets that are up looked good and I came home wanting to go to both plays! Rose enjoyed herself as well and has been much better today in general.
", "date_published": "2005-11-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/07/home-and-shakespeare/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/07/home-and-shakespeare/", "title": "Home & Shakespeare", "content_html": "Rose has been at home today. Worn out and miserable this morning. We went to the supermarket together - as we had no food! After lunch Rose started tooting on the flute Sam has lent her. She's going to start lessons this week, and John is going to start saxophone lessons once his instrument we're getting through the council arrives.
Went into town with John and Rose to get John some outdoor shoes and buy music for sax and flute.
Rose managed to get to sleep quite early, and Toby, John and I watched Much Ado About Nothing, the first in the new BBC Shakespeare series. Really enjoyed it. Toby and John are both doing Shakespeare at school, so they knew all about him!
Off with Rose's class in the morning to go back stage at the Theatre Royal. Should be interesting.
", "date_published": "2005-11-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/06/bonfire-weekend/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/06/bonfire-weekend/", "title": "Bonfire Weekend", "content_html": "We went to two lovely bonfire parties this weekend.
On Friday we went to John and Katie's. They had a huge bonfire on their allotment, with fireworks. Properly dark, away from all the houses and streetlights. Afterwards, we went back to their house for souper soup, cheese and bread. They must have bought most of the Good Food Shop's bread, because there was lots of several types. And Mrs Bell's Blue - my favourite. We'd already eaten, but seemed to have room for more.
Saturday was the day of the city fireworks. The council were remarkably cagey about where they were going to be, just saying they would be \"Skyline Fireworks display (to be viewed from the city centre)\". This resulted in lots of rumours and people wandering aimlessly about. However, the fireworks were good - we were right next to a boat that set off about a million firecrackers - this alarmed Rose somewhat!
Then we went on to Sam and Steve's to let off our own fireworks and eat homemade toffee!
Today I went to Meeting while everyone else lounged around all morning (actually not fair, Toby was working hard on typing up his essay). John, Rose and I went swimming in the afternoon, and later on we went round to the Holmans' for tea and cake.
", "date_published": "2005-11-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/03/tobys-piano-lessons/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/11/03/tobys-piano-lessons/", "title": "Toby's Piano Lessons", "content_html": "Toby decided after the summer holiday that he wanted to have piano lessons again. He tinkled quite a lot over the summer and learnt some music from \"Pop Hits.\" I think he wants to do it partly because he's doing Music GCSE, partly because he can use it towards his Duke of Edinburgh Award, and partly because he was enjoying playing again.
The first teacher we found didn't turn out very well - he was a little odd and Toby just didn't like his style of teaching or playing.
The new teacher Toby has got is a young man who is doing a Master's degree in Improvised Music and Jazz at the University. He's very keen and enthusiastic, has been teaching for several years already, and Toby is really enjoying it. Toby's learning to improvise, learning some boogie woogie tunes and playing the piano frequently - which regardless of anything else has got to be good.
", "date_published": "2005-11-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/31/donations-to-oxfam/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/31/donations-to-oxfam/", "title": "Donations to Oxfam", "content_html": "When I was at Meeting yesterday I picked up a letter that was waiting for me in the pigeon holes.
It was from Oxfam and said that £872.01 had been donated at Cindy's funeral. I've also had a few other letters from their central office telling me that other people had donated money in memory of Cindy. So the grand total must be nearly £1000.
", "date_published": "2005-10-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/30/half-term/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/30/half-term/", "title": "Half Term", "content_html": "We've had a busy week, which is one reason I haven't written about it, and the other is that we were away from computers for half of it.
From Saturday morning to Tuesday evening the four of us went to Hunstanton. We stayed in the youth hostel, ate a couple of meals in an excellent pub, lots more nice meals elsewhere, went on a boat trip to see seals, ten pin bowled, went swimming, walked along the beach, watched paragliders, went to the cinema, saw butterflies, birds and llamas at a wildlife centre and generally had a good time.
Once we had got home, Rose in particular had a busy time. She went to Young Embroiderers with Nok on two mornings, and to a wood working thing on another with Lily.
John and Toby went to the Apple Mac show in London with Lance on Friday
Friday evening Kath came round for a meal. She had been going to bring Louis too, but with the boys being off and Louis having a party, it was just her. Very good to sit and chat to her. Nice meal too.
We saw Jane and her friend Merrial on Saturday. They took Rose to have her hair cut at Glen & Julio's - which was an experience apparently. Toby went to watch Huddersfield with Keith. We had supper at Lance and Mary's.
Today we went to Meeting for the first time since Cindy's funeral. I knew I would find it very difficult and I did. Lasted about 20 minutes and then sat in the library with Cathy.
In the afternoon we went swimming (took Lily too), then John and Rose went out to a Halloween Party at Lottie and Polly's. I made a lovely lamb and spinach curry for tea.
", "date_published": "2005-10-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/19/sarah-to-hospital/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/19/sarah-to-hospital/", "title": "Sarah to Hospital", "content_html": "I went over to Will and Sarah's today to take Sarah to hospital. She's got a bad case of conjunctivitis which had been agravated by eye drops she had been given. Her sight wasn't up to driving, and she wanted someone to look after Jack and Grace while she was seeing the doctor. She got another appointment for next week, but the doctor reckoned she should be ok.
", "date_published": "2005-10-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/18/coffee-and-harvest/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/18/coffee-and-harvest/", "title": "Coffee and Harvest", "content_html": "I had coffee with Michelle this morning at the Blakehead Bookshop and Café - oh yeah and a huge plate of mushrooms on toast. Long chat. She had Dominic with her - what a charming child, smiley and cheerful.
Then in the afternoon it was John and Rose's Harvest festival. Excellent as all Scarcroft things seem to be at the moment. Rose's class sang several WWII songs - not really a harvest link, but… John's class didn't do a huge amount - 1 poem - but I expect that all their effort went into last Friday's superb Good Work Assembly.
John has no gym this week or next, and Rose was taken by Jenny and picked up by Mark, so not a busy evening. Early to bed.
", "date_published": "2005-10-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/17/theatre-tickets/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/17/theatre-tickets/", "title": "Theatre Tickets", "content_html": "Cindy & I had organised this term's worth of big deal tickets. I decided that I didn't want to go without her, so I've given them away to family and friends.
Sam and Steve went to see Twelfth Night (review).
Mary and her sister Anne went to see My Mother Said I Never Should (Anne said it was interesting!).
Judy and Keith are going to see Jerusalem.
And Jo and Bill are going to see Dead Funny.
", "date_published": "2005-10-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/17/roses-photos/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/17/roses-photos/", "title": "Rose's Photos", "content_html": "Just had a film from Rose's camera developed. It starts with photos of last year's Christmas tree, so it's been in there a while. There are a couple of lovely photos of Rose, Cindy and Mary.
John, Rose and I cycled this morning along the cycle track to Naburn on the Scarcroft HSP cycle ride. Nice leisurely ride that we all managed easily with lunch at Naburn.
Then this afternoon we went to see Wallace and Gromit. Excellent film really enjoyed by all.
After a lovely tea of lamb chops for John and I and spinach and feta pie for Rose, we went to pick up Toby from the station. He's had a lovely time with Jane and Andy - really enjoyed himself and has come home full of the joys of the big city! Lovely to have him back.
", "date_published": "2005-10-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/15/roses-dance-show/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/15/roses-dance-show/", "title": "Rose's Dance Show", "content_html": "Rose's dance show has been taking up a lot of time the last few weekends and I finally got to see the finished thing tonight. I was amazed. It was very good indeed and Rose looked very grown up in her various costumes (flower, sailor and spoon!)
Rose has got exhausted with the dress rehearsal last night, and then two performances today, so I hope she'll have a bit of a lie in tomorrow.
Rose and I went to the station to wave off Toby. He is spending this weekend in London with Jane and Andy. It's the first time he's gone on a train journey by himself, and although I was sure he would be ok, it still felt very strange watching the train pull out with him in it.
He was met by Jane at Kings Cross so all was well. On his journey, he texted me several times, so it's not even as though I didn't know where he was!
Rose went off to a dress rehearsal for her dance show Alice in Wonderland. So it was just John and I at home - very quiet indeed.
", "date_published": "2005-10-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/13/walk-in-the-wolds/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/13/walk-in-the-wolds/", "title": "Walk in the Wolds", "content_html": "I went for a walk in the Yorkshire Wolds today with David Campbell. We left after dropping children at schools and drove to Kirby Underdale. It was about 8½ miles round trip from there to Thixendale and back. The weather was a bit grey and misty, but it didn't actually rain! In Thixendale we looked at the building that used to be a youth hostel, that I stayed at with Will about 7 years ago. It's now heavily renovated, looking much better and is used as a village hall.
This evening John and Rose have been out to Stomp, a very exciting percussion/dance show with all the Emericks. They came home at about 9:45 very excited and hyper. I have been out to the Scarcroft pub quiz for a bit - with Kjartan comparing the quiz. Shame I won't find out the answers!
", "date_published": "2005-10-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/12/new-look/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/12/new-look/", "title": "New Look", "content_html": "I've spent some time over the last couple of months setting up a \"new look\" for the website.
And here it is… I hope you like it. I'm sure there are a few wrinkles still left to be sorted out, if you see any let me know.
", "date_published": "2005-10-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/12/cindys-grave/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/12/cindys-grave/", "title": "Cindy's Grave", "content_html": "I went to the cemetery yesterday and took some photos of where Cindy's ashes are buried.
cindygrave
Cindy's ashes are buried in York Cemetery (map), here's a map of exactly where:
", "date_published": "2005-10-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/10/poem-from-the-holmans/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/10/poem-from-the-holmans/", "title": "Poem from the Holmans", "content_html": "This poem is one that the Holmans chose to read at Cindy's funeral, but didn't find a space to.
", "date_published": "2005-10-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/09/cindys-birthday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/09/cindys-birthday/", "title": "Cindy's Birthday", "content_html": "The Dead
The dead are always looking down on us, they say,
while we are putting on our shoes or making a sandwich,
they are looking down through glass-bottom boats of heaven
as they row themselves slowly through eternity.They watch the tops of our heads moving below on earth,
and when we lie down in a field or on a couch,
drugged perhaps by the hum of a warm afternoon,
they think we are looking back at them,which makes them lift their oars and fall silent
and wait, like parents for us to close our eyes.Billy Collins
Today would have been Cindy's 44th birthday.
To celebrate we are going out this evening to La Piazza for a meal.
John, Rose and I have spent the afternoon at Beningbrough Hall with David, Mimi and Jocelyn Campbell. Have climbed trees, run around, had scones and generally enjoyed ourselves. Toby has been working very hard on his graphics project and then went out with Tom Robinson.
John was elected onto the school council a couple of weeks ago - a boy and each girl get chosen by each class. Today they had their first meeting and John was selected to be President. It was a very close run thing, he only won by one vote. Tomorrow the world!
I had lunch today with Cathy. It was great to sit and chat with her.
", "date_published": "2005-10-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/05/millthorpe-visit/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/05/millthorpe-visit/", "title": "Millthorpe Visit", "content_html": "John has been off school today with tummy bug, but he was well enough to go round Millthorpe School in preparation for moving up next year.
He recognised lots of the pupils who were there, which made him feel better the change - not that he seems worried. All the pupils were very chatty and seemed well balanced enough! I think it's really difficult to tell what a school is like from the outside though. Toby seems to get on well there, so…
All Saints next week, but I should think it'll be Millthorpe for John and Rose - there will have to be very compelling reasons if not.
", "date_published": "2005-10-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/04/very-busy/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/10/04/very-busy/", "title": "Very Busy", "content_html": "It seems strange writing here now, which is one reason why I haven't posted for a week or so. But I intend to carry on using the diary, so I'll just start writing!
I feel as though we are very busy at the moment and that I'm running to stand still. The children are continuing with their various activities - gym, dance, squash, homework, school (of course), piano… which makes us busy enough anyway, and of couse there is only me to take and pick up. Lots of people are being very helpful with lifts and so on (big thanks to Saffron & Jenny, Mark & Michelle and particularly my parents), but it still feels busy. I'm also having a bit of trouble holding in my head who's doing what when - but then the start of term is always like that.
I'm busy in the day time too - still lots of paper work to get through and it's always nice seeing friends for coffee etc. I'm also playing badminton with Simon as usual and with Bill today for a change.
We're all ok most of the time - quite tired, finding it a bit difficult to get to sleep, but mostly ok. All of us are sad from time to time of course.
The house feels very quiet - it's like when one of the children go away for the weekend. You can just feel something missing all the time. I'm sure I'll eventually get used to it, but it is strange.
", "date_published": "2005-10-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/27/service-for-the-burial-of-ashes-of-cindy-tarrant/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/27/service-for-the-burial-of-ashes-of-cindy-tarrant/", "title": "Service for the Burial of Ashes of Cindy Tarrant", "content_html": "Held at York Cemetery on
Tuesday 27th September 2005
A Intro :- We are met as a family to say our final farewell to Cindy Tarrant and to commit her ashes to be buried.
\"Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.\"
B A short period of silence to remember Cindy
C Readings, recollections, memories - by the family
1 Corinthians 15. 51-57 - Read by Mandy
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: \"Death is swallowed up in victory.\"
\"O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?\"
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
\"Remember Me\" by Christina Rossetti - Read by Jayne
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
From \"Having a Good Time. Thoughts about my family and other things.\" One of Cindy's diaries - Read by Edward
Certainly if there is life after death I am going to be a runner and I will run every day because I can.
D Committal Since the earthly life of Cindy Tarrant has come to an end we commit her ashes to be buried, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, trusting in the infinite mercy of God. May she rest in peace.
Soil into grave
E Short period of silence
F Prayer
God of Love
who brought us to birth
and in whose arms we die:
in our grief and loss
give us hope
and embrace us with your love;
through Jesus Christ. Amen
Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer. Grant them peace, let light perpetual shine upon them, and in your loving wisdom work in them the good purpose of your perfect will. Amen.
G Closing words
Help us in the face of the mystery of death to turn towards the future that Cindy's
energy for other people
inspiration as a teacher
joy for life
and love for her friends and family
may live on in our lives
and at the end may we face death with the same courage that she showed.
++++++
\"May the souls of the faithful, by the mercy of God, rest in peace.\"
+++++++
", "date_published": "2005-09-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/21/announcements-in-papers/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/21/announcements-in-papers/", "title": "Announcements in Papers", "content_html": "Today's Guardian has an announcement of Cindy's death and funeral. Here's the page:
The same text is in tonight's York Evening Press.
", "date_published": "2005-09-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/19/photos-of-mandys-birthday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/19/photos-of-mandys-birthday/", "title": "Photos of Mandy's Birthday", "content_html": "I've put up some photos from Mandy's birthday weekend here in York. There are several of Cindy.
There are also more photos added to the Photos of Cindy gallery.
I've had a busy day doing forms for probate, inheritance tax and Cindy's pension. I also had to go to the supermarket and I met John Rack for coffee this afternoon.
The children are tired, particularly Rose, after her weekend away.
I'm tired too.
", "date_published": "2005-09-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/17/one-week-on/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/17/one-week-on/", "title": "One Week On", "content_html": "It has been a week since Cindy was last in the house. It seems so recent, but things are so different.
Our lives continue though. I got new glasses in the week, I chose them with Cindy about a week and a half ago, but she'll never see me wearing them. Rose has gone away for the weekend with Yorkshire General Meeting 8-10 year olds to Barmoor.
Toby went off with Keith this afternoon to watch Huddersfield play. John and I went over to Will and Sarah's, they cooked on the barbeque for us.
", "date_published": "2005-09-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/16/new-photos-of-cindy/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/16/new-photos-of-cindy/", "title": "New Photos of Cindy", "content_html": "Here's the first photo of Cindy that anyone has sent - from Simon Palmour.
More please, if you have any.
", "date_published": "2005-09-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/16/friday-to-friday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/16/friday-to-friday/", "title": "Friday to Friday", "content_html": "Written on Saturday 10th.
On Friday we had planned to go to the hospital for Cindy to have a chest x-ray as a baseline for her new treatment (Tarceva).
However, in the morning, when she took her first tablet, which was one of the tarceva tablets, it got stuck in her throat, and she tried to have a coughing fit to dislodge it. This exhausted her and caused her even more breathing problems than usual. The oxygen we had at home didn't seem to be enough to help her, so I ended up ringing 999. A paramedic arrived very quickly, shortly followed by an ambulance, who took Cindy and me to the hospital.
This was all happening just at the normal getting ready for school time, so all three children were upset and frightened. Rose had made her own packup, but John and Toby went to school without a lunch. Rose went over to Jo's who put her hair in a bobble for her, John and Toby went straight off to school. J + R were ok, I phoned Scarcroft who sorted out a lunch for John. Toby was ok during the morning, but at lunch time he came home to find still no-one there. He got upset and worried (understandably), phoned Lance and Mary and found Sam there, who came round and got him lunch and looked after him, so he didn't go back to school that afternoon.
Cindy, meanwhile, was having heart traces that showed a heart rate of 140-160, which is slightly fast! She was put on large amounts of oxygen, given oramorph which as well as relieving pain helps with breathing problems and glycerine to try and help slow her heart rate. She also had physiotherapy to help her try to shift the tablet and and any fluid on her chest. At about 1 she was moved from A&E to the Medical Admissions Unit, first into a three bed room, and later into a room by herself.
We saw the Lung Cancer Specialist Nurse, the hospital McMillan nurse and several doctors and made it clear that we wanted Cindy to come home as soon as possible. I came home at about 2, buying breakfast and lunch on the way, saw Toby at home and then went to pick up John and Rose.
Dr Schofield got a lot of oxygen delivered for when Cindy is able to come home but we're going to have an oxygen concentrator fitted next week.
We had fish and chips for tea, watched Shrek. I read Rose a huge chapter from The Ruby in the Smoke and then watched I dreadful outtakes programme.
A doctor phoned during the evening to say that Cindy was still on too high concentrations of oxygen to come home immediately, but that she was settling down, her heart rate was slowing and she should be able to come home soon.
This morning Rose danced, Toby went to squash, John and I tidied his room. We're going to go and see Cindy this afternoon. Jean went this morning.
End of what was written on Saturday 10th.
We went to see Cindy on Saturday afternoon. She was incredibly short of breath, but was just about able to talk to us. We left her and came home at about 5pm. James Rand was popped in for the evening and night, so I was able to go back to the hospital for the evening, come back and say good night and go back to the hospital till about 2:30am. Cindy was extremely agitated during the night and seemed in a lot of pain. She was given more morphine, something else that was a sedative and was still on lots of oxygen. By the time I left her she was more settled.
On Sunday morning, I took John and Rose to Meeting, and then they went on to Oscar and Lily's. Toby went to Luke's. I came home and phoned family, then went into the hospital.
Cindy was very peaceful, lying quietly. I'm not sure if she was aware that I was there. The nurse said when she'd come in to work at about 7am, Cindy had been aware there was different staff, so she might have known that I had arrived. She was breathing very lightly. I held her hand, spoke to her and read to her. Gradually her breathing got shallower and shallower, until finally I called for a nurse and the doctor pronounced her dead at about 2:30pm.
I stayed with her for about an hour, then went to find the children. We all came back together to see Cindy and say goodbye.
Mandy and David arrived at about 6pm, and went over to the hospital. Pat & Maurice, who'd come up with Jayne didn't arrive till about 10pm, and we didn't see them till Monday morning.
On Monday, after we'd seen Jayne, Pat & Maurice; Toby, John, Rose and I went to Whitby with Mandy and David. I didn't want the children to go into school, and I wanted to get out somewhere. Whitby was somewhere Cindy always enjoyed visiting, so I thought it would be nice.
I've never been to Whitby on a day like that - it was very hot and sunny, the sea was like a millpond. Normally, it's grey, windy,with spray coming up off the sea. We had fish and chips and walked on the harbour wall. The children were happy and enjoyed themselves.
On Tuesday the children went back to school and I started on the practicalities. Using Cindy's notes that she made with Rosemary at meeting, I've started to arrange the funeral. I've found a very nice spot in the old Victorian cemetery in York to bury Cindy's ashes. There will be a funeral on Sunday 25 September for anyone who would like to come, and a private burial of the ashes later.
On the whole we are all doing alright. There are obviously times when the children or I feel awful, but generally we are getting on with things. We've had loads of cards. It's wonderful to see how many people's lives Cindy affected.
", "date_published": "2005-09-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/16/cindy-tarrant-9th-october-1961-11-september-2005/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/16/cindy-tarrant-9th-october-1961-11-september-2005/", "title": "Cindy Tarrant. 9th October 1961 - 11 September 2005", "content_html": "We are very sorry to have to tell you of the death of
Cindy Tarrant.
Cindy died calmly and peacefully on Sunday 11th September 2005 in York District Hospital.
The funeral is to be held on Sunday 25th September 2005 at 3pm in Friargate Friends Meeting House, Friargate, York YO1 9RL.
All are welcome.
Edward Andrews
Toby John & Rose
We are preparing a Book of Memories of Cindy's life.
If you have any favourite photos, or thoughts about Cindy you would like to write down for us, you can post them to me, add them as comments to this website or bring them to the funeral.
No flowers. donations to Oxfam.
", "date_published": "2005-09-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/12/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/12/diary/", "title": "12 September", "content_html": "To Whitby with Mandy + David. Pat, Maurice, Jayne to Minster & town.
Amazingly warm day - hottest we’ve ever had in Whitby. FnC for lunch. Wander round town, walk on harbour walls. Very good to be out together - children happy & enjoying themselves.
Say goodbye to James. Toby to Luke’s, John + Rose to Meeting and then to Oscar & Lil’s. Phone Kate, L + M, message on Jane’s machine. Mandy coming up. Pat + Maurice - will phone Jayne. To hospital. C very calm, quiet. On nose oxygen thing rather than mask. Syringe driver, drip off. Read to her, stroke her arm, face. Nurse Tina said she had response when first on shift 7:15, I don’t see any. Read paper, reminisce out loud. Go down for lunch in cafe. Back to C, talk, read paper - notice C very quiet. Still breathing just. Tell her I love her, we all love her, will miss her. Stops breathing 2:30ish.
Go to Luke’s 3:30ish. Tell Toby - cries, hugs, wants to see C. To Chris + Ted. J + R back from swimming. Talk in garden. V tearful. Ted takes us to hospital. We spend hour or so saying goodbye - Rose takes daisy chain for C. Lovely idea. Home. Mandy + David arrive + go see C. Cathy brings soup, Chris made pudding - thanks. Phone people. Pat + Maurice + Jayne arrive Travelodge about 10. Have to tell them on phone. 1:30 v tired can’t sleep, green tea.
", "date_published": "2005-09-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/10/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/10/diary/", "title": "10 September", "content_html": "Jean to sit with Cindy AM - Cindy’s request. Rose dance, Toby paper round + squash. J + I tidy his room. PM to hospital via town. New watch for J, ballet shoes, piano music. Cindy lucid, difficult to understand, dry mouth, breathing v laboured. James to stay overnight. Stir fry. I go back to C 8-10, phone Cathy & Chris. Then back again after talking to Helen on phone. Cindy very restless & Uncomfortable from time to time. Given more morphine and sedative. Home 2:30.
", "date_published": "2005-09-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/09/diary/", "title": "9 September", "content_html": "Cindy feels pill lodged in throat. V bad breathing episode. 999, hospital. Heart traces, oxygen, physio… To MAU ward 1ish, soon into single room. I came home 2 ish after chat with hospital McMillan nurse & Dr Helen, keen for C to be home if poss. C very anxious. High amounts of oxygen. Home 2:30 Toby at L + M with Sam. Pick up J + R. FnC for tea, T to youth club. Watch Shrek/Simpsons. Bed.
", "date_published": "2005-09-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/08/practical-day/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/08/practical-day/", "title": "Practical Day", "content_html": "Kate Hodge our MacMillan nurse came round today, to chat about practical things. She's sorted out some extra painkillers for Cindy. Cindy wanted to have some available, because she's worried about things getting worse at the weekends when everyone who knows her is unavailable. Kate is also going to sort out a care plan for other weekend eventualities, so Cindy doesn't end up in hospital unnecessarily.
We also wanted to talk to Kate about what benefits I should be claiming, now that I've finally finished being ill at Cawood. It seems it's a good thing we spent all our savings on the kitchen! I'm going to claim for income support and carer's allowance. Income support is based on Cindy's income too, so we'll see what we get!
This evening I went to a Year 6 parents' evening for John's class. We were filled in on plans for the year, what and when the tests are, and lots of info about Sex Education (growing up) and PSHCE - which sounds fun. John seems to have settled in really well and has decided he likes Mrs McClure following a chat about Malorie Blackman, whose books John is really enjoying at the moment.
", "date_published": "2005-09-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/08/diary/", "title": "8 September", "content_html": "Kate Hodge in morning. Discussed practicalities. More Handling Sin. Put off Alison F. C too tired. C long chat with Toby in the evening ~ 1 1/2 hours. Just general things I think.
", "date_published": "2005-09-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/07/edward-goes-swimming/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/07/edward-goes-swimming/", "title": "Edward Goes Swimming", "content_html": "After years of looking enviously at people who can swim front crawl efficiently and smoothly, I've decided to learn myself. So I've enrolled in a \"Swim for Fitness and Stroke Improvement\" class. I've just got back from it! It's from 9:20 till 10:00 - just a bit late really. I think I'm going to be starving in half an hour.
Not too bad - some very tiring crawl exercises; just legs, or arms or legs and one arm… I wasn't too slow - I didn't feel I was in the wrong class.
See how it goes for the rest of the term.
", "date_published": "2005-09-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/07/diary/", "title": "7 September", "content_html": "John + Rose to school. AM read some Handling Sin. PM Ruth Cory rubbed Cindy’s feet, so C downstairs up and down very slowly on her bottom. Toby to piano - better lesson. J + R to Claire + Beth’s after school - made fabric flowers , one for Rose, one for Cindy.
", "date_published": "2005-09-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/07/all-back-to-school/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/07/all-back-to-school/", "title": "All Back to School", "content_html": "Toby started year 10 yesterday - looking very smart in his blue T-shirt (lower school wear white - he's really a big boy now!) He has either music or Design Technology each day which he sees as light relief, so he's pleased with his timetable.
John (year 6 - last year at Scarcroft) and Rose (year 5 - Ms Gornall) back today. All up and dressed nice and early. Rose and Anna making plans to walk to school by themselves, as Tom and John do already. So I may soon be redundent for the school run. They seem excited to be back at school. This afternoon they are being picked up by Claire and Beth Gillam and are going around to their house to make fabric roses. This was arranged yesterday when Claire and Beth popped round to say hello, show off several textiles projects they had done and show us pictures of Kit's wedding.
Cindy came down the stairs on her bottom relatively early today, about 11am. We went down the road to do some food shopping and she's now waiting for Ruth Corry to come and visit her.
", "date_published": "2005-09-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/06/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/06/diary/", "title": "6 September", "content_html": "The previous entry was the last Cindy wrote in her diary. A while after Cindy died I made very brief notes of what happened during this week.
Toby back to school Edward and John to supermarket. Claire + Beth round in afternoon to chat and show some craft things. C upstairs all day. No, I think she came down after C & B went. I carried her down, which she found uncomfortable. Went for a walk along the river again.
Woke quite late this morning - didn’t even hear Toby go out. Thought I’d taken the morning slowly, but had a nasty breathing episode after having a wee. Took me quite a time to recover, I felt exhausted. Edward into town with John + Rose. Toby still doing bits on his truck and over to Andy’s in the afternoon. After E cycles to L + M’s to return computer box and picks up O2 prescription. he returns and carries me downstairs and takes me for a walk. Absolutely fantastic to get outside. Warm and a light breeze on my face. Glistening river water, people out enjoying themselves. Lovely. Sat at the table for tea and then outside in the yard for coffee. Great afternoon.
", "date_published": "2005-09-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/05/cindy-downstairs/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/05/cindy-downstairs/", "title": "Cindy Downstairs", "content_html": "Late in the afternoon, Cindy came downstairs. I pushed her in the wheelchair along the landing to the stairs and then gave her a piggy back downstairs. After she'd recovered, we went out for a walk along the river.
We were also all able to eat tea together and watch a documentary film about the sea (Deep Blue).
It really was great to have Cindy with us. She also says that it was a relief to be out of the bedroom. She's getting a bit bored of the same four walls!
", "date_published": "2005-09-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/04/diary/", "title": "4 September", "content_html": "E went off to Meeting with John and Rose. Toby put his car back together. Dressed and sat in my chair. Experiencing some pain. I took some pain killers which make me feel very lightheaded. Michelle came with Betty’s cake and lovely juice. E makes us tea and we sit and chat. Start to feel very nauseous. Jo bobs in and I have to send her away to be sick. Just as E brings up nice roast lamb! J + R enjoy swimming. T goes off over to Luke’s. Fall asleep v. quickly - exhausted with a rather erratic breathing day.
", "date_published": "2005-09-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/03/saturday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/03/saturday/", "title": "Saturday", "content_html": "Boring title I know - never mind.
In the morning: Toby went off to play squash for the first time at York RI. He's stopping playing football, so decided to find a new sport and squash fits the bill well - local, indoor, so all year round, fast and energetic. He had a really good session and is going again on Tuesday.
John, Rose and I went down to Bishopthorpe Road for shopping and sweets. We bought back buns. I ate mine with Cindy while listening to BBC Radio 4 comedy - the \"Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain\" playing Smells like Teen Spirit. Very funny.
PM: J, R & I to university for Einstein Day, about Rockets. Set off stomp rockets and water rockets, and watched a solid fuel rocket go up about 100m. Displays about the planets and telescope (we brought home a make your own cardboard telescope) and two using liquid nitrogen to demonstrate super conductivity. Fun.
Toby put his remote control car back together - still not sure if it works though.
Evening: Rose and I went for a walk in the twilight/dark - across the Millennium Bridge, up the other side of the river to Skeldergate Bridge and then home along Bishopthorpe Road. Saw bats and had a good chat.
", "date_published": "2005-09-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/03/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/03/diary/", "title": "3 September", "content_html": "Woke about 5:30 still feeling the same - so disappointing. E helps me wash and I get dressed to sit in the chair. I keep slipping down the bed and have started getting niggly aches and pains from being in bed - can do without that! E takes J + R down Bishy for shopping - Toby off to play squash with Andy - includes some coaching, not bad for £2. He also had a piano lesson yesterday. So he’s all set up. E to the uni with John + Rose for Einstein Day. I chat to Anne O’Hanlon on the phone - she’s really into sailing with her family. Speak also to Phil + Michelle - she’s coming tomorrow. Looking forward to E’s curry.
", "date_published": "2005-09-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/02/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/02/diary/", "title": "2 September", "content_html": "Had hoped for a return to the improvement I felt on Wed this morning, but it was not to be. E took the children out shopping for school things this morning and then he and the boys to badminton. Judy came this afternoon with large bag of magazines. J + R busy with their rooms, Toby too. Judy helped out with the hoover for R. As Judy left Jo popped in with news of her camping at Bishopthorpe and teh offer they have put on a house. Amazingly felt quite tired must have fallen asleep about 10:30.
", "date_published": "2005-09-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/01/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/01/diary/", "title": "1 September", "content_html": "With O2 walked to + from the loo around 6am. Felt I’d turned a corner. Then smack back. Had to get there pretty quick around 8-9 and had terrible breathing episode. E wheeled me back eventually. Tried again around 11:30 + had to call for M. Disappointed - poor all day. E took all fossil hunting near Brid. M came and made me coffee. I could hear the hoover and I think she’s done a touch of cleaning Jools came with Freddie - 10lbs now and very bonny. I held him quite a lot, it was very nice. Lovely chatting to Jools - my day is much nicer if somebody bobs in. E back about 5 - they’d had a good time except for Rose getting her fingers trapped in the boot. Long chat with Mandy and Dave.
", "date_published": "2005-09-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/01/danes-dyke/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/09/01/danes-dyke/", "title": "Dane's Dyke", "content_html": "I went off today with the children to Dane's Dyke to look for fossils. It's supposed to be good for fossils in the chalk, but we didn't find any.
We were going to go onto Hunmanby Gap, but just as we were packing the car to go, John unfortunately shut Rose's finger in the boot of the car and gave it a huge knock. Luckily, it wasn't broken, but it hurt like mad, so after running it under a tap in the toilets and an ice cream, we came straight home.
Cindy spent the day in bed, but Joolz came to see her this afternoon. She's tired again - after the excitement of getting out of bed yesterday!
", "date_published": "2005-09-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/31/much-better-day/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/31/much-better-day/", "title": "Much Better Day", "content_html": "After a really bad couple of days, today was much better.
Cindy managed to get up after lunch, then I pushed her in her wheelchair into town. We went to Capaldi's for coffe, where - lo and behold - we bumped into the children who had gone out with Lance and Mary.
Cindy stayed up for tea and is now watching Daziel and Pascoe. Lovely to have her downstairs!
", "date_published": "2005-08-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/31/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/31/diary/", "title": "31 August", "content_html": "Despite spending all day in bed I slept solidly. Woke up and felt very spaced out and strange. Couldn’t get to bathroom - resort to bucket - oh the shame! Doze all morning on and off. Children out to party (Rose) and L + M for the day. E makes me some nice butternut squash soup - I manage a little. Then I determine to get up. E pushes me along the hall and with quivering knees I get downstairs. E walks me along the river - absolutely fantastic to be outside. Beautiful day. Bump into children, L + M at Capaldis. Sit in yard. Am a little sick after tea. Manage to sit down for supper. Don’t know what has happened, but I feel enormously better compared to yesterday.
", "date_published": "2005-08-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/30/mick-and-susheila/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/30/mick-and-susheila/", "title": "Mick and Susheila", "content_html": "Mick, Cindy's colleague from Abbey Grange came round to see Cindy this afternoon, with his wife Susheila. Cindy was still in bed unfortunately. She hasn't got out of bed at all today, has been feeling very tired, breathless and achy.
", "date_published": "2005-08-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/30/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/30/diary/", "title": "30 August", "content_html": "Needed the bathroom really early. Huge effort. Breathing starting to hurt now. Got E to push me back from the loo. I keep taking the tablets.
E takes them all to Waterworld. Chat to Judy on the phone. She will come later this week. E returns and takes R off to Boyes to buy a present for Sarah. Mick and Susheila arrive for coffee - made by T. The come and sit upstairs with me. Had hoped to get downstairs, but I’m worried I’ll not get back up again. Enjoyed shepherds pie - samosa too spicy - shame! Big cuddle from R.
", "date_published": "2005-08-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/29/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/29/diary/", "title": "29 August", "content_html": "All go into town to walk around the walls. T goes to Tom’s some time during the morning. E phones me from La Piazza. Phil comes up before they set off to say ‘goodbye’ - bit emotional. Enjoy some soup and then later an omelette and a small glass of very good wine from E’s box from the Wine Society. Decide to make a big effort and get up. Glad I do. E pushes me along the river. J+ R on rollerblades. Return home to phone call from Brian. He cuts my hair. Can’t think why I didn’t do it earlier.
", "date_published": "2005-08-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/29/cindy-gets-a-haircut/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/29/cindy-gets-a-haircut/", "title": "Cindy Gets a Haircut", "content_html": "Just taken Cindy up to Brian's for a haircut. Her hair has gradually grown, till now it looked a bit mad and wild. Much better now, short still, but it looks deliberate!
She didn't get up today till 6ish - feeling very tired and breathless.
The rest of us walked round the city walls with Phil and Marcia and then went for pizzas at La Piazza. P+M left at about 3. Last visitors for a while - we should have a chance to settle down and sort our selves out a bit before school starts next week. Lovely to see everyone, but a bit busy.
", "date_published": "2005-08-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/28/just-like-the-old-days/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/28/just-like-the-old-days/", "title": "Just Like the Old Days?", "content_html": "Phil and Marcia are visiting (with Claudia and Lucas) and we've just finished playing cards - just like when they used to live in Yarm and we were in Acomb. We've also been eating Betty's cake and drinking Betty's coffee - what we did back then! More children now though.
Rose, Claudia, Phil and I went on a Breadcrumbs trail earlier today, while John, Lucas and Marcia went to the NRM.
During the late afternoon, we got over excited to the point of barely being able to watch the tv - exciting finish to the 4th Test.
Cindy has been very tired and achy today, she got up around lunch time, and had to go back to bed before supper, and hasn't eaten properly this evening.
", "date_published": "2005-08-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/28/diary/", "title": "28 August", "content_html": "Phil, E, R + Claudia set off to do the breadcrumb trail and J, Lucas and Marcia to the Railway Museum. Manage to bathe and get up in time for lunch with Marcia. E + co return much later having lunched out and picked up cakes at Betty’s. T very disappointed not to be sailing with the Holmans. Too much wind. I retire after tea and cake. Don’t have the strength or appetite for tea.
", "date_published": "2005-08-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/27/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/27/diary/", "title": "27 August", "content_html": "Ask T to take me out to the Gallery. He pushes me along the river. E, J + R go by bike. T enjoys the nice polished floors for pushing me on - he can get up a bit of speed. Nice exhibition on the Forest. After a drink in the cafe he takes me home. It is so nice to get outside and good to spend some time with T. Phil + Marcia arrive and E cooks a very good noodle supper. I manage to chop a few veg.
", "date_published": "2005-08-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/26/quietish-day/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/26/quietish-day/", "title": "Quietish Day", "content_html": "Nothing particular during the day - a bit of tidying up, putting away the washing… Toby went off to Monk's Cross with Tom and Josh, but didn't buy anything.
John and Rose went over to Tom and Anna's for a short time in the afternoon and I pushed Cindy into town and we had coffee in The Pantry - opposite Clifford's Tower.
In the evening we went and had supper at Lance and Mary's. Their Danish friends Ole and Lillian are visiting.
", "date_published": "2005-08-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/26/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/26/diary/", "title": "26 August", "content_html": "Writing retrospectively and cannot think beyond a late morning again… Chris Hughes came about 11am and I managed to get dressed reasonably quickly. She had brought me a tarte au citron - really nice although I could only manage a little. Ted and Lily came to pick her up and Lily stayed for the afternoon + for tea. E does tacos, everybody’s favourite. Manage to drive Lily home - it is an effort.
", "date_published": "2005-08-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/25/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/25/diary/", "title": "25 August", "content_html": "Slow + slouchy day for E + the children after so much business. J + R watch Harry Potter - again! T goes to Monks Cross with Josh and Tom. Get E to push me in the park later in the afternoon - need to get outside. Meet Jo with Anna + Adam and J + R decide to go back with them. E + I have coffee opposite the Castle Museum. Go to L + M on the electric bike to have supper with Üla and Lilian. We have a very nice supper and it was nice to meet up with them again. T cycles back with me.
Start Tarceva.
", "date_published": "2005-08-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/24/how-is-cindy/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/24/how-is-cindy/", "title": "How is Cindy?", "content_html": "Good question, but the answer isn't so good.
She's gradually getting more exhausted and finding walking around more and more difficult. She uses oxygen for getting up stairs and often at other times too. It takes her a long time to get going in the morning, but she's around for lunch, afternoon and the evening. She needs to use the wheelchair for longer trips out of the house. She's had nausea on and off for the last few weeks, which seems to under control at the moment.
She's going to start on a new drug soon - Tarceva. This is a new, unlicensed drug that is only available on a \"named patient\" basis. Dr Bottomley says that there is probably no-one else in the world who has used this drug to treat the particular cancer that Cindy has, but it has been effective against some lung cancers, so it's worth a go, paticularly as the side effects aren't too bad.
Cindy, of course, is still being very positive about things and does as much as she can.
", "date_published": "2005-08-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/24/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/24/diary/", "title": "24 August", "content_html": "All went to the Castle Museum this morning. Lots of heavy rain. E + R came back early as R had had enough. Helen, David + Sam came for lunch. They’re on their way back to London. Did lunch very much in two sittings. James and Emma decide to go after tea, so the men take the children off to the wood and Emma + I put together a chilli. Lovely having them to stay and the children all got on really well. Very nice to have space back too and catch our breath before the next guests arrive!
", "date_published": "2005-08-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/23/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/23/diary/", "title": "23 August", "content_html": "All have gone to Hunmanby today. It is the first outing I’ve not made. Feel like I’ve been in bed forever already! Mick and Joolz phone and will visit next week. Have got back on course with my knitting, written to Annette, played loads of patience, looked at photos and listened to the radio… now what? Think I’ll try and muster the energy for a bath.
Mary came round and made me coffee and roll. We sat in the yard and had a bit of a weep. All came back weather beaten and E made a very nice fish pie for tea.
", "date_published": "2005-08-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/23/computer-out-of-action/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/23/computer-out-of-action/", "title": "Computer Out of Action!", "content_html": "No entries recently as the computer hasn't been working properly.
To catch up:
Wales - rock climbing;excellent walk just E & Will - I nearly slid down the mountain; Ffestiniog Railway; home.
Toby to Ilam Hall for week with YHA watersports activity holiday. He had a very good time indeed.
Mandy and David to visit - C&E stayed at Marriott Hotel with them to celebrate Mandy's birthday, Amy looked after J&R. Also went with them to La Piazza.
At the moment James, Emma, Jacob, Sam and Hannah are staying with us. We've been to the beach today. It was blowy and coldish, but fun.
", "date_published": "2005-08-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/22/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/22/diary/", "title": "22 August", "content_html": "It is very difficult to get up. Any effort now seems enormous. James, Emma and crew arrive around lunchtime. Manage to get up about 3pm and E pushes me down to the park. Return and have tea with L + M who have brought wine + plant for our anniversary. T makes a very good meatball supper. I sleep again between tea and supper so in balance have spent the best part of the day in bed! Children all getting on really well. R sounds very in control in bathing Hannah and J washes her hair.
", "date_published": "2005-08-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/21/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/21/diary/", "title": "21 August", "content_html": "David and Edward take all to the park and Mandy + I sit in the yard. It is a glorious sunny morning almost too hot to sit outside. Give Mandy my favourite brooch and we have a little weep. Laugh about things past and tell each other how much we mean to each other. Just too emotional really but afterwards we both felt that a tension had cleared. So much having a good time together + determined to enjoy the time and yet knowing what it was really all about. Wave goodbye to them mid afternoon. I watch A Room with a View. T goes off to play tennis with Bill, John to Tom’s and E and R cycle over to the woods near Jean. Enjoy a bread + bits supper. Sleep well.
", "date_published": "2005-08-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/20/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/20/diary/", "title": "20 August", "content_html": "Quite a difficult morning getting up, I think because of the having to get up and be down for breakfast. None the less a glorious sunny view across the racecourse. Fabulous choice for breakfast, I plumped for smoked salmon, trout, roll and fresh fruit salad. Dave took full advantage! Pre-dinner sparkling wine + crostini in the garden. Dave has bought Mandy a lovely ring - same place we bought her bangle. Then a lovely evening at La Piazza. Fantastic watching Mandy’s face as the Happy Birthday serenade went up + she suddenly realised it was for her! A lovely evening with all the children there - they really enjoy going there.
", "date_published": "2005-08-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/19/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/19/diary/", "title": "19 August", "content_html": "Mandy’s 40 birthday today - send her a text. She is coming later and I’m really hoping I’ll be able to join in celebrations. Have spoken to Kate Hodge (MacMillan nurse) + she’s going to get Dr S to come and see me so that we can get on top of the sickness. Mandy + Dave, Tom + Amy arrive. Mandy still in the dark about birthday treat. D says he was taking her to a campsite. Book into the Marriot in time for all to enjoy leisure suite. E + I have fabulous room with balcony overlooking the racecourse. I think this is on account of the wheelchair. Lovely meal in the evening. Good food, wine and excellent service. A wonderful treat from Dave for us all and I think a memorable b/day for Mandy.
", "date_published": "2005-08-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/18/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/18/diary/", "title": "18 August", "content_html": "Awake with a pulled muscle in my left side that hurts when I cough. So, move around gingerly all morning. Jo brings R back and then E takes her + Anna off to Harrogate for Miss Yeowart’s wedding. J stays with me + beetles around - tidies his room. M phones + says there’s lots of blackberries on the allotment. Cycle him down there - it was a huge effort because of my muscle. He cycles home himself. Sick again later in the evening which leaves me feeling wretched.
", "date_published": "2005-08-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/17/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/17/diary/", "title": "17 August", "content_html": "Compared to yesterday felt much better. Managed to shower + be up for Gordon’s visit at 10:30. He brought me flowers + cakes and sweetest sincere wishes. He’s off to Oslo tomorrow. Collected R from the church. J + R then off to the Uni to pick up some old computer bits with E. I do some shopping, very very slowly, in the fruit shop. Happy to cook tea, water the garden and snip a few dead heads away. J + R now have a working, if slow, computer for around £6!
", "date_published": "2005-08-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/16/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/16/diary/", "title": "16 August", "content_html": "Appointment with Dr B this morning. L collected J to take him to his scuba diving + R dropped off at the craft activities. I was feeling very nauseous + just managed to sit through consultation - was sick outside thankfully. Straight to bed on getting home and an afternoon of complete oblivion. Felt as bad as I have in a long time, couldn’t even drink anything and my O2 levels felt very rock bottom. Didn’t want to be left on my own for too long. Sat up until about 3am and then drifted off to sleep.
", "date_published": "2005-08-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/15/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/15/diary/", "title": "15 August", "content_html": "Managed to get up at a reasonable time and have done a few bits + pieces around the house. Remain very breathy and cannot do anything that requires effort. J off for his first scuba diving class. Really enjoyed it. R to Southlands church for crafts. Refilled the water butt and enjoyed sitting in the yard listening to the fountain. Raised bed is fantastic. Red geraniums + deep crimson potentillas. Grasses flourishing. Chat with Jo - she’s off to Rosedale for a couple of days. Catch up with Audrey - cat behaved herself for her. Supper at Mark & Michelle’s! Very nice sparkling wine. A meal with an Italian flavour, Green + Black ice cream and very good coffee. Really nice. Excellent evening and the children enjoyed themselves. Beautiful evening + lovely moon to walk home to.
", "date_published": "2005-08-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/14/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/14/diary/", "title": "14 August", "content_html": "Spent very late last night helping T with the finishing touches to his packing. E has driven him along with Josh to Leeds for a coach pick-up. J went with him. R beetling around on her own and I have been defeated by the effort it took me to get a shower. E taking J + R to see Charlie + the Chocolate Factory. Not sure I’m going to make it out of bed today - feel terribly incapacitated. L coming later to take us all to La Piazza - something for me to work up to.
", "date_published": "2005-08-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/13/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/13/diary/", "title": "13 August", "content_html": "Very heavy rain for our departure. Me very breathless today. See a doctor in the afternoon to check for infection - as usual he didn’t really know what to do. Enjoyed a pasta tea and actually felt hungry. T had had IKEA meatballs and a bacon butty on the way home with L - what a surprise! Lazy TV evening plus ‘Chicago’ on DVD.
", "date_published": "2005-08-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/12/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/12/diary/", "title": "12 August", "content_html": "E + W off to Nantlle Ridge this morning. Cool and heavy dew outside unless has rained. K + S + T, S + children off to Harlech Castle. R decides she would like to go on the train. M drops us off with L at Porthmadog and we easily while away 1/2 hour before the train. Lovely, lovely journey with beautiful views. Sound of the train whistle, smell of the engine. All very evocative. Waiter service for snacks by very enthusiastic staff. M met at Ffestiniog. Home for lunch + then to the beach where we met up with K, S + T. V hot despite being overcast earlier in the day. Christine, the owner, brought her pony Bluebell round after tea for the children to walk and ride. Rose very taken with her. T retrieves his plane that he’d lost in the tree.
", "date_published": "2005-08-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/11/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/11/diary/", "title": "11 August", "content_html": "Bit overcast today. E disappointed not to be walking with Will as planned. Go in staggered fashion to the Centre for Alternative Technology. A very gentle place and has the look of the rambling about it. Very impressive composting of various waste. J + R go with S + K + Tom to the farm at Harlech. We return home. J, R + T try out climbing harness up tree - great fun. Then off to stream for E, J + R. T assembles new aeroplane kit.
", "date_published": "2005-08-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/10/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/10/diary/", "title": "10 August", "content_html": "More swimming in the stream for the children today - Katharine + Jane also. Rock climbing with Will in the morning using ropes. Despite initial hesitations J + R enjoyed it, E later told me. M, J + I had a lovely sit + chat in the garden in the morning. Beautiful sunshine and view down sloping lawn with generous borders and mature trees. J + E off to buy boots + rock climbing harness for the children in the afternoon! W + S a walk by themselves + the rest to the train. I enjoyed the solitude of the garden - sort of! So much would love a walk, a run, a swim, something active. Don’t want to be too long like this. Cards with Jane, R, M, M + L. T, M + I watch the rest of Silent Witness. Sleep v badly.
", "date_published": "2005-08-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/09/diary/", "title": "9 August", "content_html": "The children, E and others made for the stream this morning. Beautifully hot and sunny. I found a sun spot around the side of the house overlooking the downward slope of the garden. E had taken photos so that I could get a sense of where they had been. Made sandwiches and then M + our family set off for Harlech beach. Another big party to Portmerion. Beach wonderful. All enjoyed T’s dinghy, including M. Very nice BBQ by K +S for supper. A back to London, J spending night in tent. Cards with J, R, K, G + me.
", "date_published": "2005-08-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/09/beach-again/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/09/beach-again/", "title": "Beach Again", "content_html": "Some people went off to Portmerion, but Mary and all 5 of us went off to Harlech Beach again. Not quite as sunny, but still lovely.
Katharine and Simon cooked a lovely barbeque this evening, then Will and I went off to explore climbing rocks for tomorrow's planned morning climb.
", "date_published": "2005-08-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/08/walks-and-trains/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/08/walks-and-trains/", "title": "Walks and Trains", "content_html": "Will, Toby, John, Rose and I set off on the Snowdon Horseshoe; Jane, Andy and Mary went on the PYG and Miners trail to Snowdon; the rest wanted to go on the train to the top. There were vague plans to try and meet at the top.
The train was booked up until 5pm, so they went on a different train around a lake. John's sunburn was really bad, so he, Rose and I went down to a lake and waited till Will and Toby came down the hill. Toby walked Will into the ground apparently, limitless teenage energy! Mary, Jane and Andy did their walk as planned.
", "date_published": "2005-08-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/08/diary/", "title": "8 August", "content_html": "Had to swap seats with Jack on the drive to the Snowdon railway because of car sickness - he was not impressed! Lovely scenery. Train fully booked so we satisfied ourselves with the Lakeland railway. Jack and Grace enjoyed themselves. Had a snooze on the return journey before Sarah + L took them to the stream. Walkers arrived back about 6. J +R hadn’t walked so E had spent the day sitting by a lake - at least it wasn’t raining! J + R camping out again.
", "date_published": "2005-08-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/07/sunday-beach/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/07/sunday-beach/", "title": "Sunday - Beach", "content_html": "Went to Harlech beach - about a 20 minute drive. It's a lovely flat sandy beach, with views of Harlech Castle, the Llyn Peninsular and the Snowdonia hills behind it. The sea was nice and warm - much warmer than the North Sea.
John got quite badly sunburnt unfortunately, due to not having his sun cream renewed often enough.
", "date_published": "2005-08-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/07/pool-in-stream/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/07/pool-in-stream/", "title": "Pool in Stream", "content_html": "We walked down to the stream in the grounds and found a waterfall with a fantastic pool at the bottom of it. The pool is deeper than I am tall; big enough to jump and dive into, and have a swim of about 3 strokes across and 10 strokes round. Rose was first into the water, as she slipped, then John and I went in.
Water was freezing!
", "date_published": "2005-08-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/07/diary/", "title": "7 August", "content_html": "Felt better today, if rather weak. Found the beach at Harlech. Great expanse of golden sand bordering a beautiful blue sea. Dunes. Castle. Fantastic. Spent pretty much the whole day here. E had to carry me up the sandy slope and push me along the path. Still recovering from yesterday! Helped put together a large roast lamb dinner - excellent leg purchased by Lance. Good game of cards in the evening. J v sunburnt + uncomfortable.
", "date_published": "2005-08-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/06/journey-to-wales/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/06/journey-to-wales/", "title": "Journey to Wales", "content_html": "Saturday - time to go to Wales.
Cindy woke up not feeling very well, but we loaded the car up and left anyway. The journey to Ffestiniog was about 5½ hours, with Cindy sitting throwing up fluid every half hour or so all the way. In spite of that it was a surprisingly good journey, with the children all being fantastic and Toby map reading very well.
When we arrived, we unpacked and Cindy went to bed. Jane and Andy had already arrived; Katharine, Simon and Thomas arrived at almost the same time as us; and Lance, Sarah, Will, Jack and Grace, who had all been camping, arrived soon afterwards.
The house is lovely - very large, spacious bedrooms (8 of them), big sitting room, well equipped, slightly run down kitchen and amazing garden and grounds. The children all ran around working off their pent up energy, while Andy and Jane cooked a lovely meal.
", "date_published": "2005-08-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/06/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/06/diary/", "title": "6 August", "content_html": "Awoke feeling sick + was so before getting out of bed - just fluid. I think I must have been semi-conscious the whole journey interrupting my state only to retch in tissues. Dreadfully wretched and felt absolutely awful. (E thought, only for a split-second, that I had died!!) Managed to soak up the lovely sitting room for a while before retiring to bed. We have a lovely red room with most impressive Victorian style bedstead.
", "date_published": "2005-08-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/05/maurice-at-thruxton/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/05/maurice-at-thruxton/", "title": "Maurice at Thruxton", "content_html": "Maurice used his birthday present today - a driving experience at Thruxton.
He went round first in a Mazda RX8, first a passenger, then as a driver. Then he went round in a single seater racing style car. He was really good and overtook a few other cars.
There were loads of amazing cars there that you could pay to have a drive in. I was amazed by how interesting I found it!
", "date_published": "2005-08-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/05/jaynes-birthday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/05/jaynes-birthday/", "title": "Jayne's Birthday", "content_html": "We all (Jayne, Steve, Christopher, Pat, Maurice, Mandy, David, Amy, Tom, Cindy, Me, Toby, John and Rose - Matthew AWOL) went out for Jayne's birthday last night to a very nice Italian restaraunt in Emsworth called Niccolino's. David had said that the portions were big, but they were truly enormous. Really wide menu, very good pizza.
We all had a really good time, especially when the waiter came round to help Steve sing to Jayne in Italian!
", "date_published": "2005-08-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/05/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/05/diary/", "title": "5 August", "content_html": "Dad’s Thruxton visit today. Lots of hanging around for J + R but the weather was kind. All had turned out to watch him speed round in a mazda, some MG model + a single seater. He really enjoyed himself and has had a DVD made, so will be interested to see this. All back to M + D for supper. T enjoys Tom’s mini-motor again. Can see this being his next purchase. Had to get to bed - not feeling too good. E goes in Porsche.
", "date_published": "2005-08-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/04/weekend-at-home/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/04/weekend-at-home/", "title": "Weekend at Home", "content_html": "We got back to York in time for lunch, unpacked and started on the mammoth washing pile! We ran out of washing powder before it was finished.
In the evening we went to a party at Matthew and Clare's. Fantastic food, lots of salads (didn't have enough of those while we were away), olives, bread and smoked salmon. Thomas and Joseph have grown loads since we last saw them, Thomas is off to school in September and Joseph is running around chatting.
On Sunday morning John, Rose and I went swimming. We had to go via Tesco's because I couldn't find my swimming trunks. Ended up with some horrible green and yellow shorts, disliked by one and all, but they were only £2.50. Good swim - and I booked myself onto a \"Swim for Fitness\" course in the autumn. I've always wanted to have a relaxed, efficient looking front crawl and have finally decided to do something about it. The classes are from 9:20 till 10:00 on Wednesday evenings, so that'll be tiring.
Later on we went to Chrissie and Jonathon's for a BBQ. Nice to get together with them.
", "date_published": "2005-08-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/04/spy-game/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/04/spy-game/", "title": "Spy Game", "content_html": "We went to the York Castle Museum to try out their August activity. Followed a booklet around, looking for clues as to who was the spy finding out secrets about the Rowntree's chocolate factory. Good fun and it made you look more carefully at things you might otherwise ignore. There were a few characters dressed in period costume who introduced activities that were fun, including one solving a code that I couldn't work out! We found the spy in the end.
", "date_published": "2005-08-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/04/diary/", "title": "4 August", "content_html": "Mandy took us to Explosion a surprisingly interesting museum about guns and fire power at the old gunpowder factory on the Hard. J + R enjoyed themselves and we picnicked overlooking the harbour before going home. T stayed with Tom + played on the mini-motor. Out for an Italian with all to celebrate Jayne’s birthday. V good, huge portions. Singing Italian waiter for Jayne.
", "date_published": "2005-08-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/04/badminton/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/04/badminton/", "title": "Badminton", "content_html": "I played badminton against Simon on Tuesday and John and Toby had a game. They played together really well and John picked up a lot. Toby has decided not to play football in the autumn, so he's looking for a new sport to play regularly - he'd really like to play tennis, but I'm not sure if there's a club with indoor courts. Maybe he'll end up playing badminton at the RI.
", "date_published": "2005-08-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/03/lake-district/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/03/lake-district/", "title": "Lake District", "content_html": "We had a fantastic week in the Lake District, staying in Keswick.
Some of the highlights included:
Scrambling up a waterfall to the ridge on the west of Derwentwater, and running for half an hour from the top of Cat Bell to make sure we got the boat.
Go Ape - high ropes through trees followed by mountain biking all afternoon.
Tea at Bryson's in Keswick! Yum yum.
Swimming and playing in Toby's new inflatable dinghy in the Lake.
Card games on a rainy afternoon.
Fish and chips - more food.
A good time was had by all.
Drove to M + D, lunching on the way. Beautiful day and rather a shame to spend it in the car. Arrive about 5:30 and after supper spend time relaxing and catching up with each other. Sarah + Michael join us for supper with their little boy Adam sporting a new digital hearing aid (£2,000!) - v amazing. Hardly noticeable + had made a huge difference to him at school.
", "date_published": "2005-08-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/02/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/02/diary/", "title": "2 August", "content_html": "Finally got around to making a dressing gown for Laura doll with rose. Rose did most of the machining. She is very good now + can thread the machine without any help. She also - again without help - baked a brownie. Settled bills and made phone calls in readiness to depart tomorrow. E took T + J to play badminton and then to the park. A beautiful day. Had dreadful muscle spasms this evening - about 4 in sequence, very painful.
", "date_published": "2005-08-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/01/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/08/01/diary/", "title": "1 August", "content_html": "Toby shopped with me at Sainsbury. Don’t know how I would have managed without him - £150 worth! And he unpacked it all. E took J + R to the spy event at the Castle Museum and then to the Colour Fantastic in Rowntree Park - would have liked to have gone, but my energy failed me. Put together chilli + tacos with a fresh fruit salad for pud as Lance was coming for tea - all very nice. Lovely evening with E!
", "date_published": "2005-08-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/31/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/31/diary/", "title": "31 July", "content_html": "I had a very slow Sunday morning, despite thinking I might have gone to Meeting. More washing! Went to Chrissie + Jonathan’s for a BBQ - met up with her nephew James + his wife Gillian, small daughter Gemma. J + R loved playing in the garden and discovering the frogs in the poind. T opted out and went to the cinema with Luke. As James + co left Margaret + David arrived - people from Sheffield we have met before. Had a really nice afternoon. Beautiful sunny evening despite rest of day being dull.
", "date_published": "2005-07-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/30/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/30/diary/", "title": "30 July", "content_html": "Cinema didn’t happen. Played some cards with R. E and the boys watched a TV movie. Managed to get up reasonably well and help with packing everything up. Went well and the children were very good packing the boots. Home in time for lunch. General unpacking + washing this afternoon and then went to Matthew + claire’s party at 6pm. Really nice social occasion and lovely food. Left quite early because the children had had enough - fair does.
", "date_published": "2005-07-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/29/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/29/diary/", "title": "29 July", "content_html": "Although overcast it is not raining and the little rainfall we have is while we’re in the car driving to Cockermouth. Visit Wordsworth’s birthplace. A wonderfully restored 17th century family house with cottage garden. Plenty of eager staff on hand, some in costume explaining the ways of the day. E + T leave us on the way home to walk to Skidaw. J + R + I play several games of the Twits. Off to the cinema this evening.
", "date_published": "2005-07-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/28/diary/", "title": "28 July", "content_html": "Woke to steady rainfall this morning. J keen to see cars for the stars so sets off with E + R while T + I go to the supermarket for this evening’s supper. Amuse ourselves very much from the house, playing card games, reading, watching TV. Breathing getting very poor. Cannot walk any distance certainly up hill. Have periodic episodes where I feel particularly laboured. V sad.
", "date_published": "2005-07-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/27/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/27/diary/", "title": "27 July", "content_html": "T not up for a scramble this morning, he’s feeling a bit sore and stiff. E takes J + R off for a short scramble + T + I go and look at video footage of the Osprey at the Whitaker Visitor Center. Duck feeding + failed mini golf expedition (v. long queue) in the afternoon. Nice evening out followed by game of Twits.
", "date_published": "2005-07-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/26/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/26/diary/", "title": "26 July", "content_html": "E + the boys leave at 7:30 for their date with Go Ape. R + I follow a couple of hours later. They all have a fantastic time, it certainly lived up to J’s expectations. Brunch in the cafe and then all go cycling. I revisit Blackwell House travelling across Windermere by the ferry. T arrives home sporting quite bad grazing from a fall. All very tired.
", "date_published": "2005-07-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/25/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/25/diary/", "title": "25 July", "content_html": "Very late morning. Finally manage to get out and walked along the lake where the wheelchair could be pushed. Quite a short walk, but nice to feel out and about. Had a sandwich sitting by the Lake and then did a bit of browsing in town. Sat in the garden in the afternoon. Very nice Cumberland sausage for tea. Stone Circle in the afternoon - make vague plans to return and watch the sun rise!
", "date_published": "2005-07-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/24/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/24/diary/", "title": "24 July", "content_html": "Start the day with a lovely boat trip around Derwentwater. Sun’s out and the view of the surrounding hills is absolutely gorgeous. E + the boys get off at High Brandelhow and walk via a scramble to Catbell. R + I continue back to Keswick and then sit on the beach enjoying the sun. T buys a dingy and all enjoy it after tea - great fun. Tea at Brysons - much looked forward to on memory of our last visit here.
", "date_published": "2005-07-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/23/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/23/diary/", "title": "23 July", "content_html": "L + M came for breakfast. L very stressed and didn’t stay long. Has lots of work to do before going to Birmingham this afternoon. We all pack and leave. M stays as they have Norwegians in their house this week. Only one serious traffic jam on the way to Keswick. Children suddenly remembered the house on seeing it. All sort out rooms. We discover that we should have brought sheets. E buys a bulk lot from Oxfam - £22 not bad for sheets for 5. After a reviving cup of tea we head off for the lake. The water level is noticeably lower. R loses her new waterproof shoe in the mud, J fails to find it! Nice meatball tea. T + E chess. R + me mastermind.
", "date_published": "2005-07-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/22/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/22/diary/", "title": "22 July", "content_html": "Pop down to the allotment first thing. T is helping M move some manure. I manage to pull a few onions. Given another go at things I would definitely like to have an allotment. There is a wonderful view of the Minster from the top plots. Also a good one from Millthorpe school I noticed on Tuesday. Spend the afternoon cooking for the holiday. Bob out with E and have a spending spree at Caroline’s.
", "date_published": "2005-07-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/21/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/21/diary/", "title": "21 July", "content_html": "Today I went to Whitby with Sam. A lovely breezy day. Arrived ready for our first snack at the Shepherds Purse. From there Sam pushed me round to the harbour and out onto the pier. Without the protection of the harbour the sea was rough and exciting. The children would have loved to get out in it with the body board. Returned to the Shepherds Purse for coffee and then made our way back to the car. A really lovely day chatting with Sam. We always have a nice time. M for tea.
", "date_published": "2005-07-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/20/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/20/diary/", "title": "20 July", "content_html": "T receives an award for academic achievement this afternoon. Also for punctuality and attendance. Very, very happy for him. He’s worked hard and has really made the best of things - French possibly excepting! His report is excellent, one of the very best. Brings home his art folder, which is surprisingly very good. I hadn’t realised he was so good at this - he always plays it down.
", "date_published": "2005-07-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/19/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/19/diary/", "title": "19 July", "content_html": "School concert at Scarcroft this evening. E takes me up the back stairs to avoid the crowds as I need the oxygen. Very packed. Lots of solos. Anna and Tom very good on trumpet and trombone respectively. R sings in the choir and takes part in the street dance. J in with his class singing. We only have another 2 summer concerts to attend after tonight! Tidy the yard. It’s staring to look a little heat exhausted. E attacks the bush at the front.
", "date_published": "2005-07-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/18/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/18/diary/", "title": "18 July", "content_html": "Feeling so much better this morning - woke with some energy which makes me realise that I have actually been rather ill. A slowish day and then to the final textile club with Debora. Receive surprise thank you card, choccies and voucher for Pextons to share with Deborah. Have really enjoyed supporting her with this club. D is very inspiring, very organised and really nice to work with.
", "date_published": "2005-07-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/17/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/17/diary/", "title": "17 July", "content_html": "Stunningly hot day. Me a very slow morning, but with mention of the seaside managed to get myself up. It was well worth it, couldn’t bear the thought of lying in bed all day and missing out on Hunmanby. Tide was 1/2 hour short of high when we got there. Feasted on chips for lunch before descending to the beach. Every body swam, very hot. Lovely, lovely day. Could have stayed longer, but children hungry. Lovely fish supper. T a cinema date with Katie - think it’s his first or at least the first we’ve known about. Lucky him - very exciting. Have lived to see it - another milestone met.
", "date_published": "2005-07-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/16/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/16/diary/", "title": "16 July", "content_html": "Dance as per usual and then R invited to Freddie’s to play. E + J off to the Palmours for a Tour de France party. T off into town so I had a quiet afternoon. Went to Katie’s daugher’s wedding reception in the evening with R + J (T with head in new Harry Potter), J took Harry Potter with him. chatted to the Palmours. Didn’t stay long as T on his won. Watched a bit of Jeeves and Wooster.
", "date_published": "2005-07-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/16/a-child-of-our-time-proms/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/16/a-child-of-our-time-proms/", "title": "A Child of Our Time - Proms", "content_html": "Last night the first Prom of the year was Michael Tippett's A Child of Our Time.
It's a piece I know quite well, having sung the spirituals as a treble and the whole thing as a bass, and I've always found it moving.
Last night though, it was wonderfully emotional. It seemed very appropriate timing, with lots of resonances with the London bombing - particularly the mother's plea for peace - \"How many mothers' hearts shall be maimed?\".
The last ten minutes or so of the piece turns from a mood of sorrow and despair, to one of consolation and hope. As it ended with \"Deep River\", one of the spirtuals, I was in tears, as I expect a lot of the audience were.
", "date_published": "2005-07-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/15/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/15/diary/", "title": "15 July", "content_html": "Saw Dr S this morning to discuss the nature of my demise - so this was a jolly little meeting. Feel happier now and realise that so long as everybody talks and plans there really is no need to lie and gasp and suffer. Having know Dr S for so long will, I think, make everything much easier for me and everybody.
Onto sports day - how I missed a good running race. Can’t see that the children raise their heart beat one iota. E played badminton. Me gentle afternoon - still recovering.
", "date_published": "2005-07-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/14/tobys-new-site/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/14/tobys-new-site/", "title": "Toby's New Site", "content_html": "Toby's got a new site on MSN Spaces. Let's see how long this one lasts!
", "date_published": "2005-07-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/14/fantastic-trip-to-london/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/14/fantastic-trip-to-london/", "title": "Fantastic Trip to London", "content_html": "We've just got back from a two night trip to London - more scorching hot weather!
We went down by train on Tuesday morning and were met at Kings Cross by David. Because of the bombing last week, bits of the tube are still not working, so we took the bus to the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square, where we were joined by Helen. David is great on journeys, because he can give a running commentary of detail on all the buildings and places of interest.
Tuesday evening, we went for a lovely meal at Jane's. She's a friend of Cindy's
who used to go running with Cindy when they lived near each other in London. Haven't seen her properly for ages, so it was really good to catch up.
On Wednesday, we went to Eltham Palace, which is absolutely beautiful - a Tudor great hall with amazing Art Deco house attached.
Unfortunately, during the day Cindy began to feel unwell, with a bit of a chest infection. So we went to H+D's doctor and got some antibiotics. We had a good evening with H+D and C went to bed relatively early.
She woke up today feeling ok, still a bit fragile, but not worse. We had been intending to go to the V&A to see an Arts and Crafts exhibition, but after a leisurely morning, we met Jane and Andy for lunch (sushi - first time - yum) and got a train home at 3 o'clock. We arrived home to interrupt the children having tea with Mary and Lance, who had made the whole trip possible by looking after them.
", "date_published": "2005-07-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/14/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/14/diary/", "title": "14 July", "content_html": "Decided against the V+A and arranged to meet Jane + Andy for lunch. London Bridge was teeming and we arrived just in time for the 2 min silent memorial for last weeks bomb’s.
Sushi lunch - very interesting and very nice. I had just about used up my energy by then and we bid farewell and taxied over to Kings X and caught a much earlier train. Nice journey back. Home just as children and L + M were eating tea. A lovely trip.
", "date_published": "2005-07-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/13/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/13/diary/", "title": "13 July", "content_html": "Woke feeling very breathy and with a pain in my chest. I was extremely slow. Nice breakfast in the garden and then we eventually set off for Eltham Palace - Art Deco feast established by the Courtaulds. The gardens - that we hadn’t seen last time - were lovely. Very, very hot. By the end of the afternoon I realised that I had an infection. Had felt very spaced out at times and was glad of the wheelchair. Managed to see a doctor and get some antibiotics. Lovely pasta supper.
", "date_published": "2005-07-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/12/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/12/diary/", "title": "12 July", "content_html": "The ticket collector didn’t even look at the tickets - relaxed into the journey. David met us at Kings X. Very hectic outside. Camera crews and news reporters around the collection of flowers. The buses were busy with much of the tube being out of action. Went past the street blocked where the no 30 bus blew up. All very strange. Met Helen at the portrait gallery and had lunch in the basement before searching out the Frida Kahlo. Returned to H + D for cool refreshment before setting off for Jane Byrne’s about 1/2 walk away. She has a small house on a terrace and has just decorated bits of it. Back to D + H and chatted to Sam for a bit.
", "date_published": "2005-07-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/11/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/11/diary/", "title": "11 July", "content_html": "Enjoyed a very nice Reiki - Robert has expanded more in minerals - gave me a couple of stones. Retrieved my knitting before joining Deborah for textiles. Only one week left. J to Nathan’s for tea. R to buy trainers with E. T had first day of activities week with a walk in the Hole of Horcum. Manic search for my rail card - still can’t find it.
", "date_published": "2005-07-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/10/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/10/diary/", "title": "10 July", "content_html": "Had a devastating beetroot + celery juice this morning - had the effect of a mega scouring pad. E consequently had to cook Sunday lunch whilst I rested up on the sofa! Pauline looking very tanned from her Turkish holiday. Enjoyed nice roast lamb + strawbs + meringues. Chilled cava. Everybody to the park whilst I rested up on the sofa. R had a miserable moment, but thankfully recovered. Extremely hot again. Back yard looked like it was gasping. Watered Mary’s garden - takes ages there’s so much in it.
", "date_published": "2005-07-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/09/diary/", "title": "9 July", "content_html": "Very hot again. J + R enjoy Bill + Jo’s new paddling pool for a couple of hours after dance. Really hot again. Bake some tartlet cases + fill with creme patissiere + nectarines and take to Judy + Keith’s BBQ. Meet up with Alison + David who we met at Christmas + their 2 children Kirsty + Brody. Really nice evening and good supper. Judy’s garden looking lovely. Newly installed - by Keith - waterfall into the pond. Very impressive.
", "date_published": "2005-07-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/08/to-uranus-and-back/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/08/to-uranus-and-back/", "title": "To Uranus and Back!", "content_html": "John, Rose and I have just cycled along the planet cycle path to Uranus. It took about an hour and twenty minutes and must have been about 16km.
Lovely evening out there - lots of flies in our eyes, noses and mouths though.
", "date_published": "2005-07-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/08/houses-of-parliament-cleaners/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/08/houses-of-parliament-cleaners/", "title": "Houses of Parliament Cleaners", "content_html": "I've just written to our MP about an article in today's Guardian, about how most cleaners in the Houses of Parliament have very low pay and poor conditions of work.
I know there are a lot bigger things going on this week (G8, London Bomb), but I think if you can't get these relatively small simple things done properly, you don't have much hope with the bigger issues.
I used a fantastic service called Write to Them. You put your post code into their webpage, and it finds your Councillors, MP, MEPs, MSPs, or Welsh and London Assembly Members. You choose who you want to contact, then write (or paste) your letter into the next page, click and it sends it to the correct person. If they seem never to check their email, it sends it by fax instead, which is apparently still more widely used by MPs. Apparently in a fortnights time they will contact me to see if Hugh Bailey responds.
Fantastic free, open source, volunteer run service.
", "date_published": "2005-07-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/08/diary/", "title": "8 July", "content_html": "Very hot today. E play badminton. Pop into town in the morning and deliver Mimi’s trousers. Browse in a few charity shops before doing market and home. Lazy afternoon in the heat. Much lolling around in the evening. I think everybody is exhausted. T goes off to youth club.
", "date_published": "2005-07-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/07/diary/", "title": "7 July", "content_html": "Visit Jules + Marcus and lovely new baby Freddie. Perfect little boy with golden hair. Jules looking as lovely as every - even managed to paint her toes! Terrible news of several bomb attacks in London: one on a bus and several in prime underground stations. Co-inciding with the G8. We receive texts + emails from Jane, Katharine + Helen.
", "date_published": "2005-07-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/07/all-family-ok/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/07/all-family-ok/", "title": "All Family OK", "content_html": "Jane and Katharine and partners/child are all ok, following the bomb in London today. Been exchanging phone calls and texts with them and friends in London today - all well with people we know.
Frightening. We're intending to go down to London next week, I'm sure all will be clear by then, but we'll have to wait and see.
", "date_published": "2005-07-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/06/the-tasting-room/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/06/the-tasting-room/", "title": "The Tasting Room", "content_html": "Lunch today at The Tasting Room York. Here is Edward and my restaurant review. Tucked away in the 'Latin Quater' or behind Browns or near the expensive knicker shop - nice bustiier in the window this week!
Wine fabulous Dona Isidora Reisling 2003 very chilled light dry and not fruity something else that escapes my vocabulary, could have drunk another bottle!
We ordered a seared tuna salad and a pancetta with yorkshire blue salad. Both very respactable and delicious. Tuna by far the best buy; substantial and warm. Very generous on the olives and the feta cheese with the tuna worked really well. tuna moist and cooked beautifully. Croutons poor, too big and the bread too stale. The pancetta and yorkshire blue was a bit mean on both these ingredients which were both delicious and left you wanting more. The sweet potato was passed off as a garnish not appropriate given the lusty moorish nature of this lovely vegetable and one of the key ingredients listed in the menu description and so leading you to believe that it would feature quite prominantly. Salad leaves gorgeous and a good variety only hope they don't come out of one of those bags held together by a plethora of gases and chemicals. E and I swapped our plates half way; I think he was reluctant to part with the seared tuna!!
The sweet menu was expensive and I could spot nothing that I hadn't seen before so we gave that a miss. Coffee was excellent. E ordered a second cup that took ages to come, but then she didn't charge him for it so fair doos. Tap water no problem and the waiteress was attentive to notice when we neede more.
Service was excellent and the waitresses very attractive (E's comment !!!) Have to say our waitress was wearing a beautiful dress that was certainly a cut above the average waitress garb. Does this kind of thing enhance the whole meal experience?
Decor; very expensive nicely done, but I couldn't work out what all the coat hooks were for (not really positioned for coats) Wall paper particlarly good (although not matching at the corners can I believe I'm writing this particularly given how awful I proved to be on my one and only wall paper hanging experience).
Conclusion: really nice and will definitely give their evening menu a go.
", "date_published": "2005-07-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/06/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/06/diary/", "title": "6 July", "content_html": "With great difficulty, tidy J’s room in readiness for Swea. E + I decide to do some culture vulturing @ the galleries and have lunch out. Only make one exhibition in St Mary’s. Strange suspended ceiling of fibre fill, couldn’t help wondering if Boyes stock it in this width! Made me want to leap into the middle of it. Very good lunch at the tasting room - see blog - over which we lingered until pick up time for the children. Yoga time and I know I’ve had it so watch new drama with E.
", "date_published": "2005-07-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/05/farndale/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/05/farndale/", "title": "Farndale", "content_html": "Ted and I went for a walk in Farndale, in the North York Moors, today. We drove up there through Malton and Pickering after dropping children at their schools. We started from between Hutton le Hole and Gillamoor, just near Barmoor where we used to go on Meeting family weekends, walked up the valley, up the hill side, and back.
The rain held off, except for a shower while we were eating lunch, until we got back to the car - when it started to pour.
On the way back home we went past the Cropton Brewery, so we stopped for a quick half and some chips!
", "date_published": "2005-07-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/05/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/05/diary/", "title": "5 July", "content_html": "Met up with Alison Forrester for coffee at the Blakeshead. Sat in the garden until a huge downpour chased us inside. Alison ready to slide into lunch - no fear! Make away when the weather breaks. Pick up some groceries on the way home + make lunch. E out walking with Ted. Finish off embroidering Jane’s silk wedding dress squares and generally rest. Jenny does the whole gym run, so just have to sort John out. He’s had a bit of a tummy ache, but seems ok now. Feeling very drained again. Horrible cough. Breathless. Reading good book, Kensuke’s Kingdom.
", "date_published": "2005-07-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/04/diary/", "title": "4 July", "content_html": "T poorly this morning - didn’t even do his paper round. Generally very exhausted from all his activities over the last week. Me very slow getting up Feeling not too good. Once up felt much better. Cool + raining. Cycled in and met Cathy at Betty’s. Helen Cadbury came too. Nice tea, scone + chat. Dug out some fabrics for Jo and did a few embellishment samples before going to Deborah’s textile club. The hour went really quickly and we were both busy solidly as the girls’ confidence grow + they’ve speeded up. Lauren + Nathan for tea - surprise arrival of Caralan. Popped over to Jo with fabrics, lots of coughing + clearing my chest - think I’ve been ill
", "date_published": "2005-07-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/03/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/03/diary/", "title": "3 July", "content_html": "Decided to stay home + cook Sunday lunch. Such an effort on the breathing front and pain in my chest. Feel very low, slow and cheesed off. Nice lunch with L + M. Luke also joins us. Cathy phones + invites Toby sailing - he’s very happy to go. R goes off to the park for an hour with Caralan, watch in pocket + strict return time. E for a walk, L + M to the park to listen to the band. Return for a cup of tea. Cycle R + Caralan to her house. Caralan has a lot more ‘freedom’ and I’m trying to work out the best way of letting R have her friendship while maintaining my peace of mind. T returns exhausted, but having had a great time. Feels + is sick later in the evening. Watch men’s final - Federer wins, of course! Snip + trim in the yard, cul snails. Feel shockingly miserable in bed - breathing just seems so rock bottom - doom + gloom mood… poor E!
", "date_published": "2005-07-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/02/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/02/diary/", "title": "2 July", "content_html": "Feeling not very good this morning. Contemplate getting T to take R to dance, but manage to get myself out. Take it slow. Cook T and I some breakfast + then return to pick up R. Then time to take off to Elvington for John’s dance. He and his group were very good. Off to Jo + Bill’s for BBQ. Have a really nice evening sitting and chatting in the garden. Children watch Live Aid concert - finish watching it at home. All go to bed very late.
", "date_published": "2005-07-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/01/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/07/01/diary/", "title": "1 July", "content_html": "E + I take off first thing and have coffee at the Art Gallery - E does a quick reccy for a Link Group visit. He dashes off for squash and I go and do a bit of shopping. Got hame + put lunch together for Simon Palmour + E. Lovely sunny day. Bob over to the PO + Alligator to get some tofu for R. Fri. slob en famile in front of TV and then watch a DVD with T.
", "date_published": "2005-07-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/30/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/30/diary/", "title": "30 June", "content_html": "Not very energetic today. Very difficult to get up and very breathy. One of those days where I’d have difficulty remembering what I did. Tackled the ‘piles’ on the back table + E sorted out the sainsbury bill. One of those boring tasks that we’ve been putting off, but which makes me feel clearer + lighter when it’s done. Mimi arrived and we did some tie & dye. Anita brought cherries, stawberries + cream! Drove J to gym club. Watched some exciting women’s semi-final tennis.
", "date_published": "2005-06-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/29/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/29/diary/", "title": "29 June", "content_html": "Credit Union lunch got off to a slow start, but by the finish had actually been very successful - met a very nice woman who teaches M yoga. Chatted to St Clems treasurer + Pauline Buchanan who’s very community active. E said he got the ‘nutter’ + had a ‘God’ conversation or not!! T home + pleased with his Sci + Maths Sats results - packed his bag and has set off for DofE assessed camping/walking expedition - they’re having chicken again! Pains in my back + breathy - hope it’s the weather.
", "date_published": "2005-06-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/28/diary/", "title": "28 June", "content_html": "Seemed to spend all day baking quiche for tomorrow’s lunch. Spent a fair bit of inbetween time sitting in the yard listening to the fountain. E working on the YPF accounts. We had a nice sandwich lunch in the yard finishing off the smoked salmon bits. Gym club runs as per usaual + E to bed very early. J had nice time at M + L - earnt himself £2 cleaning her car.
", "date_published": "2005-06-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/27/lovely-day-out/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/27/lovely-day-out/", "title": "Lovely Day Out", "content_html": "Today we drove to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is near Wakefield. It was a glorious day - hot and sunny. We walked around parts of the park, saw some Henry Moores, Barbara Hepworths and a William Turnbull retrospective, part of which was in the new underground gallery. Read the paper in the sunshine, had a nice lunch in the cafe and then came home.
Fantastic.
", "date_published": "2005-06-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/27/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/27/diary/", "title": "27 June", "content_html": "Yorkshire Sculpture Park in bright sun and clear sky is lovely. Have never been here - it was lovely particularly the Henry Moores situated in the middle of a grassy field. Fantastic new gallery building - one side completely grass. An area dedicated to children’s workshops is tucked away in a wooded area and had a very large white rabbit - thought Rose would like this. E had to push me up the hills in the chair - very breathy today. Lovely lunch of tom. basil soup in the cafe. A lovely day out together.
", "date_published": "2005-06-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/26/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/26/diary/", "title": "26 June", "content_html": "Everybody slept late this morning - especially Toby. He then spent most of the day on his Geography homework, it took me ages to proof read. Dave, E and J went off to the cycle rally. Mandy, R and I sat in the yard. We fiddled about with the fountain and have finally arrived at a satisfying bubble. Cooked a roast chicken dinner + Mandy bought chocolate cake + eclairs. M + D set off for home after lunch dropping J + E back at the cycle rally. R + I cycled into Shiva to buy the tea light star holder she had her eye on. Had a little wander down the Shambles because she didn’t want to go home. Finished sorting out her room - she has set up a little hidey den under the bed. J glad to be back in his room. E has found a job to apply for. Lovely warm day. Yard really looking lush in the evening darkness as I watered this evening. Nice to have kitchen back. Need to finish tidy up tomorrow.
", "date_published": "2005-06-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/25/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/25/diary/", "title": "25 June", "content_html": "Relaxing breakfast of croissant and coffee before collecting R for dance festival in town. R + I speed along the river on my bike and meet up with M + D to watch Scarcroft School. Enjoy coffee + R a lemon sorbet at Capaldis before making our way home for lunch. Suit ourselves after lunch - Lily comes for rollerblading. Toast the new kitchen with bubbly + smoked salmon crostini and then sup at the Himalayan - great evening out.
", "date_published": "2005-06-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/24/the-39-steps/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/24/the-39-steps/", "title": "The 39 Steps", "content_html": "We've just got home from the last of our \"Big Deal\" tickets at the WYP. It was an adaptation of The 39 Steps by John Buchan.
Acted by only 4 actors (and an extra arm at a crucial plot point!), it was very fast, funny, melodramatic and all round excellent entertainment. Definitely the best thing we've seen in the season. Highly recommended.
I got given the next season's \"Big Deal\" for my birthday, so more to look forward to in the Autumn.
", "date_published": "2005-06-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/24/kitchen-finished/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/24/kitchen-finished/", "title": "Kitchen Finished", "content_html": "Dave has been here since Monday, working away with me in the kitchen.
Floor's down, hob installed, skirting board and door frame fitted and painted.
In fact, all is finished. Mandy has come up today and we now have a restful weekend with them ahead of us.
", "date_published": "2005-06-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/24/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/24/diary/", "title": "24 June", "content_html": "Saw the funniest play this evening ‘39 Steps’ the last of our Big Night Out from L + M. Have bought E the next lot and he bought me one this evening. 4 actors played 150 parts - really clever + very funny - theatre packed. Set up my water fountain in a very nice pot from Homebase - really pleased with it - just what I wanted. Mandy arrives bearing her usual goody bag. J walks home alone and R off for sleep over. L + M back, M joins us for a cup of tea. T elbowed in face in football.
", "date_published": "2005-06-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/23/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/23/diary/", "title": "23 June", "content_html": "Enjoy coffee + croissant at the Blakehead with Michelle. Impossible to get in the kitchen for breakfast because Colin Bell attacking kitchen hob. Kitchen very nearly finished. Looking fantastic. R has Anna + Hope to play and then very busy gym club toing and froing.
", "date_published": "2005-06-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/22/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/22/diary/", "title": "22 June", "content_html": "Enjoy nice run into the market and buy fish and samphire for tea. Bump into Michelle and Roberta - have brief Italian exchange which to the untrained ear sounded more impressive than it was - Michelle thought we were very good! Lovely fish supper.
Only 4 of us for yoga - worked on the moon prayer. A lot of moves to make up a nice sequence - hard work for me.
", "date_published": "2005-06-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/21/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/21/diary/", "title": "21 June", "content_html": "E + David get started on the final run on the kitchen. The floor, although difficult, goes down surprisingly quickly and the hob is very easy and looks very sleek. Blitz Toby’s room. Busy gym runs with no M to help out. Nice supper in the yard, very hot.
", "date_published": "2005-06-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/20/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/20/diary/", "title": "20 June", "content_html": "E’s birthday and all sit on the bed for modest pressie opening. Such a busy weekend and father’s day yesterday had left them all in disbelief that more celebrating was required of them today. E takes T to the dentist - has his brace off. Judy round for coffee then I dash off + shop for supper. Lovely meze style lunch before prep supper. Weaving with Deborah at the after school club - feel cheated of the opportunity to apply for a job at All Saints. Finish off tea prep. Steve + Sam, Josh + Tom round for supper. Sit in yard and enjoy good veggie fare - very nice frittata that all enjoyed - will try again. Dave arrives and after supper takes J + R to the park. Midsummers Day - finish the evening watering flowers. Yard looks lovely.
", "date_published": "2005-06-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/19/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/19/diary/", "title": "19 June", "content_html": "All to Meeting this morning and Rose is invited to the beach with Mimi. Very hat and humid. J, E + I go to Tanya + Charles for croquet and frogs. Their garden is lovely as ever. The very bottom has become wild and overgrown and it was difficult to see the pond. While we played croquet J enjoyed the frogs and the chap next door showed him his terrapin. Had tea in front of the summer house. Lovely sound of solar powered water fountains and wind chimes. Big storm clouds gather overhead! Thunder + lightning on the way home + then tropical cloud burst. Humidity lifts a little. T home from DofE absolutely exhausted + rather bitten. R home from beach late - she’s seen a puffin. Phone down in storm.
", "date_published": "2005-06-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/18/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/18/diary/", "title": "18 June", "content_html": "Lance birthday today. Celebrate with breakfast at theirs. Then off to dance classes. Straight to Will + Sarah’s to celebrate Jack’s 3rd birthday. Sarah does v good lunch. Home to make second cake for Charles tomorrow + finish one made this morning for Swea. E takes J + R to see last race. Dan + Claire come and babysit while we go to Swea + Stephen’s midsummer party. Their garden is lovely. Swea had placed lots of night lights and she has some lovely silhouette fairies on the lawn. Met some v nice people - Fiona very entertaining.
", "date_published": "2005-06-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/17/toby-away/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/17/toby-away/", "title": "Toby Away", "content_html": "Toby is away this weekend with school for his second Duke of Edinburgh \"expedition\" - more like a week of walking really!
He's a bit tired out, because he only came back on Tuesday from a very busy 6 days in Germany, visiting Tobi his german exchange partner.
Rose is out tonight on a sleepover, so John, Cindy and I are going to the cinema. We're going to see Batman Begins - it's the only film that isn't a 12 that's on!
", "date_published": "2005-06-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/17/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/17/diary/", "title": "17 June", "content_html": "Bit of a shop + sort day. Feeling quite breathy still, sort out T’s DofE bits and pressies for Fathers Day + and Jack, L + E’s birthdays. R off for a sleep over and visit to the pub - feel very uneasy about this one - E checks it out. T off with rucksack for DofE weekend. J, E & I go to Batman. Very nice to go out just with John. Enjoy drink in the bar before the film. Good movie. York as busy as we’ve ever seen it at 11pm with Ascot revellers.
", "date_published": "2005-06-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/16/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/16/diary/", "title": "16 June", "content_html": "Go into York to look for pressie inspiration + buy pedal for my bike - pretty much run out of steam, very quickly - have to rest at Capaldis - very convenient! Sainsburys after lunch + then definitely run out of energy. All the walking yesterday has exhausted me beyond my reckoning - lots of pathetic lounging around feeling weary for, not of, day. How have I managed to get in this state. In my head I’m running + busy. Really find it difficult to tolerate today.
", "date_published": "2005-06-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/15/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/15/diary/", "title": "15 June", "content_html": "Manage slightly early rise this morning. (Cat loves new cat bed.) Tidy round in time for Swea + do some Italian. L + M for lunch. Cold + drizzly for our trek to the races. Park bike far too early. Stark realisation of how limited my lung is. I feel v tight chested + it is a huge effort to get to the railings enclosure - fantasise about my dear electric bike! Great fun watching pack of race horses gallop by. We lose £8. M is the only one to back a ‘placing’. J has had good time with Claire -cooking. T on computer and R out at a party. Great day.
", "date_published": "2005-06-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/14/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/14/diary/", "title": "14 June", "content_html": "Rose very anxious this morning. Decides she want me to go. Outcome - success. R manages examination + x ray. No treatment as yet - review in a year - thank goodness. Advises her to stop sucking her thumb. Go to Meltons Too for late breakfast + then R + I buy stuffed lion + cat bed for Daisy in charity shop. T home - hurray - have missed him. He’s had a lovely time and was clearly not daunted by staying with Tobias’s family.
", "date_published": "2005-06-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/13/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/13/diary/", "title": "13 June", "content_html": "Wet and very cold - E puts the heating back on. A particularly good Reiki with lots of focus on my chest area. Last bit spoilt rather because I was desperate for the loo. Ask Robert about R feeling panicky - he suggests homeopathy - aconite, go + buy some from Tullivers. Join Deborah for textiles and help thread needles + tie knots! John needs hat making material, dash back to town + buy vilene from Boyes. Hat make with J while E + R watch Dr who. R sad + sobbing again, pop a few more aconites + hope for relief for her.
", "date_published": "2005-06-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/12/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/12/diary/", "title": "12 June", "content_html": "Very quiet in the house with just John. Start to make picnic + then cycle to Meeting with John. Doing Fox Group - we do something on treats + make cornflake crispy cakes. John had found the ‘Chocolate Cake’ poem for me on the internet - one of my favourites. Enjoy a lovely Meeting House picnic at the retreat with Martin Ward’s usual treasure hunt enjoyed by all children, a rounders game, Chris H.'s tour of the retreat and Bone’s history walk. Judith showed us how to make flower garlands.
", "date_published": "2005-06-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/11/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/11/diary/", "title": "11 June", "content_html": "Quite an effort getting up this morning - no T to buy us bacon! Dropped Rose at dance and headed back to have coffee with Jane. She checked missing guests on the patchwork squares of her dress. E babysitting for Jack + Grace and R having a sleep over with Lily. J + I watch Dr Who and then head over to spend time with E - the children were still up - Jack very miserable. Eventually fell asleep just before everybody got back! Lovely cake made by Sarah.
", "date_published": "2005-06-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/10/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/10/diary/", "title": "10 June", "content_html": "Carol + Claire came this morning for coffee bringing a large piece of fern from their garden. This will shield the bin nicely. Met up with Helen Cadbury for lunch at the Blakeshead - very nice pumpkin soup! Dashed into Borders to buy Chrissy a notebook and pen for her birthday. Dropped Rose with Anna at the youth club - their first visit - and then headed off to L + M for pre-dinner drinks. Very pleasant sitting on the terrace. Raced off to No 8 and met up with Chrissy + Jonathan, Roger + Jo - very good meal. L + M to J + R for an Indian meal.
", "date_published": "2005-06-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/09/diary/", "title": "9 June", "content_html": "Lovely summer day. Mary drove me to Vertigrow and I spent yet more money on the garden. Fantastic trees for sale, very much for the BIG garden - and wallet - and an enormous selection of plants. Spent the afternoon replanting the raised bed; took out the wall flowers and replaced with some nice grasses and some bedding plants. Audrey gave me a scented geranium and M gave me lots of tomato plants & some sweet peas. Looking really lovely. Poor J sick on and off all day. He’s v. bored. R had a sudden black mood lifted after tea. She’s decided to be a vegetarian.
", "date_published": "2005-06-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/08/diary/", "title": "8 June", "content_html": "Sorted out pack up for T and tea in readiness for Dave. Bobbed into town & bout T a german phrase book & OS map of chichester for Dad. Met M and cycled to La Piazza for Italian meal. Really nice and I think we will try and meet again - managed to speak a bit of Italian. R off with M via Nok’s ‘jumble sale’. Just E + J for tea as I was feeling v full from the Italian. Very quiet without T. E saw him before he left. Nice yoga building up to moon prayer. T texted me at 11:30 - ‘nice family’.
", "date_published": "2005-06-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/07/diary/", "title": "7 June", "content_html": "Cycle into town to shop after breakfast and return home in time for lunch - smoked salmon and avocado rolls with a glass of frascati - v delicious. Spend a lot of time sitting tin the yard and make a fruit cake in readiness for Dave + meatballs for T’s send off meal. Drop @ gym and then T + I go on mega jeans shop - return 2 hours later - 2 pairs jeans £6! Petrol £5!
", "date_published": "2005-06-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/06/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/06/diary/", "title": "6 June", "content_html": "E busy DIYing in the kitchen ready for Dave. Did very large supermarket shop - felt quite exhausted, spending £130+ - leave E to bring in the heavy stuff. Girls arrive for sewing and decide it’s much too nice to stay in so we head off for the park with the skate board. Suddenly feel much better trigger off by lovely view of the millennium bridge and seeing the girls laughing so much. Man goes over handlebars unexpectedly. Go to meditation group - lovely ride back at 10pm along the river.
", "date_published": "2005-06-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/05/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/05/diary/", "title": "5 June", "content_html": "Feeling extremely grim on getting up. All seems too much of an effort so retire to bed and E takes J + R + T to Meeting. Doze on and off listening to the radio and eventually get up not before everybody gets back. Potter about and then take R to the Castle museum to look at the postcards exhibition. E + J to the city screen for Star Wars movie.
T with Luke had a McDs for lunch!
", "date_published": "2005-06-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/04/journal/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/04/journal/", "title": "4 June", "content_html": "Very sophisticated and very expensive. Lots of hard work on your paper round and not so hard work on the few babysits you have started to do. You are a great boy and although becoming more independent and off with your friends you always seem happy to be at home with us and still like to go on holiday with us.
Have driven you over to Josh’s to pick-up your stuff. I like to do things for you. I know I sometimes indulge you when E tells me to let you “do it for yourself” but I am ever conscious that I won’t be able to do things for you for much longer and in fact you will have to do more for me.
Already you help with carrying heavy stuff for me, often unasked. You seem very sensitive to my limitations and do help me. Of the three of you, you will have the most memories, being the oldest. A double edged sword. Remembering more also means knowing more fully how ill I have been during your formative years. I hope this doesn’t make you feel - I don’t know ‘disadvantaged’, ‘cheated’?? What I don’t want is for you to blame future ills on me being ill and I hope I have managed to be ‘quietly’ ill most of the time so that it doesn’t feel as though it was always at the forefront of our lives. I’m afraid it feels very much at the forefront this week. I’m trying to get a grip. Certainly reading last year it seems I was feeling similar.
How can I not think every day that time is limited, especially when I wheeze just climbing the stairs.
Certainly if there is life after death I am going to be a runner and I will run every day because I can.
", "date_published": "2005-06-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/04/diary/", "title": "4 June", "content_html": "Baking for Ruth + David’s bonfire in the afternoon. A really lovely party chatted with Chris + Ted, met up with James McCarthy briefly, met Ruth’s son + his family. All lovely good fun. Great bonfire, baked bread sticks at the end + sat around it singing. Lovely evening.
", "date_published": "2005-06-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/03/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/03/diary/", "title": "3 June", "content_html": "Hunmanby Gap with M. Met Will + Sarah + the children there. All skim boards + body boards well used. Tide coming in - further up the beach than we thought. Eventually moved because of rain. V hard for me getting up the hill now - very sad! M + R off on a walk - R returns weeping thinking I might have left without her even though she knew I wouldn’t - the thought just took her over! E + I to the theatre ‘Players’ - excellent really enjoyed it.
", "date_published": "2005-06-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/02/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/02/diary/", "title": "2 June", "content_html": "T off for a sleepover @ Josh Cole, drop off his stuff for him. Has to pack his alarm clock for getting up for his paper round. Spend morning playing The Twits with J, R + Hope. L + M came for supper.
E takes J + R swimming.
", "date_published": "2005-06-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/01/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/06/01/diary/", "title": "1 June", "content_html": "Late morning + Hope comes for a sleepover. Girls stay up very late chatting.
", "date_published": "2005-06-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/31/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/31/diary/", "title": "31 May", "content_html": "E to Dr for 9:25. Cook us all a nice breakfast + then make for scan results… so miserable go an have a coffee at Capaldi’s + wish E was there. Pull myself together and have a nice afternoon in the yard. R with Hope and J + T bumbling around. E has terrible tummy cramps & goes to bed early. Watch Creature Comforts with T who lost his e-bay phone bid - there’ll be more!
", "date_published": "2005-05-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/30/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/30/diary/", "title": "30 May", "content_html": "BEACH!
Get ourselves together after breakfast + Mandy makes a picnic. Stokes Bay is sunny, windy and pretty empty. Set up ‘camp’ on the beach. J + R straight away make for the water. Dave, E, T + Tom play boule. Windsurfers, sail boats + ferries aplenty. Absolutely gorgeous. Soak up more sun in the suntrap at the front of the house before supper.
Long, but steady drive back, roads surprisingly empty. Fall into bed about 11:30.
", "date_published": "2005-05-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/29/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/29/diary/", "title": "29 May", "content_html": "A slow morning and then over to Mum + Dad’s via the back route - very pretty countryside. Children enjoyed running around the garden. After lunch we walked around Prinstead - largely unspoilt. Lovely reedbeds back from the shore. Would love to walk the whole perimeter of Chichester Harbour + resolve to buy OS map for M+D. Later ask Dave if he has one - not to hand! Amaze myself at how little we got to know our locality as children + wonder if my children will feel the same about Yorkshire. Certainly feel cheated that we can’t weekends now, just as all of them would now walk. Sigh.
", "date_published": "2005-05-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/28/diary/", "title": "28 May", "content_html": "Bit of an effort getting up today, but need to get going to Mandy’s. Had a good b/fast before the long 5 hour drive - busy, but shopping on the way. Launched straight into ‘party mode’ getting food ready and enjoying drinks. M+D arrived and we had a nice gentle afternoon/evening of food, wine + chat. Managed to all squeeze in on bits of floor.
", "date_published": "2005-05-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/27/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/27/diary/", "title": "27 May", "content_html": "Horror - a snail or slug has eaten one of my hollyhock leaves - I’m setting up a barricade of eggshells.
Carol has some amazing ferns in her garden, along with a carpet of ble forget-me-not like weeks. It looked like a wild woodland. Drank coffee with her and Claire and then back vie the Blakeshead for a lovely lunch with E. Assembly for J + R. Finished off cooking for Mum + Dad’s do around tea time. M came for E + I to go to the theatre ‘Gluey + the Lion’ - really excellent. Glass of wine + chat with M. Super day.
", "date_published": "2005-05-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/26/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/26/diary/", "title": "26 May", "content_html": "Lovely warm morning cycling along the river. River watch for a while from the City Screen balcony. Excellent view here of ancient York - ignore the bad bits, namely the hotel. Chat with Cathy over coffee & then do a bit of market shopping. Back home to find E in very low spirits. Finish off the tea prep and then set off for 3:30 appointment. Straight in for scan, never got past 1st page in mags! Curious incident drinking a yogurt drink - man opposite stared hard at me + then asked to borrow a pencil, hurriedly sketched something, returned pencil + tore out piece from magazine most odd! Hope for tea - they have lots of snails!
", "date_published": "2005-05-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/25/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/25/diary/", "title": "25 May", "content_html": "Picked up my ‘Potato Eaters’ - like it very much - E still doesn’t like it. Good last Italian lesson - included the barber’s song from Figaro. Spent snatches of time sitting in the yard, it really is looking great at the moment.
Judith bought me back a lovely bottle stopper from her holiday in France. Yoga was excellent this evening. Realised I’d been getting the ‘locks’ wrong - managed it tonight - very energising when done properly.
", "date_published": "2005-05-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/24/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/24/diary/", "title": "24 May", "content_html": "Sea and I drove over to Castle Howard to shop for plants. Bit of a roan storm when we first arrived that soon broke out to an an almost steamy warm afternoon. Bought another fern, petunias, a hollyhock, herbs of various ‘golden’ names for M+D + a few other things. Had tea in the teashop & then set back. Lovely afternoon with Swea bought some plants + compost. Spent evening putting plants in, R had to drag me in for story.
", "date_published": "2005-05-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/23/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/23/diary/", "title": "23 May", "content_html": "John Rack came @ 11am for coffee. Has had a serious throat infection that saw him in hospital for 5 days. He was still looking quite grey and scraggy. Still trying to talk himself into justifying his behaviour and a belief that everybody is ok with what has happened except for Debbie. It’s all very complex + tortuous + he goes round + Round (as D does when I talk to her) and probably will for a good time to come before he blows himself out. Spent a good hour cutting out clothes for the girls. They spent very little time on these and instead preferred to play outside - which seemed the far better option given how sunny it was and that they’ve spent all day inside. Walked around the park with J + R after tea - very cold wind. Stroked Chris + Paul’s dogs - Amy + Florrie - very sweet dogs.
", "date_published": "2005-05-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/23/cindy-not-ill-what-a-relief/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/23/cindy-not-ill-what-a-relief/", "title": "Cindy Not Ill - What a Relief", "content_html": "I was a bit worried about Cindy last night as she went to bed very early with a temperature. She woke up today feeling fine though and has been ok all day.
We spent most of the day chatting to John Rack who we haven't seen for ages. Ellie and Mimi came round after school to sew with Rose - not much sewing was done, more playing in the sunshine.
", "date_published": "2005-05-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/22/seaside-again/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/22/seaside-again/", "title": "Seaside Again", "content_html": "We've been to Hunmanby Gap again today. Some skimming, some body boarding.
John jumped off a submerged rock into, over, through waves for half an hour. They both hunted for fossils and found several \"Devils Toenails\" and Rose found a nice ammonite.
Toby's just got home from his weekend and has had a good time, not too exhausted, all quite easy apparently, although another group managed to get lost, gave up and sat down waiting for help!
", "date_published": "2005-05-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/22/saturday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/22/saturday/", "title": "Saturday", "content_html": "John went to dance this morning, Rose was picked up from her sleepover at 11:30 - absolutely exhausted, very little sleep I think. In the afternoon we went down to the park, played hide and seek in the waist high cow parsley - absolutely impossible to find anyone. Later on in the afternoon, John went to a party at water world, and Rose and I went to see Anna in hospital (she's got pneumonia, poor thing, but seemed much better today.)
Keith and Judy came round for a meal in the evening. We had fantastic steak with chinese spices, noodles and pak choi. Biggest pieces of meat I have cooked for ages, ever perhaps 8oz steak each! Too much really, could have half as much meat, twice as much veg. Absolutely delicious though.
", "date_published": "2005-05-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/22/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/22/diary/", "title": "22 May", "content_html": "Set off for Hunmanby after breakfast - boot stuffed with body board and skim boards. Tide coming in, bright sun and variable cloud made for a really great 3 hours. R found an ammonite revealed when E managed to crack open the stone. R + J in the water for most of the time. Changing nature of the water is fascinating to watch as the tide moves up the beach. T arrived home looking weathered. He’ had a great time and was full of tales of teachers ‘coping’ with teenagers on a w/end away. Dashed over to L+M to watch Dr Who. Me to bed on return; temperature going up + down and just feeling off. Leave E to cope with washing up, wetsuits + stories.
", "date_published": "2005-05-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/21/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/21/diary/", "title": "21 May", "content_html": "Bob into town while E takes J off to dance. Bump into Richard Ogden deliberating over asparagus + have a long chat about veggies + the markedt! Collect R on the way back. Bake a pear flan, while E takes R + J to the park. Drive J to Emily’s birthday party at Water World. He was the only year 5 invited - he later told me he ‘coped + had a very good time’. Lovely meal with Judy + Keith - gravalax, Thai style steak + pear tart. Judy brought me a lovely pot stuffed with herbs.
", "date_published": "2005-05-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/20/non-contact-time/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/20/non-contact-time/", "title": "Non Contact Time", "content_html": "We went to the West Yorkshire Playhouse to see the third of the plays that we're seeing on the big deal. It was Non Contact Time, a play written by a primary teacher about life in a primary school. It had some very funny, well observed moments, such as a chorus of \"Pens down. 5 4 3 2 1. Let's see who's ready. Well done, well done, well done. Who's letting us down?\" Lots of laughter of recognition from an audience that must have been mostly teachers! The story, particularly at the end seemed over dramatic and tacked on.
The play was only 90 minutes long, so we were home nice and early. Jean had been babysitting, and only John was home. Rose was out at a sleep over and Toby is away for the weekend on his D of E expedition training.
", "date_published": "2005-05-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/20/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/20/diary/", "title": "20 May", "content_html": "Met up with Chrissy for lunch @ No 8 - good old chin wag so much so left myself short to do the shopping. R off for a sleepover with Freddie and T going away for D of E weekend in Rosedale. His pack looked worse than it felt. Weather outlook looks good for him. Glad he’s getting a good physical weekend after the exam season. Drive over to the Courtyard to see ‘Non Contact Time’ as part of our Big Deal - much better than D Copperfield. J enjoys having Jean to himself.
", "date_published": "2005-05-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/19/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/19/diary/", "title": "19 May", "content_html": "Anna is in hospital with pneumonia. Buy various fripperies for her. Jo is constantly at her bedside + sleeping on a camp bed. All very traumatic. J +R concerned. I think the seriousness of it has sunk in slowly. Lovely coffee break in the yard with E. He’s worked all day on the small kitchen window. Collect children + cook fish supper. J to gym + T to cinema with Andy to see the new Star Wars movie. Bob to M + L to turn of washing up machine - bring home lovely flowers. V tired this evening + a bit wheezy.
", "date_published": "2005-05-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/18/scarcroft-arts-evening/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/18/scarcroft-arts-evening/", "title": "Scarcroft Arts Evening", "content_html": "Scarcroft - John and Rose's school ran an arts evening for parents and children that we've just got home from.
It started off with Mrs Cornhill, the headteacher, giving a ten minute talk on how \"the arts\" (music, art, dance and drama) fit into the curricullum. then there was the chance to take part in various workshops. There was dance (no takers!), collage, art in ICT, drama, textile painting and drumming - which we did.
Mrs Cornhill ran the drumming, with Mrs Ekers. It started off with some rhythm copying and listening games. The main part of the session was learning various drumming pattens and putting them together to make a piece. We split into two groups and had the two groups doing their different rhythms fitting together and then Mrs Cornhill put some complicated rhythms on top of us. I really enjoyed it and I think everyone else did too.
I was really impressed at how many teachers had stayed to take part in the evening and what fun they seemed to be having. We're very lucky to have such a good school on our doorstep.
", "date_published": "2005-05-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/18/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/18/diary/", "title": "18 May", "content_html": "Finished M’s cake and did some Italian and trouser mending in the morning. E DIY in the kitchen. Italian very good fun - Franco sending me off in the giggles. Booked La Piazza for us all and told him we want to talk Italian! L @ home and we all sang Happy Birthday for M. They are off on holiday for a week to the Baltic. E to scarcroft with J+R for a demonstration drumming lesson and Toby + I to Millthorpe for a German briefing. Dragged myself to yoga - glad I did, very rejuvenating. Milkshake with T on return. Watered garden & part of little + often practice. To bed.
", "date_published": "2005-05-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/17/turkish-baths/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/17/turkish-baths/", "title": "Turkish Baths", "content_html": "I went with Ted today over to Harrogate to go to the Turkish Baths (info here and here).
As usual, wonderfully relaxing and pleasant experience. Followed by tapas, then back on the train just in time to pick the children up from school.
Sheer luxury - definitely better than being at work!
", "date_published": "2005-05-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/17/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/17/diary/", "title": "17 May", "content_html": "No girls for sewing - tired + ill. No Tom - he’s grounded. John jumping around as usual - he has invite to a year 6 girl’s party. Toby just about fitting in a bit of revision.
R not really wanting to go back to school - would not kiss me goodbye. E to Harrogate with Ted. Andrew - vicar at St Clements - pops in for tea, very illuminating chat about Cawood. Cath came for lunch - M’s bean soup from yesterdays Betty’s course - after fighting with her u bend for the best part of the morning. Spent lots on T at Millets for his D of E. Card making for M tomorrow + gym as usual.
", "date_published": "2005-05-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/16/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/16/diary/", "title": "16 May", "content_html": "Rose not well with a temperature and has stayed at home mooching in pyjamas. Cut out mock trousers for Eleanor before setting off for Leeds. Curious Reiki with Robert - could not discern where he was at times and if he still had his hands on me. Very nice all the same. Lunch of home made soup + wheat germ bread with Ruth + David Corry and then Ruth gave me a foot massage. Magical lying back listening to logs crackle on the fire and the wind chimes in the garden. Collected M from station carrying Betty’s fare from her course. Enjoyed a lovely chocolate tart after E’s v. nice shepherds pie.
", "date_published": "2005-05-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/15/pauline-and-lals-anniversary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/15/pauline-and-lals-anniversary/", "title": "Pauline and Lal's Anniversary", "content_html": "It was Lal and Pauline's first anniversary, so they had a party to celebrate. They've also done a lot to their garden, so it was a garden christening party too. We went over on Saturday afternoon, after J+R's dancing (John didn't go - too tired!).
Pauline had done some lovely food - dips, salmon, salads… Cindy had done a chocolate fudge cake (from Nigella Lawson - yum yum).
We didn't stay as long as we'd intended, because the children were worn out! We got home in time for Doctor Who (Doctor Who actually moving shock - it was the one about Rose's dad).
And so to bed - early. Sleepovers definitely only at weekends - on a school day this level of borderline grumpiness would have been unbearable!
", "date_published": "2005-05-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/15/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/15/diary/", "title": "15 May", "content_html": "Having a very lazy day. E took the children to Meeting and after listening to a gripping radio play - that didn’t conclude today! - got up for 11am!! Sitting here in the yard with sun umbrella, it is absolutely lovely. E, J + R + Lil @ the Edmund Wilson and T + Luke on the Xbox. T has bought me a very thoughtful present ‘Creature Comforts’ (be it at the £ shop - he has a good eye for a bargain!) Will eventually move myself to cook chicken.
", "date_published": "2005-05-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/14/sleepovers/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/14/sleepovers/", "title": "Sleepovers", "content_html": "John had Tom round for a sleepover, Rose went to Nok's. I don't think either pair got a great deal of sleep!
Rose and Anna had been going to go to the youth club that Toby helps at for the first time, but unfortunately, Anna was ill so it's been postponed another week.
", "date_published": "2005-05-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/14/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/14/diary/", "title": "14 May", "content_html": "Rose walked to dance on her own. Anna very poorly with persistent cough/cold. Applied liberal layer of choc icing to fudge cake before picking her up. Lovely afternoon at Lal + Pauline’s celebrating their new garden + 1st WA. Lots of couples with small children, babies - felt quite old with our lot, especially T. Came hope relatively early because J+R tired out - got home just in time for Dr Who.
", "date_published": "2005-05-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/13/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/13/diary/", "title": "13 May", "content_html": "Rosie cried off - she wants to spend time with Judith before she goes off on holiday. Went into town with E to buy present for M + took advantage of book offer on Design C20 + Architecture. Lovely afternoon so sat in the yard - which really is looking very good at the moment. Anna ill, so Rose decides not to go to youth club. Goes to Nok’s for sleep over. Tom here for sleep over.
", "date_published": "2005-05-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/12/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/12/diary/", "title": "12 May", "content_html": "Hoping to go to Anita’s with Rosie Waring to look at hat production but poor girl could not make it out of the house. Judith eventually persuaded her to go with me and have a look at my sewing machine. She did some stitch samples and I showed her how to do applique in silks. Felt desperately sorry that she cannot go anywhere, meet anybody without feeling a deep anxiety. Arranged to go with her to Boyes tomorrow.
", "date_published": "2005-05-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/11/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/11/diary/", "title": "11 May", "content_html": "T off for his first babysitting job tonight for Alison. Arrived @ yoga to find Suzi not there - very rare. Pete eventually turned up and - rather reluctantly I feel - agreed to lead the class. (Didn’t want T to miss out on his babysitting so pushed to keep us all there!) He’s getting very good and is quite impressive with some of his poses. Now, if I had my time again I would definitely work harder + spend more time on yoga.
", "date_published": "2005-05-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/10/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/10/diary/", "title": "10 May", "content_html": "Enjoyed early morning cycle along the river with E to meet Ted in the Gallery coffee shop - for the first time. Great view of the Minster from here.
", "date_published": "2005-05-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/09/diary/", "title": "9 May", "content_html": "Pick M up at 10 and enjoy drive to Castle Howard. E + I finally decide on a lovely back bamboo and large black flowerpot - very urban chic - and a mock orange. Had my eye on many a tree - would have quickly outgrown the yard. Lovely steak s/wiches for lunch with salad + wine to celebrate M+L wedding anniversary - cheers Lance who was off recording.
", "date_published": "2005-05-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/08/diary/", "title": "8 May", "content_html": "Did coffee @ Meeting. Everybody else stayed at home. E was going to take J+R on school bike ride, but too cold + wet.
", "date_published": "2005-05-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/07/nitin-sawhney/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/07/nitin-sawhney/", "title": "Nitin Sawhney", "content_html": "Yesterday evening, Cindy and I went to Gateshead to see Nitin Sawhney play at the Sage.
It's a fantastic building and a brilliant concert hall. It is very comfortable and has fantastic acoustics, but it was a slightly strange venue for a \"pop\" concert.
Because it was all seating, everyone was sitting down most of the time and listening very reverently with clapping after the end of each song - a concert rather than a gig.
The music was brilliant with 5 fantastic vocalists. They played some tracks off the new album, Philtre, and some older ones too.
We came home on the train after the concert and collapsed into bed at about 1am.
", "date_published": "2005-05-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/07/diary/", "title": "7 May", "content_html": "Sletp through time we should have had b/fast @ Mary’s. J+R up to listen to dawn chorus with M @ the allotment! Mooched around for most of the day and then all went to see HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy - not quite J+R’s thing. T enjoyed.
", "date_published": "2005-05-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/06/kitchen-photos/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/06/kitchen-photos/", "title": "Kitchen Photos", "content_html": "I've finally put up some pictures of the kitchen as it currently is. Do you like the \"hob\"?
", "date_published": "2005-05-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/06/jane-and-andys-wedding/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/06/jane-and-andys-wedding/", "title": "Jane and Andy's Wedding", "content_html": "Jane and Andy got married in York Registry Office, followed by a party at Lance and Mary's on April 23rd.
E has booked tickets for Nitin Sawhney @ Gateshead. Set off early to look around the Sage and the Gallery. Fantastic building. Great Millennium Bridge although very cold. Enjoyed concert although Nitin doesn’t really work the crowd. Delayed train to get home, fell into bed about 1am.
", "date_published": "2005-05-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/05/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/05/diary/", "title": "5 May", "content_html": "Set off on electric bike at about 8am!! No caretaker because it is polling day!! argh!! Borrow a mobile + phone emergency number. Get caretaker out of bed. Long + short, find bag when E phones my mobile - it’s usually turned off for the lesson… what a relief! Enjoy a lovely day at the Forbidden Corner with J+R and Lance. I love this place - such fun. Great picnic of Thai style chicken in rolls + pork pie. Good fruit cake.
", "date_published": "2005-05-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/04/diary/", "title": "4 May", "content_html": "Leave my bag @ Italian!! Mary drives me back over, but all is locked. Suddenly remember late evening that tomorrow the hall will be used as a polling station, resolve to get up early. Feel very bereft + worried about not having my bag to hand. Too tired for yoga. Bed early.
", "date_published": "2005-05-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/03/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/03/diary/", "title": "3 May", "content_html": "Hard week ahead for T with DAT tests plus others - he works hard every night + still manages to get up early for his paper round - great boy.
", "date_published": "2005-05-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/02/two-fantastic-days-at-the-seaside/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/02/two-fantastic-days-at-the-seaside/", "title": "Two Fantastic Days at the Seaside", "content_html": "Bank Holiday Weekend - go to the seaside!
So we did. All the children now have wetsuits, so they can be in the water for literally hours. I just got cold. In fact on Sunday, I didn't go in the water at all.
We all took turns on Toby's body board, \"catching waves\" in the surf. All three of them got pretty good rides.
John and Rose also have skim boards - for skimming across shallow water. We all tried these out - Toby with great success, the rest of us just about managing to do it. I fell off quite a lot, and as I was running the sand was rather like sandpaper - bit sore this evening!
", "date_published": "2005-05-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/02/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/02/diary/", "title": "2 May", "content_html": "Set off for Hunmanby about 11 and although traffic a little heavier than yesterday we had pretty much a clear run. We suits again proved invaluable - Rose didn’t want to come home. Lovely walking along the beach - no gradient, felt normal. Fantastic view, air, breeze. So very very lovely. Best place we go. Pondered on the day I won;t be able to even walk along the flat. E drove home. Everyone tired + hungry. Went to see ‘Downfall’ with Jean - a deeply disturbing film about Hitler’s last days in power in a bunker in Berlin - horrifying.
", "date_published": "2005-05-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/02/catch-up-time/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/05/02/catch-up-time/", "title": "Catch Up Time", "content_html": "I haven't posted for a while so here's what's been going on.
Cindy - has had her tenth chemo treatment last week. This is the last planned for the moment. It went well and she hasn't been too ill - just tired and with some back ache. Now she's going to have a while off treatment - while the consultant thinks about what to do next! Not that many options left now apparently - something experimental possibly.
Edward - off sick again and has resigned. Not at all what I expected last June when I was so happy to get the job! But it wasn't working out at all and was making me ill. I've got till the end of the summer term off sick to think about what to do next. I might try to do some supply in schools that know me and look for part-time work, or I might try something different. Not sure yet.
Children - all fine, busy, dance, gym, trampoline, D of E scheme, Meeting, friends round, …
Kitchen - looks super. Floor and hob remain to be done. New oven lovely
Sodens round for breakfast after the 8am birdwalk in the park. All came back boasting new knowledge of bird calls. Managed to accommodate all of us for cooked breakfast. Our new grill in full swing - really good. Set off for Hunmanby Gap despite misgivings about the weather. Bit of a shower en route, but the rest of the day was really lovely. Tide receding. E built a fire and the children donned wetsuits and were barely out of the water. Jo + Bill came for a couple of hours. Didn’t get back until about 7 v. tired and hungry.
", "date_published": "2005-05-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/30/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/30/diary/", "title": "30 April", "content_html": "Coffee with Jean after dropping Rose off for dance. Then drive Toby to Keith’s and have a quick cup of tea with Judy. J+R to the dance show with Bill leaving E + I with an afternoon. Cycled into town to buy fish and then watched Grand Designs - very decadent afternoon behaviour.
Nice salmon for tea followed by family viewing of Dr Who. Have started embroidering Jane’s guests signatures.
", "date_published": "2005-04-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/29/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/29/diary/", "title": "29 April", "content_html": "Rose good work assembly. She did not look - and indeed was not - as though she was enjoying it.
West Yorkshire Playhouse for David Copperfield in the evening. Very slow. We both nodded of at intervals. Very interesting set revealing a stage that goes back far further than has ever been revealed. Jean babysat.
", "date_published": "2005-04-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/28/diary/", "title": "28 April", "content_html": "Very slow day at home. Back ache and feeling very very fatigued. Know it won’t last. Watched John gym himself into overall 3rd, winning gold in the Pommel. Home for 9:30 - all very tired. E+T to the theatre - v good.
", "date_published": "2005-04-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/27/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/27/diary/", "title": "27 April", "content_html": "Managed Italian and from then onf felt extremely tired. Went to bed early and slept soundly.
", "date_published": "2005-04-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/26/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/26/diary/", "title": "26 April", "content_html": "Treatment this morning - last one. Scan in 6 weeks and then we’ll see. It’s not over yet, a few more drug packages available - making my face flush thinking about time running out! Dr B says I’ve done well - not chucking the towel in yet. Nice lunch with E. Struggled to sit & do Italian don’t know why - it was easy. T cooked - v good.
", "date_published": "2005-04-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/25/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/25/diary/", "title": "25 April", "content_html": "Judy came for coffee bringing shoots of parsley + rocket that she has grown from seed. Met up with Ruth (never met her before), Lucy Amos, Helen Cadbury (her 40th) for lunch. Danielle + Cathy popped in quickly. M2 - very nice. Dashed for bloodtest before picking up children. Sewing with the girls - they all want to make clothes!
", "date_published": "2005-04-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/24/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/24/diary/", "title": "24 April", "content_html": "Official unveiling of the children’s wall hanging at Meeting this morning. Brenda has made a great job of it. Left Toby + Rose still sleeping. J up at 7am as usual! Lunch finishing wedding feast at M+L. J+R played with the hose + T off to play football. Went to Carol + Nick’s wedding. Packed out and a very nice Meeting. Nick’s mum read the Gilbran poem that I recognised from our wedding. Sun still in the yard when I got home so made the most of it. Old kitchen going tomorrow so will be able to spread out more.
", "date_published": "2005-04-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/23/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/23/diary/", "title": "23 April", "content_html": "Dropped Rose at dance then rushed off to shop before dashing to M+L to paint gold on J+A’s cake. T+I cycled to the registry office for simple, but moving, celebration. Jane cried. She looked lovely in red silk. Back to M+L for wine, speeches + good food. Toby + Tom fantastic as waiters and general dogsbodies. Lots of chat + food + wine + champers - all very very nice.
", "date_published": "2005-04-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/22/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/22/diary/", "title": "22 April", "content_html": "Harrogate with Jane + Katharine for a sauna. Can’t sit in the heat for as long as I used to and absolute hell getting up that hill from the baths - think it will have to be the wheelchair next time, or really just forget it. Great tapas for lunch - must go with E some time.
", "date_published": "2005-04-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/21/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/21/diary/", "title": "21 April", "content_html": "A sewing day finishing off Rose’s outfit - I really didn’t want to be doing it last minute. Very pleased with pink tweed weave top and grey trousers. Katharine + Jane popped in for tea and then busy to and froing for gym club.
", "date_published": "2005-04-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/20/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/20/diary/", "title": "20 April", "content_html": "Shopped in the morning for a black shrug + bits & pieces. Came home for coffee. Swea came and I went off for Italian - good fun as usual.
", "date_published": "2005-04-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/19/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/19/diary/", "title": "19 April", "content_html": "Bobbed into Sam;s for coffee & chat this morning - always nice to spend time with Sam. Rose off sick with a temperature & need to get back for E to play badminton with Simon + then go into school for final chat. He seems to be feeling glad to get things sorted so that he can move on. Dr S has signed him off for as long as is needed.
", "date_published": "2005-04-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/18/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/18/diary/", "title": "18 April", "content_html": "E to the doctor today.
Writing retrospectively + can’t think what else we all did. The days really can just drift by and although I’m always busy there is not much to separate them - just like going to work was really!
", "date_published": "2005-04-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/17/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/17/diary/", "title": "17 April", "content_html": "Decide on Humanby Gap this afternoon. The Campbells decide to go too and puc up Luke Holman on the way. The big boys all have wet suits and spend ages in the water on the body board. J+R brave the sea in costumes. J endures for longer. Great fun on skim boards. David builds a fire. Hot tea + coffee in flasks, chocolate, fruit cake, Lebanese bread + honey. Fabulous. Stay for a good three hours enjoying the fire, sun and lovely, lovely beach.
", "date_published": "2005-04-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/16/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/16/diary/", "title": "16 April", "content_html": "Toby, Tom, Josh + E off to go-carting birthday treat. Have a great time. Toby wants to go again.
", "date_published": "2005-04-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/15/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/15/diary/", "title": "15 April", "content_html": "Play a few games of ‘Happy Families’ with J+R after tea. Such a relief to see E enjoying relaxing with us all. As though a great weight has been lifted from his shoulders. Rose is a mean ‘happy families’ player!!
", "date_published": "2005-04-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/14/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/14/diary/", "title": "14 April", "content_html": "Have a surge in tidying up the house after the kitchen aftermath. E touches up paint in the kitchen. Boxes get unpacked. Clear Rose’s wardrobe for her and move stuff to storage boxes under the bed. Sort out mess of sewing stuff in our room.
", "date_published": "2005-04-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/13/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/13/diary/", "title": "13 April", "content_html": "E comes home from school mid-morning. Really can’t take any more. I am relieved that the something I have been waiting to happen has happened. E decides he’s not realistically going to get on top of the class. Decision made to resign. We spend the rest of the week getting used to the idea.
", "date_published": "2005-04-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/12/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/12/diary/", "title": "12 April", "content_html": "E awful day - observed by somebody from county. Has been given choices. Writing this 2 weeks late and can only think - remember this. Chat at gym club.
", "date_published": "2005-04-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/11/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/11/diary/", "title": "11 April", "content_html": "So lovely to have the house moving back to normality. No building work and no more cramped back room. Slowly decanting boxes into cupboards - it’s all a very tight squeeze. Lovely Reiki with Robert - very very relaxing. J+R walked back home by themselves! E terrible, terrible day, he looked so drained. Took the children to the park after a shower and he looked much lifted.
Started 4th Anne book with Rose + a book for J. He’s not had much reading to lately.
", "date_published": "2005-04-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/10/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/10/diary/", "title": "10 April", "content_html": "H+D to Mass, J+R+T and me to Meeting. E doing some work. Toby got his bike sorted out by Josh Parker. Nice chat with Carol who I haven’t seen for ages. E cooked us a nice salmon + mushroom pasta for lunch. E then off to Rotherham with J for gym. R, D+H and I over the river to look at some of the art on the open arts w/end. Dropped them off at the station for 4pm then R + I to the park. A great tree climber. J returns triumphant with the gold - fantastic! Me very sleepy on the sofa - could hardly keep my eyes open.
", "date_published": "2005-04-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/09/diary/", "title": "9 April", "content_html": "J decides to give dance a miss and comes into town with me after dropping Rose at dance. We buy fish + then head back again. David + Helen have arrived on return. Toby’s b/day he opens pressies in bed ritual on return from paper-round. Tom, Josh & Alex come for FnCs, DVD + X box game. Squeeze in sparkling + crostini + salmon supper with H+D. Hectic, but lovely day. So very happy too see Toby 14. Dave leaves 5ish after v. v. busy day.
", "date_published": "2005-04-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/08/diary/", "title": "8 April", "content_html": "Feeling very nauseous today + so so tired. Manage to go to the dump with Dave + do domesticy bits + pieces. Fall asleep while John + Rose play at the Soden’s after school. Pain in back + legs setting in. Definitely a ‘side-effects’ day.
", "date_published": "2005-04-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/07/diary/", "title": "7 April", "content_html": "Dentist with Toby first thing, then lots of bits + pieces shopping for Dave and for Toby’s birthday.
Fatigue setting in, along with a bit of back pain.
", "date_published": "2005-04-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/06/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/06/diary/", "title": "6 April", "content_html": "IKEA first thing to return stuff + pick up final bits for David. Just make it back in time for Italian - very rusty.
", "date_published": "2005-04-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/05/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/05/diary/", "title": "5 April", "content_html": "Treatment - Mandy comes + I fall asleep mid infusion - how sociable! We have a nice soup at Spurriergate. Mandy sets off back home. She’s done loads for us as usual. Dave working as hard as ever. Things really taking shape.
", "date_published": "2005-04-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/04/diary/", "title": "4 April", "content_html": "Children home for training day. Mandy working with Dave in kitchen. They can’t make up their minds what to do so end up taking R+J into town to spend b/day money. Toby does things with Andy. Nice supper of spinach and lamb curry.
", "date_published": "2005-04-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/03/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/03/diary/", "title": "3 April", "content_html": "Rose in a 7am to open pressies. All on the bed including the cat. All to Meeting - kicked off with the Pope. Toby + I did feather icing biscuits. Took Lily home on the footplate of the bike. Enjoyed Rowntree Park’s Green Play Day. Helped Mandy tidy the yard - looks much better. Dave + Mandy tiling. E + I took children to the allotment for L+M’s bonfire. Like a warm summer’s evening
", "date_published": "2005-04-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/02/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/02/diary/", "title": "2 April", "content_html": "Il Giornale is too difficult for me! Lovely morning. J + R + I do a round tour of Bishy shops. After lunch Rose goes to Lauren’s & J + I cycle into town for cupboard handles + red jumper. Buy a CD for Rose. Phone Toby to join us for ice creams, our first @ Capaldi’s this year. Nice to sit with J + T looking up at the Minster - bit covered in scaffolding. Mandy arrives - lovely to see her. Dave struggling over a short for too long in the evening. The Pope dies.
", "date_published": "2005-04-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/01/what-a-day/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/01/what-a-day/", "title": "What a Day", "content_html": "Absolutely knackered.
Dave and I have been flat out all day - only just finished and it's 8:20. But it has been a very productive day. We've now got a working sink side of the kitchen with washing machine, tumble dryer and (new) dishwasher in their places - no electricity yet so they don't work, but they're all ready to go. Hot and cold running water from our lovely new tap into our lovely new sink - drain a bit dubious, so we need to get a different connector tomorrow. Only down side to that part of the kitchen is the worktop, which Ikea delivered yesterday. It has been manufactured with the finishing strip, which is aluminium (in colour anyway), in the wrong place - so frustrating as we had to check the plan in the shop about 6 times before we confirmed the order, and they obviously haven't checked it when it was made at all. Also haven't had a call back from them, when they said they would have phoned by now. Oh well it'll sort out in the end.
Wall cupboard is up on sink side. High fridge unit is also built, one cupboard built, ready to move them into correct places once wiring is finished. Back door planed so it doesn't grind any more.
So, yes, very productive.
", "date_published": "2005-04-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/01/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/04/01/diary/", "title": "1 April", "content_html": "Took Toby off to help buy tiles + shopping. J+R stayed at home John in his pyjamas until 11 I believe! General party preparations amidst making lunch, tea, etc. Mary cycled John to the theatre and took the girls in the car. Just made it. Horrendous traffic. Good play - Snow White - a little young maybe. Nice pizza tea - Jo cooked the pizzas for us. B.day cake, passs the parcel + Kim’s game. Gemma, Anna & Fran - all very nice. Washed up in new sink!
", "date_published": "2005-04-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/31/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/31/diary/", "title": "31 March", "content_html": "Embroidery part II. Rose to Nok’s + then John too and they all went to the cinema. Katharine came for lunch with Thomas. Went to Mary’s to bake Rose’s cake + make pizza dough. Still very tired. Kitchen coming on - first hitch: stainless edging placed on wrong end of work surface - great!
", "date_published": "2005-03-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/30/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/30/diary/", "title": "30 March", "content_html": "Embroider this morning. Working on Binka. Rose making a book mark. John went to the allotment with Mary. Nok came back with us for the afternoon.
Feeling very tired.
", "date_published": "2005-03-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/29/kitchen-progress/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/29/kitchen-progress/", "title": "Kitchen Progress", "content_html": "Yesterday I tidied up the kitchen, rubbed down bits of woodwork, cleared up plaster and so on.
Today, I have got two coats of watered down white all over the walls and ceiling. Then Dave arrived to help with one coat of white on ceiling, one coat of blue on the end wall and putting the radiator back on. So real progress has been made today.
It looks amazingly different with just this much paint on - it's really starting to look like a proper room! Not all progress will be this fast, there are lots of fiddly electrical and plumbing fixings to do and no doubt some of the cupboards will take a while to fix in properly, but it really feels as though it is coming along.
Photos will follow when I've found my cardreader for the camera - it's somewhere in the mess!
", "date_published": "2005-03-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/29/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/29/diary/", "title": "29 March", "content_html": "Very busy morning shopping. Shoes for Toby, trainers for Rose. Failed attempt to buy sweatshirt for John.
Dave arrived in the late afternoon + started work on the kitchen. E all day painting. It really is starting to look like a room again. Cancelled my chemo - can’t face it this week after last week’s cold.
", "date_published": "2005-03-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/29/chemo-nine/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/29/chemo-nine/", "title": "Chemo Nine", "content_html": "Cindy was due to have another session of chemo this week, but as she's still recovering from a cold, and frankly, because next week will be much more convenient, she phoned the hospital this morning and told them she would like to delay by a week. By then we'll all be back at school/work and there will be less going on that she'll have to do when she's feeling knackered.
Also, this will mean that she won't have a treatment in the week of Jane's wedding, which will be nice.
", "date_published": "2005-03-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/28/diary/", "title": "28 March", "content_html": "Brimham Rocks gave us all a much needed ‘run’ around in the fresh air. Everybody had a good climb, although Toby has ‘found fear’ and was not leaping up stuff as he once used to. Oversized trainers did not help. Found the ‘smartie tube’ that Toby wriggled through in yr 7 on a school trip. No takers this time.
", "date_published": "2005-03-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/27/easter-sunday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/27/easter-sunday/", "title": "Easter Sunday", "content_html": "We've had a lovely lunch today with Lance and Mary. Roast Lamb - we haven't had anything roasted for a while (except for chicken on Friday, Cindy has just pointed out)!
Last night we had a fantastic meal with Lal and Pauline at Melton's.
Kitchen paint colour is chosen and bought. All ready to go, just going to give the plaster another day to dry some more.
", "date_published": "2005-03-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/27/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/27/diary/", "title": "27 March", "content_html": "Left Toby, Lal + Pauline getting up slowly and cycled off to meeting. A very quiet Meeting. Philip Rack’s piece from Faith + Practice came to mind. Discovered after Meeting it was the piece in Quakevine this month - strange that. Did the coffee with a very fragile woman who told me too much too soon. Was joined by Andrew + Ian both of whom always end up singing - have spent quite a few ‘drying times’ with these two.
All to L+M for a very nice roast lamb dinner followed by meringues. Played ‘Perudo’ - I won, ‘wayhay’! - and then Lal + Pauline set off home. Crumpet + muffin tea. We now have the gas stove. E + I stayed up late watching ‘enigma’ -very good. Slept well. Feeling much much better.
", "date_published": "2005-03-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/26/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/26/diary/", "title": "26 March", "content_html": "E off to buy paint with John and Rose + I set off to take things to Age Concern + get a bit of shopping. Driving necessary, but feeling better. Lal + Pauline arrived at about 2pm. We played Harry Potter. New ‘Dr Who’ - Lance arrived in good time to watch this! 7:30 table at Meltons. Me: King Prawn, Hake, choc. Parfait. Lovely wine + dessert wine. Great chees. Very, very nice eventing with L + P v good company. Surrendered our vouchers + Lal treated us to rest - very generous.
", "date_published": "2005-03-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/25/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/25/diary/", "title": "25 March", "content_html": "Went to St Clement’s children’s activity morning with Mary. A good range of activities including juggling, computer, origami + Mary’s Hot X buns. J+R really enjoyed it. Afternoon at home and then last cooked meal at Jo’s.
", "date_published": "2005-03-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/24/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/24/diary/", "title": "24 March", "content_html": "Felt a home based day would be good as we’d all been out the last two days. Blitzed Rose’s room and managed to throw out a bin bag full of stuff and pile up a load for the charity shop. Park.
", "date_published": "2005-03-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/24/back-home/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/24/back-home/", "title": "Back Home", "content_html": "We've been back at home since Friday evening, as my parents were having other guests (David and Rachel - Sarah's brother and wife, who are visiting Europe for a whistle-stop 4 weeks).
The floor is down, the plastering finished and today the coving is going up, so there are obvious improvements happening. We ordered all the appliances last week, and they should be arriving soon. David is coming next week to start decorating and kitchen fitting. I've rented a dehumidifier to help the plaster and floor dry out quickly.
The house is still chaos, with nowhere to cook or eat really. Fortunately the Sodens are away for a week and are letting us use their kitchen. By next week we should be able to get back into the kitchen and use a tap, and possibly put up a camping stove.
", "date_published": "2005-03-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/23/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/23/diary/", "title": "23 March", "content_html": "Whitby today with mary leaving E to work. Lovely day. Packed up wheelchair as still not walking very far. Whitby was amazingly busy. Had FnCs as soon as we got there. Then on to the beach. J+R went in. Toby looked out over the harbour for a long time. It was quite busy + interesting. On balance we didn’t really do a great deal, but it was a lovely day.
", "date_published": "2005-03-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/22/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/22/diary/", "title": "22 March", "content_html": "Was going to go to Whitby, but very dam + cold and still not feeling very good. Moochy day. All pretty much suiting themselves, ie T + I as J, R + E off to London for John’s Big Toe prize of tour plus tour round TV programme Exchange. M took T + I out for a lovely curry at the Himalayan. Then a cosy TV evening at Mary’s until E phoned for pickup from station.
", "date_published": "2005-03-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/21/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/21/diary/", "title": "21 March", "content_html": "Terrible night on the breathing front. I have a cold and ‘woke’ labouring to breathe. Oxygen mask a must. Felt quite frightened for a while, just about managed to persuade myself it is a cold. Took myself off to hospital + picked up more antibiotics, up the steroids + cough mixture. Slow, slow for rest of day. Highlight - watched ‘Some like it Hot’. Great movie. T not very impressed although he did laugh quite a lot.
", "date_published": "2005-03-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/20/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/20/diary/", "title": "20 March", "content_html": "Sore throat + felling very coldy. Managed the Fox group. Couldn’t believe I’d left my book at home with the library book that took me ages to find. Sweet little girls all made a Rosemary cross and Donkey. Spent the afternoon in bed. E suggested La Piazza for tea. Cheered us all up, all the nicer because it was so unexpected. Great pizzas. I had cannelloni. Children enjoyed it - as usual. Toby won gold at trampoline. Rose competed in final, but not placed. She was disappointed, especially after Tuesday’s silver.
", "date_published": "2005-03-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/19/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/19/diary/", "title": "19 March", "content_html": "Spent the afternoon at L+M with Will, Sarah, the children and Sarah’s brother + his wife. E off with boys to do the ghost walk in the evening. Rose + I went home.
", "date_published": "2005-03-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/18/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/18/diary/", "title": "18 March", "content_html": "Met up with Alison F for lunch at Melton’s Too - had a very nice French Onion soup. Alison is very captivated by Jamie Oliver’s school lunch revolution - as am I - and we chatted about this a lot. Popped to library before picking up children. Packed up and moved back home. House felt very damp. Not good for my sore throat.
", "date_published": "2005-03-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/17/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/17/diary/", "title": "17 March", "content_html": "John had a boa constrictor around his neck today; it stretch up and ‘licked’ his face. John thought it was lovely!! Then had his photo taken with a tarantula - this was lovely too. Got some antibiotics for sore throat + cough - feel very rough this evening. Floor to be laid tomorrow + we’re moving back tomorrow!
", "date_published": "2005-03-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/16/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/16/diary/", "title": "16 March", "content_html": "Super Italian meal for Action Aid laid on by Luisa. And we did manage an Italian class afterwards. Toby to MacBeth with L+M + Tony - it wasn’t very good (no interval to buy ice creams). E + I shopped on the internet for kitchen + spent nearly £2,000. Sore throat setting in - starting to feel very jaded this evening. E bad day, very low.
", "date_published": "2005-03-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/15/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/15/diary/", "title": "15 March", "content_html": "Returned from drop off + felt v. sick. Cleared our room for Tony + then was very sick. Back to bed and slept the rest of the day. Rose came silver in her gym competition - amazing look of surprise on her face. She was eventually thrilled. Nok came first.
", "date_published": "2005-03-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/14/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/14/diary/", "title": "14 March", "content_html": "Mary + I to IKEA. Forgot essentials like handles to return + fridge dimensions. Bought sink + various bits of panelling. To bed very early. Exhausted.
", "date_published": "2005-03-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/13/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/13/diary/", "title": "13 March", "content_html": "All to church. Me cooking very large shoulder of lamb + then off to Wiggington for Toby’s football. J+R+I to Borders to spend book vouchers - forgot vouchers!
", "date_published": "2005-03-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/12/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/12/diary/", "title": "12 March", "content_html": "Very stay at home day. L+M not at all well with v. bad cold + jet lag.
", "date_published": "2005-03-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/11/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/11/diary/", "title": "11 March", "content_html": "L+M back. Tried + out of sorts. John back to school.
", "date_published": "2005-03-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/10/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/10/diary/", "title": "10 March", "content_html": "Today John is ill with sickness and diarrhoea had to leave him alone for a couple of hours to sort out cat, car + daily shop. We have done some fabric painting + general mooching around.
", "date_published": "2005-03-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/09/diary/", "title": "9 March", "content_html": "Busy morning meeting floor people, sorting out cat + doing Italian h/w. Good lesson of Italian, missed call to say John ill - he went home with Jo (Adam also ill). After sorted tea felt exhausted so to bed early along with everybody else. E has had much better day.
", "date_published": "2005-03-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/09/chemo-8/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/09/chemo-8/", "title": "Chemo 8", "content_html": "Another chemo session on Tuesday (yesterday). Cindy has been very busy today, including going to her Italian class, but has gone to bed exhausted already. Side effects still not too bad - her hands are getting red and sore and her nails are awful, but nothing major thank goodness.
We're all getting used to the huge amount of space her at the Mount - will we ever be satisfied in our little house again! Of course we will, especially once we've got a lovely new kitchen.
Cindy let in the builders this morning and already the plaster is off the walls up to 1m from the floor, all the quarry tiles have been lifted and the concrete underneath is starting to go. Mayhem.
", "date_published": "2005-03-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/08/diary/", "title": "8 March", "content_html": "Very busy doing finishing touches of tidying to house ready for onslaught tomorrow. Say Dr B before chemo 8. Discussed future treatments. Not ready to throw in the towel yet. Treatment went well. Lots of gym running around. E very down - awful day.
", "date_published": "2005-03-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/07/supper-at-mark-and-michelles/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/07/supper-at-mark-and-michelles/", "title": "Supper at Mark and Michelle's", "content_html": "On Saturday evening we went to Michelle and Mark's for a fantastic meal, with Jo and Bill. After a week of eating in a very cramped backroom, it was lovely to have someone cook a proper meal and it on a table with a table cloth!
Stayed up too late and drank too much!
", "date_published": "2005-03-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/07/kitchen-ready-for-next-stage/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/07/kitchen-ready-for-next-stage/", "title": "Kitchen Ready for Next Stage", "content_html": "Dave went home on Saturday after lunch. He left a kitchen with a new plasterboard ceiling, total rewiring and all ready for the dampproof company. I've finished stripping the wood chip off the walls and so that is all ready to be plastered. The next stage starts on Wednesday when the floor will be dug up - should take about a week to finish laying the new floor and plaster walls and ceiling.
We've decamped to my parents' house for a fortnight or so - being out of the dust is a relief for everyone, especially Cindy. I'm at home today, and working the rest of the week.
", "date_published": "2005-03-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/07/diary/", "title": "7 March", "content_html": "Massive sorting out at house to get ready for damp-proof on Wed. Ele + Mimi here for hand embroidery, Tom round for tea. This house is lovely, but exhausting, it’s so big. Very nice having own bathroom.
", "date_published": "2005-03-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/06/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/06/diary/", "title": "6 March", "content_html": "Still felt intoxicated in Meeting! Moved into the Mount and celebrated with roast dinner. Great to have some veggies. Nice to have some room, access to washing machine etc etc. Lovely home made cards from all the children for Mothers day. Phoned my mum for same plus Amy to wish her happy 18th. Sent lovely glass balls as pressie.
", "date_published": "2005-03-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/05/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/05/diary/", "title": "5 March", "content_html": "Out to supper at Mark + Michelle’s with Jo + Bill. Very nice vegetarian menu and lots of wine including a great sparkling to start with. Lovely cheese to finish. Left at 2:30am!
", "date_published": "2005-03-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/04/kitchen-starts/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/04/kitchen-starts/", "title": "Kitchen Starts!", "content_html": "Dave came up on Sunday evening and by Monday evening we had no units in the kitchen - and no kitchen ceiling. The old kitchen ceiling was so wrecked, so much lighting needed to be done, and a tube for an extractor fan needed to be put in so we'd decided total removal would be the best option.
We now have a fridge, freezer, kitchen table, toaster, kettle and so on in the back room and not much space to move around. Cindy had been very organised and cooked lots of food in advance, so we've eaten well so far. As we don't have a cooker at the moment, most of our evening meals have been cooked at my parent's house.
The plasterboarding for the new ceiling was done in two evenings (because it's a two person job and I was at school) and was finished last night (Wednesday). Dave has almost finished the wiring for the sockets and lights and is sorting out our rotten door frame.
Next week the damp company arrive to dig up the entire floor, damp-proof it and lay a new one - and also replaster/skim the walls and ceiling. That'll make even more mess and dust no doubt. Fortunately we are able to move into my parents house for a bit.
Once the floor and walls have dried, Dave will come back and fit our new kitchen, which should be done by Easter.
", "date_published": "2005-03-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/04/diary/", "title": "4 March", "content_html": "More shopping for Dave first thing. Then into town to buy pressie for Amy. Went for a fairy, came back with lovely hand blown glass baubles.I hope she likes them.
Very low about my lack of breath. Felt back to where I was a couple of weeks back before treatment - could walk very short distance only. Can’t believe - still - it’s come to this. Lovely good work assembly for Rose - Goblin poem was fun. Bought new dance shoes for Rose. Nice mooch on our bed with Rose reading before buying Indian takeaway. D+E very worn out Dave has worked like a slave all week - has done amazing things this week.
", "date_published": "2005-03-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/03/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/03/diary/", "title": "3 March", "content_html": "Lots of driving around today to shop for Dave. Then lots in the evening for gym club and feeding the boys over at Mary’s. E+D worked till lateish & then went over to eat + shower. Still feeling very wheezy - really hoping for some sort of recovery from this apparent deterioration.
", "date_published": "2005-03-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/02/john-silent-surely-not/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/02/john-silent-surely-not/", "title": "John - Silent - Surely Not!", "content_html": "For Red Nose Day next Friday, John has decided to do a whole day's sponsored silence. Everyone who know's him knows how difficult this will be for him!!
If you'd like to sponsor him, contact us.
", "date_published": "2005-03-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/02/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/02/diary/", "title": "2 March", "content_html": "Definitely need Toby to help me with my Italian - I think it could be really helpful if he did 10 mins with me twice a week. Shopped for Dave. Mary took the children to school, my breathing has been very laboured today, everything is very exhausting and the wheezing is tedious. Frustration in all I do today. Rose has made a lovely ‘Smile’ booklet - great fun. J+R great help with washing up & T with the ceiling. E exhausted.
", "date_published": "2005-03-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/01/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/03/01/diary/", "title": "1 March", "content_html": "D doing lots of wiring. E shovelling ceiling rubbish + driving to the tip most of the day. Me - bit of shopping on bishy + then looking after food needs - tidying a bit. Toby’s parents eve - DT teacher strongly advise (off the record) against manufacturing. Upset Toby making him do some German with me. I thought it was a good idea! See if he’ll help me with my Italian.
", "date_published": "2005-03-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/28/diary/", "title": "28 February", "content_html": "It’s very bad! Ceiling’s down, gas cooker gone… everything gone in fact so no meal here tonight or for quite a few weeks. David + E worked well into the evening. Had the girls over for sewing - bird cushions looking lovely. Rose has finished hers. Sausage + mash at Granny’s then picked up FnCs for the men. Dust is awful making me wheeze like an old boiler. Everybody coughing. Lunch with Helen Cadbury.
", "date_published": "2005-02-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/27/maurices-surprise-70th-birthday-party/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/27/maurices-surprise-70th-birthday-party/", "title": "Maurice's Surprise 70th Birthday Party", "content_html": "Cindy's dad, Maurice, was 70 on Friday and we all met up for a surprise meal. He knew he was going out with Mandy and David, but also there were Amy and Tom, Janyne, Steve, Christopher (who's 20th birthday it was), Matthew and Cindy and I. Maurice was very surpirsed and very pleased!
Jayne had organised a fantastic gift for him. It's a voucher for him to be able to drive a F1 racing car. Maurice seemed pretty overwhelmed by this, and couldn't wait to be able to do it. Photos to follow once he does it!
We had a nice meal in a pub near to where Pat and Maurice live - followed by coffee and more drinks back at their house. Didn't get into bed intil almost 2! Then drove back home this morning.
Bfast with Mandy and Amy and then left about 10. Stopped for a coffee + then arrived back about 3pm. Mary out with R+J. Toby’s football cancelled. Mary returned with the children + we had tea and a choice of 3 cakes no less! Started on clearing the kitchen. E did a bit of work. Dave on his way! It is 11:37 and the kitchen in pretty much clear - boxes taken over to L+M. TAble in the backroom along with day to day stuff. Everywhere starting to deteriorate into a mess - nowhere near as bad as it will be very soon I suspect.
", "date_published": "2005-02-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/27/a-dolls-house/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/27/a-dolls-house/", "title": "A Doll's House", "content_html": "Very good. Felt long and lots of talking, but the main actor - Tanya Moodie - who was on stage for almost all the play was absolutely spellbinding. I really found it difficult to look at anyone else. At the end of the play she suddenly appeared behind the scenery in a snowstorm
There's a Guardian review of A Doll's House here.
", "date_published": "2005-02-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/26/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/26/diary/", "title": "26 February", "content_html": "Departed pretty much as planned and good journey to M+D. Met up with Jayne + Steve, christopher + Matthew - both looking very grown up. Chris 2- today. Chatted over drinks in the bar & waited for Mum + Dad. Both were very surprised to see us all. Dad quite gobsmacked with his racing car voucher! Jayne had placed balloons on the table + once the heating was on it was a nice table. Food nice - my starter a bit mean. Back to M+D for coffees and fell into bed about 1am. A very successful evening.
", "date_published": "2005-02-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/25/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/25/diary/", "title": "25 February", "content_html": "Cooked solidly all day for the freezer. Toby back to bed + slept till lunch. E still not well + in bed too for most of the day. Can’t remember the last time he had to take to his bed. E+I to see ‘A Doll’s House’ @ the W. Yorkshire. Really excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed a night out - just us two. Sam looked after the children. Chatted a lot with Toby + did some making with Rose. Blue Peter annuals for John.
", "date_published": "2005-02-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/tobias-visit/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/tobias-visit/", "title": "Tobias' Visit", "content_html": "Toby's German exchange - Tobi - went home on Wednesday. I think that he had a good time. He didn't eat very much, but according to Toby, his friends said that none of the visitors did! If that's all they eat in general Toby is going to be ravenous when he goes over there in June.
At the weekend we went to watch Huddersfield Town play a match against Blackpool. It was very cold, but I think we all enjoyed ourselves. Toby normally goes with Keith Emerick, so this was the first time I had gone. The people around us in the crowd were what made it interesting. In the evening a load of Toby and Tobi's friends came to our house for pasta and video.
On Sunday they went round to someone else's and played football and XBox. Monday after school was ten pin bowling, then on Tuesday Tobi went home.
Busy few days.
", "date_published": "2005-02-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/the-play-what-i-wrote/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/the-play-what-i-wrote/", "title": "The Play What I Wrote", "content_html": "Cindy went to see The Play What I Wrote with Judy Emerick and came home saying it was absolutely hilarious.
So if you get a chance…
We're off on Friday to see A Dolls House - I don't expect it will be quite as funny!
", "date_published": "2005-02-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/school/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/school/", "title": "School", "content_html": "A lot to catch up as I haven't posted for a week.
My first week back at school was fine - lots of observation and group work. The children seemed pleased to see me and I enjoyed myself.
The second week was up and down. Monday was fine. Tuesday morning was good, but Tuesday afternoon was dreadful. I felt right back where I had been - then I stupidly stayed for a staff meeting and must have been obviously miserable. Wednesday though, was really good. I had an excellent science lesson that all the children enjoyed. Andrew, the deputy head asked me to think about what I had done to make it better, but really I don't think I had done anything particularly different. I was as well prepared on Tuesday as I was on Wednesday, and in fact Wednesday's lesson was what I'd tried to start on Tuesday. So - good that I had a good lesson and I must try and stay positive through the bad ones.
Next week I'm in school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - Thursday and Friday by myself.
", "date_published": "2005-02-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/kitchen/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/kitchen/", "title": "Kitchen", "content_html": "The kitchen ripping out is really getting close now. We've got the new units in Lance and Mary's cellar, the floor digging up people (damp) are booked, and a plumber is booked to move the gas for the new hob. Dave knows what we want and is coming up next week to start!!
We've still got to order new oven and hob, but I think we've decided what we want and it only has a week or so delivery time, so we're waiting a little bit still.
What we have got to do is empty the kitchen of all its stuff - and most of the backroom too, so it doesn't get too filthy.
", "date_published": "2005-02-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/24/diary/", "title": "24 February", "content_html": "E home today. Car to Clive to finish off tyre repair. Had nice pizza lunch with L+M and admired their new kitchen. Off to Leeds for a Reiki - very good as usual. E not well - terrible sore throat.
", "date_published": "2005-02-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/23/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/23/diary/", "title": "23 February", "content_html": "Dentist - Rose upset because she’s to be seen by a specialist. Her bottom tooth is twisted. Nice supper with L+M.
Really struggling with the yoga. It’s so late and I feel so drained. Can’t bear the thought of giving up. E good day at school.
", "date_published": "2005-02-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/22/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/22/diary/", "title": "22 February", "content_html": "Farewell to Tobi - it seems to have gone very quickly. It has been very nice having him to stay. Scarcroft closed because of broken boiler. J+R had a good time in the snow then off to the park with Jo. Pumpkin soup for us all here. A lovely playday. - quite unexpected. Helen Barnes for a quick visit. She’s as busy as ever - was looking really smart. Great to see her. Super Italian.
", "date_published": "2005-02-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/21/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/21/diary/", "title": "21 February", "content_html": "Rose at home with a temperature. Spent the morning making Jane + Andy’s ringbox. Nice to just have some time together. Went to see ‘The Play What I Wrote’ with Judy. Really excellent - very funny + brilliantly performed. E pranged the car in the ice. Wheel bent. He’s ok. E bought FnC for T+T - German T loved them.
", "date_published": "2005-02-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/20/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/20/diary/", "title": "20 February", "content_html": "Called off a trip to Whitby - Tobi didn’t want to go to the beach. They went off at 10am and we didn’t see them til 6. Moochy sort of day for uss - cold + wintery. Glad not to be driving over the moors.
", "date_published": "2005-02-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/19/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/19/diary/", "title": "19 February", "content_html": "Managing to get through fatigue + aches + pains quite well. E took T+T to the football with Keith this afternoon. John off to a party. 6 boys for tea + DVDs in the evening. E + I holed up in the back room. Met up with Joanne Smithells, Agnis Baskerville, Helen McDermott + Emma Thrussell in Bettys. Took J+R too. Lovely to see them + hear all their plans for next year. I really felt like I missed my job this afternoon.
", "date_published": "2005-02-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/18/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/18/diary/", "title": "18 February", "content_html": "Took T+T to see ‘Million Dollar Baby’ with Clint Eastwood. Deep + with a mercy killing at the end. Boys said they enjoyed it + Tobi said he could follow it. This film causing a storm among anti-euthanasia + evangelical Christians. I would want this if it happened to me.
", "date_published": "2005-02-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/17/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/17/diary/", "title": "17 February", "content_html": "Greeted Tobi - seems very nice. Nice pottery gift from Germany + chocs for R+J. Coffee with E + then home. Did lots of baking - puds + cakes. Kath popped round for a cup of tea with tales of overexciting trip to Spain last week - 1st anniversary of Marcus’s death. Tobi to bed feeling unwell. Has had no supper. We’re all worried about him, but hoping it’s just exhaustion + possibly feeling a bit overwhelmed. More exciting day for them tomorrow - going to Bradford Museum of Film & Photography.
", "date_published": "2005-02-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/16/waiting-for-tobias/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/16/waiting-for-tobias/", "title": "Waiting for Tobias", "content_html": "John and Rose have gone to bed. Cindy is having a nap because she's exhausted.
Toby is on a coach on his way home from Manchester Airport, where he's gone with school to meet his German exchange, Tobias. They should be arriving in York in the next half an hour or so. They'll probably both be hungry!
Tobias is staying until next Tuesday, and he's got an action packed schedule lined up. They're both going into school tomorrow, then off to Bradford to the National Museum of Film and Photography. Saturday, Toby, Tobias and I are off, with Keith, to watch Huddersfield Town play, then in the evening one of Toby's friends and German visitor is coming to watch videos and eat pasta. Sunday we're going to Whitby for fish and chips. Monday is school for Toby and a day out in York for Tobias, then bowling organised by the school in the evening. On Tuesday, Toby and Tobias go to school and Tobias goes home from there.
I'm off to pick up them up in ten minutes or so - oh,there's the phone!!
", "date_published": "2005-02-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/16/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/16/diary/", "title": "16 February", "content_html": "E at work this morning. Very busy morning shopping readiness for Tbi’s arrival. Leave it for E to unpack as can feel myself running out of steam. Off to Italian with Mary leaving Swea to finish off cleaning - didn’t make much impact on Rose’s room. Cried off yoga and went to bed intended to get up to say hello to Tobi - didn’t make it. Slept through to 4am + then had peppermint tea.
", "date_published": "2005-02-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/15/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/15/diary/", "title": "15 February", "content_html": "Chemo 7 - bit of a disappointing scan; described as ‘stable’, but sounded ‘worse’ to me. However, do feel better & have been v. ill & bounced back plus treatments seem to really kick in near the end of the course. Will persevere & maintain faith. Lovely lunch at No 8 with Many & Tom - lovely to see Tom relaxed and chatty too. Bought crafty bits for Rose’s wedding ring box. Busy eve @ Toby’s GCSE choices presentation, Rose gym, John gym & E out for supper.
", "date_published": "2005-02-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/14/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/14/diary/", "title": "14 February", "content_html": "Nipped into hospital for blood test & then to Bishy Road for eye test - surprisingly no significant change, even though my short to long seems very slow. Nice lunch at new Italian with Mandy + Tom and a bit of shopping. Pick-up & then lovely sewing afternoon with Mimi, Rose & Eli. Edward seems to have had ok day at school - looks very drained. Tom for tea. All very busy.
", "date_published": "2005-02-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/13/mandy-and-tom-here/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/13/mandy-and-tom-here/", "title": "Mandy and Tom Here", "content_html": "Mandy and Tom have come to visit for a few days. Tom's half term has just started - unlike ours, which is just finishing. Toby and Tom have spent ages on various computers, and have been to the park to drive Toby's car (but a wheel fell off - not even my fault! - it's only a screw.) Mandy, John, Rose and I went to a Viking Craft Trading Fair (!) full of people in chain mail buying drinking horns and so on.
Cindy hasn't been out today as she's getting a bit of a cold. Her next chemo is on Tuesday. Mandy and Tom also go home on Tuesday, taking a huge list of kitchen jobs for David - he's ripping our kitchen out at the end of the month. Exciting.
", "date_published": "2005-02-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/13/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/13/diary/", "title": "13 February", "content_html": "E to meeting with John. Rose wanted to mooch at home. Toby + Tom on the computer. I got up late still feeling tired + slow with my cough. After soup + cheese lunch all go to Guild hall for Viking craft fair - E bought me a ‘Lucet’ to make braiding with, very aesthetic craft tool. I stay at home and sew. Nice chicken tea and some evening TV.
", "date_published": "2005-02-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/13/back-to-school/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/13/back-to-school/", "title": "Back to School", "content_html": "I'm back to school tomorrow. I'm in for two and a half days this week, and am helping out and planning rather than being in charge - that starts next week.
I am apprehensive, but I think that it will be one of those situations that will be alright once it starts. Definitely better to be getting stuck in than carrying on worrying.
Also - there are only five weeks till the end of term, and I'm not doing a full week till the last week of term. So I hope I'll be sorted and settled by then. Huge summer term to slog through - but worrying about that can wait.
I probably won't update this as often now I'll have \"proper\" things to do - but will try to keep it at least weekly.
", "date_published": "2005-02-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/12/vikings-vs-saxons/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/12/vikings-vs-saxons/", "title": "Vikings vs Saxons", "content_html": "We went down to the Eye of York this afternoon to watch a battle between the Vikings and the Saxons. It was supposed to be 1066 and the Battle of Stamford Bridge, so the Vikings lost.
It was a bit dull to be honest, but John and Rose enjoyed it.
It made me think of something that had crossed my mind at the Chinese Parade earlier in the week. Lots of people there were taking photos, either with digital cameras or with camera phones. Most of the photos will have the top of the person in front's head, and in the dark the action was too far away for the flash to have worked, so there must be an awful lot of fairly rubbish photos out there somewhere - what happens to them all? Do people save them, print them out, send them to other people with modern phones, or are there 500 photos of the Viking Festival out there on the net somewhere? An over documented world - with most of the information of poor quality?
", "date_published": "2005-02-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/12/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/12/diary/", "title": "12 February", "content_html": "John read his Big Toe radio report - very exciting. Dance for Rose. E did shopping & Jean came round for coffee in the afternoon, also Jane who’s here meeting wedding caterer. Viking battle in the afternoon - very cold. Mandy & Tom arrive about 4. Lovely to see them. Nice fish in tomato, olive sauce for tea, rhubarb fool - E’s speciality, very nice.
", "date_published": "2005-02-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/11/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/11/diary/", "title": "11 February", "content_html": "E to optician this morning. Writing this retrospectively + can’t think what we did - crafty bits and park, I think.
", "date_published": "2005-02-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/10/needlework-truck-driving-seaside-and-chinese/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/10/needlework-truck-driving-seaside-and-chinese/", "title": "Needlework, Truck Driving, Seaside and Chinese", "content_html": "Wednesday of half-term holiday -
Cindy and Rose went to the City of York Embroiderer's Guild children's session with Nok. All the children were making embroideries on the theme of sheep. Rose's is an appliqué picture of sheep in a winter scene. Apparantly they had lots of bits of material and thread to choose from and Rose had a fantastic time. She couldn't wait to go back for this morning's session. Cindy said that Rose's sewing skills were high compared to the other children there and was very proud of her.
Meanwhile, Toby, John and I took Toby's car down to the Knavesmire - and managed not to crash it! Toby let John and I have a short go - thank you. It went really well up and down the slopes and bumps at the side of the 'mire. See Toby's post about it on his new website!
In the afternoon we went to Bridlington with Lance and Mary. John took his skimboard which we got him for Christmas, but even he wasn't brave enough to go in the February North Sea. He did some backflips on the beach - I've uploaded a video from his digital camera, to compare with the photos of his backflips from a couple of years ago. We had fish and chips before we came home, as is traditional when you go to the seaside.
In the evening we went into town to see York's Chinese New Year parade.
Second morning of textiles. Rose completed background stitching and stitching on the sheep - looks good.
Drive to Bridlington with L+M for walk along beach & fish & chips - very good, freshly cooked. Phoenix Dance with J+R. Excellent first piece, other 2 a bit too modern for J+R - great costumes. E to Oceans 12 with Toby.
", "date_published": "2005-02-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/09/diary/", "title": "9 February", "content_html": "Rose + I to textiles with Nok. Working on the theme of sheep. Rose chose a winter landscape - the only one to do so. Good choice of fabrics + really getting the hang of stitching. Rose + I stay and continue work on sheep.
Play with Nok for Rose.
", "date_published": "2005-02-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/08/wedding-list/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/08/wedding-list/", "title": "Wedding List", "content_html": "In a very sad, geeky way, I'm very proud of a new website I've set up for my sister Jane's wedding list.
I've used the php web scripting language with a mysql database to make a site that makes presents disappear when someone has said that they will buy them, it'll email Jane and Andy to tell them that someone has selected an item and you can add items to the list through the internet. It's really something like an Amazon wishlist for whatever you want - even if it's not on amazon (though most things are these days!)
If you're feeling as geeky as me you can play with a diferent version that won't affect Jane and Andy's presents here.
", "date_published": "2005-02-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/08/diary/", "title": "8 February", "content_html": "Swimming with Edward for the children. J+R helped out with window cleaning. Toby seeing his mates. Last week at home for E before starting work - bit of an anxious time.
", "date_published": "2005-02-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/07/diary/", "title": "7 February", "content_html": "Start of the 1/2 term. Lovely to have the children home. A few things planned, but by and large hoping to relax and do our own things at home. Toby has done quite a lot of his truck driving. Rose bits of making. John writing, dancing and using the sewing machine.
", "date_published": "2005-02-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/06/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/06/diary/", "title": "6 February", "content_html": "Lots of ministry in Meeting. Josh Parker - very full of despair - very sad. E took John to the cinema and Toby went along with Luke and Jordan. Rose to Mimi’s. Quiet afternoon doing some Italian and finishing a cushion cover. Lance round for supper. Anita phoned to say Rose wanted to stay for a sleepover so will pick her up tomorrow. Feel particularly frustrated today at my lack of energy, would so like a good brisk walk, a swim, a run, anything really than endless sedentary activity. C’est la vie!
", "date_published": "2005-02-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/05/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/05/diary/", "title": "5 February", "content_html": "Returned to Guildhall this afternoon with J+R. T off to f/ball with Keith. J+I painted a section of the ‘BIG PICTURE’. R too weary to enjoy it. Listened to Mary sing in Banks. Lazy afternoon/evening. E cooked tasty smoked haddock-spinach rissotto.
", "date_published": "2005-02-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/04/half-term/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/04/half-term/", "title": "Half Term", "content_html": "School has finished for a week. We've no major plans - seaside probably, some making no doubt.
John is out at a fancy dress party at the moment. Cindy spent a lot of yesterday and this morning making him a pharaoh costurme and he does look super in it. Just before we left to go to the party he had to check that he could cartwheel in his costume.
Rose got back a short time ago from her friend's house, where she'd been for tea. When she's out of the shower I'll read her the next chapter in Anne of the Island - her current bedtime book.
Toby is out at Southlands Church Youth Club, where he is helping out as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award. He didn't think there would be many people there, as a lot of them are at the same party that John has gone to.
", "date_published": "2005-02-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/04/diary/", "title": "4 February", "content_html": "Finished off J’s coat - looked good. Made him a hat - no wonder people buy these things. Took ages, but I enjoyed it.
Met L+M for lunch at Meltons on the the Resident’s first deal. Very nice, but not a very inspiring menu. Nice to eat with L+M. L treated us - sweetie! Hour sit down at home before going to the thread painting at the Guildhall. Basically knew it - must get down to designing something + planning how to realise it.
", "date_published": "2005-02-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/03/truck-moved/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/03/truck-moved/", "title": "Truck moved", "content_html": "Just to let you know that all updates about my truck have been moved, to a new website that I am making myself, I'll probably post a few things about stuff going on, but not much. Mainly it will be about the truck. The website is set out the same way so it won't be hard to use. For your updates go to
By the way the truck is going great!!!
", "date_published": "2005-02-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/03/surprise-for-cindy/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/03/surprise-for-cindy/", "title": "Surprise for Cindy", "content_html": "As it is getting close to time for me to go back to school, I thought that Cindy and I should try and have a night away together. I arranged with mum for child care for a night, and set about booking somewhere.
On Monday night I told Cindy that we would be going out the next day to the Star Inn, in Harome near Helmsley. Initially, she thought that we would be going for an evening meal, but I was able to tell her that we were staying the night as well.
I decided to tell her that evening, rather than the next morning as I had planned, because she kept saying she had a sore throat, or a bit of a cough and she might be going down with something. I was starting to wonder who we could give the room to, as I would have to pay for it anyway!! Anyway, this bit of news seemed to give her some more energy, and determination not to get ill quite yet!
We went to the Star for lunch once last summer and had an absolutely superb meal - with the best summer pudding I've ever had, made even better by being served with a generous glass of home-made raspberry vodka. So our hopes were very high for an evening meal and B&B. I had had to reserve the largest room in the place, as I booked so late that that was the only one left, so we were expecting that to be quite nice as well.
We had a lovely morning in York doing some shopping - Cindy had bought a skirt (50p) and shoes (£3) in Age Concern at the weekend and wanted a blouse to go with them (£27 - not such a bargain). She was able to wander around all morning, which is a huge improvement on a few months ago. We went home for lunch, made a list of evening activities for my parents and set off.
When we arrived, after discovering that the accommodation was just over the road from the pub, behind the village shop (also owned by the Star, and selling lots of their goodies), we were shown to our room. It was huge, with an enormous bed, pool table, lovely bathroom with double size bath, home-made chocolate cookies and a view out over fields with huge-horned highland cattle in them. The stereo even had speakers in the bathroom, so you could put a CD on (luckily we had some of our own in the car) and listen to it in the bath.
We went downstairs to the sitting area, which had a raging open fire, super comfortable armchairs and sofas, lovely olives and nuts and a write your own bill honesty bar and drank sherry, read the paper and tried to do the crossword.
We went over to the pub at about 6:30, had more drinks while reading the menu, ordered and were taken into the restaurant. The bar is like an English country pub out of a film - just like the stereotype, except for the huge wine list and enormous bowl of olives out on the bar. The restaurant uncrowded, lovely old wooden tables and interesting cutlery.
The meal was superb. Cindy had wild mushrooms on bruschetta, followed by woodcock; and I had pheasant risotto and then beef steak. There was plenty to eat, so much in fact that neither of us had any room for dessert, much to my disappointment.
We had coffee upstairs in the loft, another charming space with lots of arm chairs, noise from the bar coming up, but seclusion from the bar. Up there, there was cheese and biscuits and grapes out on the side, nuts, raisins and other bits to pick at. This was one of the things that really struck me - things that you might expect to pay extra for, were just around for you to take - it seemed extremely jealous.
We went back to our room and played a few games of pool, before bedtime.
The next morning we didn't get up till about half nine - to try and give our appetites a chance to build up again after the previous day's huge meal.
Breakfast was equally lavish - a buffet of croissants, smoked salmon, ham, melon, parma ham, fruit salad, pineapple, freshly squeezed juices ans smoothies. You could ask for porridge, kippers, or full English, or any combination! Cindy had full English (super black pudding), I had mushrooms on toast and some bacon, then smoked salmon on toast, parma ham, fruit salad… didn't want to starve.
A bit more sitting around digesting, enjoying the comfy chairs, pay our bill (!!!) and gently back home a pretty country route.
Superb, gorgeous, can't recommend it highly enough. Repeat visit sometime.
And a huge thank you to Lance and Mary for looking after Toby, John and Rose.
", "date_published": "2005-02-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/03/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/03/diary/", "title": "3 February", "content_html": "E in school this morning. John has diarrhoea and looks grim. Toby too and looked even worse, still did his paper round + went off to school. Very stoic and driven boy. Kept John home. Popped into town when E cam home and bought fabric for John’s fancy dress. Spent best part of the evening on it. Parents eve for J+R and look through their work - all in good order. J’s mental maths very good. Rose’s writing coming on nicely.
", "date_published": "2005-02-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/02/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/02/diary/", "title": "2 February", "content_html": "No rush this morning. Enjoyed tea in bed and a lovely bath. Fantastic waking-up in this lovely room, forgot where I was for a second. Fabulous breakfast around the enormous round table. Have bought goodies in the deli before heading home across country. Have had a fantastic surprise and lovely for E and I to be completely alone together.
Italian - good fun. Yoga - slept through most of it.
", "date_published": "2005-02-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/01/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/02/01/diary/", "title": "1 February", "content_html": "Scan this morning. Then a bit of retail therapy. Home for lunch then off for our big treat. Fabulous room in the loft. Dark furniture, large french bed and a pool table. Delicious big bath. Settle in the lounge with Tio Pepe, olives and very hot fire for an hour of so. Leisurely bath trying out smellies before supper. E has a bloody mary in the bar + we are served scampi soup + mussels as a taster for things to come. Order mushrooms, spinach + quail egg on a crostini for starter + woodcock for main. E a pheasant risotto + steak on rocket. Croze Hermitage 2001 to drink. Too full for pud - shame. Coffee + chocs + access to some cheese in the loft - which was magical and plush. Lovely, lovely day.
", "date_published": "2005-02-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/31/taizandeacute;-service/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/31/taizandeacute;-service/", "title": "Taizé Service", "content_html": "On Sunday evening there was a Taizé service in the Minster for the Week of Christian Unity, or something, and Meeting had been asked to find some \"young people\" to light a candle. Toby and Luke and Millie Holman were asked and we all went along.
All the chairs are out of the Minster at the moment , and they had arranged some in a big oval shape in the nave, around some icons and a horizontal wooden cross on the floor. There was some (lots of) Taizé chanting, a reading and then our lot lit the candle.
It was a really high candle, so Toby had a wick on the end of a stick. The first time he tried to light it, he couldn't see the candle wick and his long wick went out. He came back to relight it, he and Luke barely containing their giggles, and fortunately managed to light it second time round. There was an audible sigh of relief from the congregation.
After that everyone light a little night light they had been given and placed it onto the cross in the middle of the nave, until it had candles right up and down it. Looked lovely.
The Minster was alarmingly cold!
", "date_published": "2005-01-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/31/johns-slideshow/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/31/johns-slideshow/", "title": "John's Slideshow", "content_html": "John has made a sideshow as well - here.
Some of the writing is hard to read - when it's on the computer, it looks better because the photo background doesn't appear until after you have read the text.
", "date_published": "2005-01-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/31/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/31/diary/", "title": "31 January", "content_html": "Designer Outlet this morning - bought a nice skirt + some nuts!
Home for lunch and then lazy afternoon knitting. Josh Cole arrives ahead of Toby - he settles down for a cup of tea with J+R! Toby let out late, came in moaning terribly about the textiles. Poor woman, I can imagine Toby must be in with a right rum bunch of year 9’s.
E + I put together a new recipe for beany burgers. Mimi + Eleanor come and learn how to use the sewing machine. Wonderful surprise as I get into bed, E has booked supper BnB and the Star Inn at Harome tomorrow. Very excited.
", "date_published": "2005-01-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/30/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/30/diary/", "title": "30 January", "content_html": "J+R very tired - wonder why!
J off to gym for 10am. R slumps on sofa and doesnt want to go to Meeting, so leave her with Toby and go alone. Levely meeting. Ministry from somebody: comment on lack of visual demonstation about asylum @ Friends House. B Windle quick to remind about work going on behind the scenes - lively! Residents 1st weekend. J+R+E+I go on river trip + visit Barley Hall. Interesting yarn twising in B Hall that R+I come away with. T f/ball - lose again! Quick supper then off to Taize Service in Minster - T just saved himself from a fit of giggles in the considerable effort it took to light the candle.
", "date_published": "2005-01-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/29/truck-part-4/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/29/truck-part-4/", "title": "Truck-part 4", "content_html": "Hey everybody my truck is now back to its normal self again, after a few bumpy weeks she is in fully working condition! I was driving her last night around the park and she was going scarily fast! Well as I said last time I was going to go down to the Knavesmire and drive about. I also mentioned letting dad have a go. I should have realised from the beginning that that was a mistake!
O well got her fixed up and she is running smoothly. Going to buy a few parts for her over the next two weeks or so. This time to make sure the truck lasts longer than to get the truck going again!
I'm going to get a new air filter and a fuel filter. This will stop dirt and dust getting into the engine and also keep the engine cool while it is running. I am also going to get a centre skid plate and a fuel tank guard. This will strengthen the truck and help stop things breaking. Overall these four items will cost about £40!!! Oh well its all worth it.
Oh yeah and she still hasn't had the space to hit top speed. I don't think I will ever drive her at top speed because you need a really long, straight, flat road to get full power with no cars and you don't get that in the UK! Oh well I'll see how fast I can get her going off road though!!!
", "date_published": "2005-01-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/29/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/29/diary/", "title": "29 January", "content_html": "Took Rose to dance and managed a bit of Bishy Rd. shopping. Still feeling the chemo, so back to bed in the afternoon. Felt better in the late afternoon and manage to put together lemon chicken + finish off the squidgy choc log. Good supper with Kath + an evening supping beer + wine. Toby a bit left out as J+R at a sleepover and Louis went to a gig at the Winning Post.
", "date_published": "2005-01-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/28/diary/", "title": "28 January", "content_html": "Lovely morning at Carol’s in a repeat of her knitting bee, but fewer of us - Fran, Vivienne (the felter) and Annabel.
Very tired in the afternoon so more resting. Awful toothache feeling nervous at the prospect of having it out.
", "date_published": "2005-01-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/27/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/27/diary/", "title": "27 January", "content_html": "Late morning - J+R in for a nice cuddle & Toby sprawled in for a quick lounge, don’t remember any of them kissing me goodnight. Slow morning making supper. Quick visit to Bishopthorpe Road - bought shoes + skirt from charity shop - £5.50 bargain! Isobel Wakeman for coffee. E into school. Toby boling + John to gym.
", "date_published": "2005-01-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/26/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/26/diary/", "title": "26 January", "content_html": "Italian revision + a bit of tidying before Swea came, then off to look at Snowhome sale. Saw nothing we wanted - except look plywood shelf I covet for the kitchen - bit expensive. Drinks in No 8 then I left E to drive back for a quick lunch before Italian. Very very weary. Bed by 6:40 after hot bath. Leaving E to hold the fort. Rose with Mary, Toby at football. John here.
", "date_published": "2005-01-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/25/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/25/diary/", "title": "25 January", "content_html": "Off for a dentis appointment first thing with aching tooth - came away with stron flouride toothpaste. E to shcool - all went better than he thought. It seems a well though out programme to ease him back to work. Chemo delayed. Going to hav 2-4 more treatments as all seems to be going well.
", "date_published": "2005-01-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/25/chemo-six/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/25/chemo-six/", "title": "Chemo Six", "content_html": "Cindy went in today for her sixth chemo in this round. She is fine this evening, but will no doubt get exhaused over the next few days. The side effects of this sort of chemo aren't too bad though, and because it seems to be having a positive effect Dr Bottomley has suggested that Cindy have a few (2-4) more doses, spaced 3 weeks apart as so far.
Cindy is doing pretty well. She is a lot less short of breath, can get upstairs without needing oxygen or having to pause and generally has more energy than in October/November. As usual, she is amazingly positive, vibrant and full of enthusiam.
", "date_published": "2005-01-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/25/back-to-school-soon/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/25/back-to-school-soon/", "title": "Back to School ...Soon", "content_html": "I went into school this morning to talk about starting back after the half term holiday. They've arranged a \"phased return\" to work, where I observe and work with small groups during the first week back, gradually do more teaching during the second week, teach 3 days in the third week, 4 days in the forth, and the whole week in the fifth week, which is the last week of term.
I was remarkably worked up just going into school, but of course it was fine, everyone was very nice. I went into my classroom to see my class, and they were pleased to see me, which made me feel great. There are a lot of nice children in the class and I should be able to get back into enjoying teaching, rather than struggling to get through it. I've arranged to go in a couple more times before the holiday, just as a helper or to pop in and that'll also start making it seem more normal. I was surprised to discover how much I enjoyed seeing everyone!
The school have also found a behaviour management course, specifically for NQTs that I'm going to go on. It's three or four days long scattered through the next term or so.
I'm actually starting to look forward to going back (some of the time!)
", "date_published": "2005-01-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/24/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/24/diary/", "title": "24 January", "content_html": "Zipped along for a bloodtest after dropping John + Rose off. Sleety + very cold - even Toby was wearing his coat. Very nice Reiki with Robert. Lots of contact over my aching tooth even though I hadn’t told him about it. Edward fried left over jackets which we had with a glass of wine - yummy! Very busy with Rose, Mimi & Eleanor starting sewing projects. A blouse for ragdoll Jane + 2 bird cushions. Tea with Tom then pyramid making with John - very nice pyramid. John’s stuck a goggly eye on the inside - great fun.
", "date_published": "2005-01-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/23/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/23/diary/", "title": "23 January", "content_html": "Toby didn’t want to ice biscuits with me at Meeting - no Luke or Jordan, so he went home. Ran the activity with 7 Fell Group however - great fun and they were all very good. Felt very worn out however. Wish I had more energy! Cooked Sunday lunch. Toby to Will Emerick’s and Edward took John + Rose over to Lily’s. Managed a sit down + a bit of knitting. Lance came for supper and we had an evening of TV goggleing altoghether except for Rose who was rather hooked on the Sims. Boys love watchin “Top Gear”!!
", "date_published": "2005-01-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/22/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/22/diary/", "title": "22 January", "content_html": "John enjoyed Nathan’s b/day celebration of pizza + games @ Nathan’s followed by Superbowl - he scored a strike. Toby very happy because E has helped him mend his car. Thank goodness it still works.
Rose happy with the dunagrees I’ve mad for rad doll Jane. Tomorrow a shirt and maybe start the coat with buttons.
Bumped into E in the market and we had coffee together. Lovely mussles with garlic for tea.
", "date_published": "2005-01-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/22/craft-and-engineering-afternoon/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/22/craft-and-engineering-afternoon/", "title": "Craft & Engineering Afternoon", "content_html": "John has gone off to a birthday party - pizza and then ten pin bowling. We're having mussels for tea, and he likes them so much he insisted I do him some for his lunch. He didn't like them at all, he told me, they were absolutely disgusting. As shown by his licked clean plate.
Rose and Cindy have been making clothes for the rag doll that Rose has made. The rag doll is called Jane because it is similar to one that Jane, my sister, had, that Rose has seen at Mary's. She has got her name embroidered onto her dungarees.
Toby and I have been busy mending his car that I broke last weekend. All gone together now thank goodness. He's also mended the puncture on his bike that meant he had to walk his paper round a couple of times this week. He even borrowed my bike for one morning - not sure I'm keen on that!
He's just about to check the car still works - slowly - in the back lane.
", "date_published": "2005-01-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/21/roses-slideshow/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/21/roses-slideshow/", "title": "Rose's Slideshow", "content_html": "Rose has made a powerpoint slide show story - [have a look at it][1].
[1]: https://www.tarrant.org.uk/The Place.htm
", "date_published": "2005-01-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/21/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/21/diary/", "title": "21 January", "content_html": "Nok for a sleepover - pancakes and Cludo to while the evening away. Toby did second stint at the youth club. Good lunch with Chrissy @ City Screen. E played badinton + helped Lance with some lifting and carrying. Enjoyed coffee with Sam - talked about our boys! Showed off my crochet.
", "date_published": "2005-01-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/20/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/20/diary/", "title": "20 January", "content_html": "Clear up for Swea + then off to look @ cookers - all look the same really.
Taught myself to crochet.
", "date_published": "2005-01-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/19/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/19/diary/", "title": "19 January", "content_html": "Fun Italian - haven’t learnt my animals!
Very tired and not sure about yoga. It was an energising session + it kind o fworked.
Damp proof man came to look at the kitchen - it’s going to happen!
", "date_published": "2005-01-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/18/mum-and-dad-for-the-weekend/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/18/mum-and-dad-for-the-weekend/", "title": "Mum and Dad for the weekend", "content_html": "Started our weekend over a cup of tea and cream doughnuts and danish pastries. Caught up on family news while cooking fish pie and peas, helping Toby to fill out his Youth club forms and aid in stapling Rose's puppet theatre project. Enjoyed a lovely family meal and then sunk into the soft seats for the evening.
Mum came with me to Rose's dance class and dad had a bit of quiet newspaper reading after we all enjoyed a variety of cooked breakfast goodies. Haven't watched Rose for several weeks now and could really see that she had improved and they were all able to pick up a dance routine more quickly. Edward took John to his class and he returned home wanting some proper dance shoes.
After lunch Toby and Edward went off to the Knavesmire to drive Toby's truck and the rest of us headed out for the Railway Museum. Mum and Dad have not been here for several years and Dad was especially interested to see the Japanese Bullet train. Certainly nice to sink into the Bullet's comfy seats fort 5 minutes and catch our breath from train viewing.
Back home it was useful not having to cook as Mum had brought a beef stew and a couple of fruit pies.
Card playing after tea accompanied with a bottle of wine and chocs.
Edward and children off to Meeting for the Christmas social on Sunday while Mum, Dad and I went to the Castle Museum. Have not been here without children before and it was really nice to take time and be able to read the information. Did have to avoid a rather eccentric couple who were engaging evrybody in conversation as they moved around the museum. The woman even shared her bottom wiping experience with me as we looked at rolls of ancient loo paper…is it somthing about my face!!! Super cheese scones in the cafe and then a very quick whip round the second half as the parking time was running out and we could see a traffic warden in the car park from the cafe window.
Scrummy roast beef (Mum again) followed by meringues with raspberries from Jean's allotment for supper. Mum and Dad then had to set off for the long five hour drive back. John is very pleased with his dance tape from Nanny and it is doubtful that the oversized fur coat will make it out of the house as John and Rose are having far too much fun with it. It seems to be doubling up as a bath robe at the moment.
We went to the opera last night with Keith and Judy. Before it started, we went for a meal at Fruits and Shoots, a vegetarian restaurant which is just round the corner from the Grand Theatre.
I really enjoyed the opera - the costumes seemed a bit of a hotch-potch, most in sort of 30s style, and one not at all. The singing and playing though were excellent - I particularly liked Leporello's voice.
Not particularly knowing the opera, I couldn't see how they were going to have a second half - as they caught Don Giovanni and were just about to have their revenge, when… he escaped! The second half was a bit bizarre, with an invitation to a meal issued to the statue of a dead man
The final bit of singing, which sounds very joyful when sung in Italian, turns out to mean \"All sinners will go to hell.\" Odd.
I suppose you don't particularly go to opera for the coherence of the plot.
", "date_published": "2005-01-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/18/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/18/diary/", "title": "18 January", "content_html": "Saw ‘Big Waves’ - or something like that - at the City Screen this afternoon. Cycled through a blizzard on the way - very very cold.
Toby cooked a very good stew + dumplings.
", "date_published": "2005-01-18T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/17/knitting-bee/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/17/knitting-bee/", "title": "Knitting Bee", "content_html": "Enjoyed a lovely day at Carol Gilham's knitting bee held to celebrate her birthday. Arrived in good time to enjoy morning coffee and delicious biscuits. Sock knitting seemed to be the order of the day especially as Carol is a bit of a sock guru and carries the pattern around in her head. Annabel and Vivienne were knitting with a sock kit that includes pre dyed wool that knits into a pattern resulting in something that makes you look a lot more skilful than you actually are…this will be the kit for me! Jo was being skillful, however, and was half way through an enormous pair of tradiditional Norweigan socks -this was desrvedly awarded Corol's project of the day.
Ruth Cory was up to the armhole shaping on a garment she described as a flak jacket. Fabulous construction in hand spun wool. I was amused to hear how Ruth started hand spinning on salvaging a couple of fleeces from a farmyard that she couldn't bear to see go to waste. Also chatted with her about 'Vera Drake' that we had both seen and agreed was absolutely fabulous both as a piece of cinema and as a comment on women and abortion.
We moved into the subject of the importannce of choice and understanding others points of view and somehow into the animal rights campaigners in particular the appalling treatment meted out to anybody who has contact with the guinea pig farm raising animals for medical experimentation.
Lunch was scrummy: homemade lentil soup with breads and cheeses from Caroline's Good Food shop served in the kitchen where Claire was encouraging us all to eat plenty as there was plenty more on hand.
Brenda offered up spare circular needles and cable needles of which I claimed some so I will definitely have to expand my knitting skills. Brenda was reknitting a cuff on a much loved cardigan-how's that for economy.(Chatted to my mum about this and she used to do the same with our school jumpers also extending the length as we all got bigger. I can also recall mum talking about turning a well worn coat, this was also touched upon in Vera Drake. Can't imagine that charity shops would have access to much stock in the 50's)
And I have been knitting a jumper in Rowan kidsilkhaze(shades 582 and 605) pattern design number 23 'Glint' by Kim Hargreaves in Rowan knitting magazine number 30. Simple roundneck striped jumper with edging in Rowan Lurex Shimmer (shade 339). Thinking that after this I will go for something more challenging.
I left in time to pick up John and Rose after a quick cup of tea and fruit bread. Knitters were still arriving. So if you are reading this Carol thankyou for a really lovely day and I look forward to more bees.
", "date_published": "2005-01-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/17/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/17/diary/", "title": "17 January", "content_html": "Bought new light shades for the hall + a light for the kitchen - all really nice. ‘Don Giovani’ in Leeds with Judy and Keith and a lovely supper at Fruits and Roots. Really enjoyed singing though very tired - not helped by the heat in the opera house.
", "date_published": "2005-01-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/16/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/16/diary/", "title": "16 January", "content_html": "Castle museum with Mum + Dad. See blog.
", "date_published": "2005-01-16T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/15/tobys-car/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/15/tobys-car/", "title": "Toby's Car", "content_html": "Toby and I went out today to the Knavesmire to drive his new car which was finally in good working order - after new batteries, new glow start and a tune up in the local hobby shop. It went really well - fast, jumps, skid turns…
And then I had a go. Drove it into a wooden post and broke the suspension on the right front wheel!
Toby was devastated, obviously. I felt really guilty and annoyed with myself. We've spent the rest of the afternoon with the manual finding part numbers of the broken bits so I can order them all on Monday. They should arrive next weekend.
Arggh!
", "date_published": "2005-01-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/15/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/15/diary/", "title": "15 January", "content_html": "Railway museum with M+D see blog.
E broke Toby’s car!
", "date_published": "2005-01-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/14/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/14/diary/", "title": "14 January", "content_html": "Knitting Bee @ Carol Gilham’s. Great day chatting, knitting, eating & drinking - see blog. Toby 1st eve @ youth club, he was v nervous, but enjoyed it. M & D arrived bearing beef stew & pie. Good pot of team & cream doughnuts on their arrival.
", "date_published": "2005-01-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/13/kitchen-started/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/13/kitchen-started/", "title": "Kitchen Started", "content_html": "Cindy & I went to Ikea today, and spent a load of money on kitchen units. So things are finally underway. We've been saving to do the kitchen for ages - since I started working really, and thinking about it for even longer. Now the units and worktops are ordered, we've chosen oven, hob, extractor and someone is coming to look at the damp wall and floor next week. The floor and floor are the big unknown item really, we don't know how bad it is, or how much of the floor will need digging up.
It's exciting starting at last.
Short entry as I'm finding it difficult to type. I cut a finger on my left hand really badly the other day (knife was too blunt when chopping carrots!)
", "date_published": "2005-01-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/13/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/13/diary/", "title": "13 January", "content_html": "Bought a kitchen in IKEA - at last we think it’s going to happen. V nice lunch of Garvadlax + herring, organic lemonade.
Saw ‘Vera Drake’ with Jean - best film I’ve seen in ages.
", "date_published": "2005-01-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/11/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/11/diary/", "title": "11 January", "content_html": "Thought I was better, but felt very unwell after moving around a bit. Cancelled lunch with Ruth + spent rest of the day very slow.
", "date_published": "2005-01-11T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/10/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/10/diary/", "title": "10 January", "content_html": "E. to occupational health this morning so I took the children to school. Firt time in ages. Good start to the morning then sick about 1/2 hour before driving to Leeds for a Reiki. Thouth it was the chemo, but now know it’s the tummy bug the children have had. Have spent all agernoon in bed feeling very fragile. T. revising hard for school tests. Had to cancel knitting with the girls.
", "date_published": "2005-01-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/09/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/09/diary/", "title": "9 January", "content_html": "E took all to Meeting and I had a very slow morning feeling tired and with back ache - no where near as aba as last time, however. John to gym and Toby to f/ball this afternoon. Rose backed some very nice coconut biscuits.
Rose upset this evening - wasn’t sure why. I think because I was raggy.
", "date_published": "2005-01-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/08/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/08/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/", "title": "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", "content_html": "Last night we went to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the West Yorkshire Playhouse with Lance and Mary.
It was brilliant, we all enjoyed it, and thought that it was even better than last year's Christmas show. The staging was really good, with fantastic revolving staircases, the children disappearing into the wardrobe and reappearing through a line of huge white hanging coats representing a snowy Narnia and Father Christmas and the White Witch both having lovely sledges. Perhaps the \"sweetest\" bit was when spring started, little red crocuses popped up through the stage!
The acting was also really good - particularly Lucy. And Aslan had a fantastic lion costume.
", "date_published": "2005-01-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/08/knitting/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/08/knitting/", "title": "Knitting", "content_html": "Reading this article in today's Guardian, has prompted me to add something about Cindy's knitting.
It's something she's picked up again after finishing working. She has two of Rose's friends, Mimi and Eleanor, round each Monday after school, when they do a little knitting and then watch Blue Peter. Rose, being the continually crafty person she is, really enjoys it and picks her knitting up from time to time during the week as well.
Cindy is just about to sew together a finished jumper that she's been working on for a while - finishing it off has been postponed time and again! It's a plain black woollen jumper knitted from lovely soft Rowan wool. She's about to finish it because she's found the next project she wants to do. This is another jumper with wide blue and grey stripes and a glittery blue border. This will be knitted in Rowan Kidsilk Haze - an amazingly fine, soft and slightly furry wool.
Next Friday she is off to a whole day knitting bee at Carol's - knitter extraordinaire. I'm sure she'll have a good day. A lovely invitation that particularly said not to bring any food!
I hope I'll be able to put some photos of finished projects up soon!
", "date_published": "2005-01-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/08/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/08/diary/", "title": "8 January", "content_html": "Very windy morning, felt quite worried about Toby out on his paper-round this morning. Managed to walk Rose to dance, E. picked her up. Jean came bearing cream cake and allotment goodies. Always good to see her. Have arrange to go to the cinema on Thurs. Gentle afternooon saving energy for Debbie’s party. Nice, but strange with no John & about 2 other women going through a divorce. What is going on?
", "date_published": "2005-01-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/07/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/07/diary/", "title": "7 January", "content_html": "Had a hearing testing today - all ok barring a slight niggle that they will keep an ‘eye’ (ear!) on. Started the morning with an hour steaming and sitting in the jacuzzi at the Living Well centre - thank you Judy. L + M picked us up at 5pm for the W Yorks playhouse to see ‘Lion, Witch + the Wardrobe’. Lovely tea and super production with great set + costumes. Everybody really enjoyed it.
", "date_published": "2005-01-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/06/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/06/diary/", "title": "6 January", "content_html": "E & I enjoyed a morning in town doing a spot of shopping and then went and had lunch together. It’s been ages since we’ve had time alone. Bought some lovely wool to start my next project - have to stich up the black slash neck before I can start this lot. Enjoyed Danielle Palmour’s drinks party for her 40th.
", "date_published": "2005-01-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/05/last-day-of-the-holiday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/05/last-day-of-the-holiday/", "title": "Last Day of the Holiday", "content_html": "We decided to have a proper day out today, before school starts tomorrow. We all went over to Eureka in Halifax, on the train, with Jo, Tom, Anna and Adam.
The first time I went to Eureka was with Toby when he was about 3 or 4. About half the museum is the same, the rest has been changed. I think it was the first totally interactive science museum I had been to and it really impressed me. Now, after going to lots of others, particularly Magna, it seems much less exciting. The children still enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. I expect that this will be the last time Toby goes - I was quite surprised that he wanted to go today.
We got back home and had fish and chips for tea. John and Rose are in bed now, as is Cindy who is exhausted after her chemo yesterday.
", "date_published": "2005-01-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/05/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/05/diary/", "title": "5 January", "content_html": "Dentist at 9am - my teeth are aching, so feeling anxious about Simon prodding around. Off to Euraka with Jo + children on the train. Had a filling, not too bad. Finished the day with FnC enjoyed by all. It has been a very good way to end the holidays.
", "date_published": "2005-01-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/04/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/04/diary/", "title": "4 January", "content_html": "Me having chemo. Took all am because of bank holiday backlog. E + children to Knavsmire to run his car. He decided to drop it off for a service after more problems. E, J & R to Castle Museum this afternoon. Gym has started again.
", "date_published": "2005-01-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/03/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/03/diary/", "title": "3 January", "content_html": "All to cinema to see ‘Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snickett.’ General mooch. Went to Japanese shop + bought a nice print & one for Joanna Smitells 18th.
", "date_published": "2005-01-03T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/02/wheelchair-joke/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/02/wheelchair-joke/", "title": "Wheelchair Joke", "content_html": "We went to Bridlington today with Mary. I enjoyed getting out in the fresh air, it wasn't quite as cold as it has been.
We took the wheelchair for when Cindy got tired of walking. Toby was in it for a while. To start with I pushed him wildly and spun him round. Then when we'd got tired of that, I pushed him sensibly for a while. When an elderly couple were just walking towards us, he got out of the wheelchair and I turned to Cindy in amazement and said, \"I told you the sea air would do him good!\" I don't think the couple were convinced that anything miraculous had happened - particularly as we were laughing like drains.
In fact, Cindy laughed so hard she had to sit down in the wheelchair to recover!
", "date_published": "2005-01-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/02/new-years-eve/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/02/new-years-eve/", "title": "New Year's Eve", "content_html": "We had Jane & Andy and Steve & Sam with Tom and Josh round on New Year's Eve.
Cindy and I had spent the previous day and part of that day cooking curries. We had lamb and spinach, tandoori chicken, black eyed beans with mushrooms, aubergine and tomato, green lentil dal and home made samosas. All lovely!
All the children stayed up till midnight, even Rose. In fact the adults seemed tireder than the children. Toby, Tom and Josh would have stayed up for ages longer.
Hey Toby here. Been fidilling with car over the last week or so and today it got its first sort of run. I've had a few short ones in the alley before, a minute or so, just to test the settings. This evening though I took out the front and drove around the street. I took it up and down and jumped it up and down the pavement, great fun! Grandpa, Dad and John watched. It still isn't going its best but nearly there. Hopefully going to go down to the knavesmire tommorrow and give it a proper drive.
Todays, was only about five minutes, but it was dark and I didn't want any cars to come and crunch it. I still haven't let the car hit top speed yet, there isn't enough room on our short road, I don't think it has even hit 2nd! Hopefully knaversmire will go sucessfully and dad can have a go. Well maybe a short go! Hope you like the pics, just a few quick snaps of it in my kitchen. Update you soon and maybe a few pics of it on the knavesmire.
See ya
Toby
Went to Bridlington with Mary. Lovely bright day. Sat in wheelchair for part of it. Had a laugh with Toby, see Blog. J at home with Lance suffering with tummy bug. All home for goulash + Mary’s Diplimatico choc. pudding.
", "date_published": "2005-01-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/01/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2005/01/01/diary/", "title": "1 January", "content_html": "John has a tummy bug, so a bit of a mooch day. I slept late + E did curry washing-up.
", "date_published": "2005-01-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/31/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/31/diary/", "title": "31 December", "content_html": "Fun dinner party of curries with Sam + Steve, Josh + Tom, Steve + Andy. Played perudo + drank beers, wine + sparkly at midnight. All very tired so didn’t linger beyond 12.
", "date_published": "2004-12-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/31/best-present/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/31/best-present/", "title": "Best Present?", "content_html": "Mary and Lance gave us Big Deal tickets for the West Yorkshire Playhouse as a Christmas Present. This gives you a choice of 4 out of 5 plays that are on from now until the summer. Cindy phoned and booked them all yesterday, so we've got dates in the diary for A Doll's House, David Copperfield and The 39 Steps. One of the other two plays is a series of new plays by new Leeds writers, so we've got tickets for all three - three separate shows for £10! Because we've booked nice and early, we've got the best seats in the house each time - full price tickets are £20-£25. A fantastic present - we've got 6 evenings at the theatre to look forward to.
We're also going to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe next week and Don Givovanni at Opera North the week after that!
", "date_published": "2004-12-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/30/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/30/diary/", "title": "30 December", "content_html": "Met up with Anne + Peter at Mary’s for coffee after supper.
", "date_published": "2004-12-30T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/29/christmas-round-up/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/29/christmas-round-up/", "title": "Christmas Round Up", "content_html": "A lovely Christmas.
Children all pleased with their presents, at one point on Christmas morning our front room was ankle deep in discarded wrapping paper. Rose almost immediately started on craft activities, Toby was handing out everyone's presents, so was deliberately the last person to finish opening his own, John was busy taking photos with the new camera that he got for his birthday.
Lance came out of hospital on Christmas morning, which was slightly earlier than expected. He seems to be doing really well.
We had a lovely Christmas meal in the afternoon, turkey etc.
Boxing Day we went round to Lance and Mary's and saw Will, Sarah, Jack and Grace and opened more presents!
On Monday we did a walk (Mary, Will, Jack in his pushchair, Toby, John and I). It was absolutely freezing, but good to be out. Rose and Cindy got on with her felt making from a kit that John had given her.
Tuesday - sales. John in particular had lots of money - because he hadn't spent birthday money. He bought books, blue peter annual, harry potter game. Rose bought books and new trousers.
Toby finally got his car to start, but when we took it down to the Knavesmire, it stalled each time it started moving. He's gone on an internet forum - it seems the \"mixture\" is too \"rich\" and he needs to adjust the carburettor - I feel really ignorant!
Wednesday - very lazy so far. Party later on this evening at David and Anita's.
", "date_published": "2004-12-29T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/28/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/28/diary/", "title": "28 December", "content_html": "Very nice relaxing morning @ Living Well sitting in jacuzzi and steam room on Judy’s guest pass Met up with E, J + R in town for coffee. They had spent all Christmas money. Tpoby disappointed tht his car is still not running - very frustrating for him.
", "date_published": "2004-12-28T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/27/diary/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/27/diary/", "title": "27 December", "content_html": "E walking with Toby + John, Will + Jack & Mary. Very cold returned looking exhausted and boys wet - what a surprise. Rose and I made felt, embroidered a doll’s face and had a go at some embroidery stitches.
", "date_published": "2004-12-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/24/christmas-eve/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/24/christmas-eve/", "title": "Christmas Eve", "content_html": "Last few preparations - present wrapping, turkey delivery (thanks Mark - who got up at four and got ours as well as his), a party this evening and carols at Meeting. Rose is doing a reading at Meeting, which will be brilliant. We've also got to try and fit in driving Toby's car this afternoon.
Currently putting Cold War technology to good use by tracking Santa.
", "date_published": "2004-12-24T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/23/tobys-monster-truck/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/23/tobys-monster-truck/", "title": "Toby's Monster Truck", "content_html": "I've just got back from driving over to Immingham, the port on the other side of the Humber from Hull, to pick up a monster truck that Toby's bought off ebay. It's huge, expensive and he's very excited about it. It's about 3 months of saving his paper round money. Apparently fuel is £7 a litre!!
I've never been over the Humber Bridge before, so there was another excitement on the trip.
No doubt we'll fit in a drive at some point tomorrow.
", "date_published": "2004-12-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/23/grown-up-evening/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/23/grown-up-evening/", "title": "Grown Up Evening", "content_html": "Last night we had Jo & Bill and Michelle & Mark round for a meal. We had a fantastic time. Lovely food - crostini and olives, goats cheese soufflé, fish stew, diplomatico (an Italian chocolate pudding), cheese, coffee and chocs. Very over the top.
We also drank well, in particular the dessert wine was luscious.
The children were fantastic - watching Strictly Come Dancing to start with and then more or less putting themselves to bed. It makes things much easier now they are more grown up.
We chatted till about 1:30, with not too much concentration on house prices and school politics - although Jo did reveal that Mrs Cornhill sent Kjartan a thong following his Magic with Pants gig and Mark was proud to show off the new website he's done for the school.
Cindy took a couple of photos - here they are.
Cindy is currently coping with 6 children all trying to sew at once. She must be mad - particularly after last night's late night!
They've already made bread and will be making christmas biscuits later.
", "date_published": "2004-12-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/22/incredibles/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/22/incredibles/", "title": "Incredibles", "content_html": "We went to see The Incredibles last night, or more like yesterday afternoon. It was really good. The animation is so good that some of the scenes just look real. But more importantly, the story was gripping, well told and exciting. Like too many films at the moment it was a bit too long though. Not as too long as LOTR - thank goodness - I don't intend to ever sit through the extended versions!
Just before the cinema, Cindy went to the Arc Light Hostel to deliver her puddings and two other peoples food, and found the short walk from the car to the kitchen, carrying food, exhausting. She said it took about half an hour in the cinema to recover.
Children are hyper with anticipation at the moment.
", "date_published": "2004-12-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/19/york-waits/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/19/york-waits/", "title": "York Waits", "content_html": "After saying bye to James and Emma (we left them at ours to have some tea, bathe children and go home) we went to La Piazza and had pizzas with Lance and Mary.
The next part of our action packed day was to go to see a concert at the National Centre for Early Music. There was a Christmas concert by the York Waits. I really enjoyed it, the children were a little tired and got a bit bored, but we lasted the whole concert. They had some huge recorders, the largest was about 6 or 7 feet tall, not including the spike it rested on. It had a long curved metal tube as its mouthpiece so you didn't have to stand on a chair to blow it. It made a lovely gentle deep sound. They played lots of carols I knew and some I didn't and it was a lovely evening.
And so to bed.
", "date_published": "2004-12-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/19/james-and-emma/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/19/james-and-emma/", "title": "James and Emma", "content_html": "James and Emma came all the way up from their home near Bristol to visit us - for the day! Definitely more driving than I'd like to do.
It was great to see them. Jacob and Samuel are much more grown up than when we last saw them, and Hannah is getting bigger quickly.
They arrived at about 10am - before Cindy had had breakfast. I popped down the road and bought eggs, bacon, sausages, butter, bread and butter. Cindy and the Rands had eggs and bacon, then we went down to the park. After that we ate sausages in rolls, played boardgames, chatted, and decorated the Christmas tree.
At five we went out (see next entry) and some time later, James and Emma and family went home.
James is off to sea soon, 3 weeks into January for 4 months, then for 6 months later on, and it sounds quite dangerous out there. I don't think it'll be as much fun as it may have been in the past.
", "date_published": "2004-12-19T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/17/last-week-of-term/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/17/last-week-of-term/", "title": "Last Week of Term", "content_html": "It's Friday afternoon, and the children have come home for the start of two and a half weeks of Christmas holiday.
John and Rose have had a very busy, Christmasy week at school. They've watched the infant's Nativity Play, sung a carol concert in school, met Father Christmas and had class parties. On Thursday morning, they had a school carol concert and Christingle in St Clements Church. Cindy, Lance and I all went to listen/watch - Mary had been going to go, but had to finish an essay for her course for that afternoon! The concert (not a service - even though it was in a church - there was one sort of prayer) was very good, excellent singing, brass and woodwind and the excellent Scarcroft drummers. It is a very good school for music, I think and Mrs Cornhill must have contributed a lot to that.
Toby's school, on the other hand, has been determinedly unChristmasy. I think he said that there is a Christmas tree up, and the staff did a panto for pupils this afternoon, but that's it. They've done all the usual end of term stuff - videos, quizzes etc and then he got out early this afternoon. When he got home we went off to get a Christmas tree, which is now filling the corner of our front room waiting to be decorated tomorrow.
", "date_published": "2004-12-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/12/very-busy-weekend/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/12/very-busy-weekend/", "title": "Very Busy Weekend", "content_html": "Friday: At school, John and Rose went off to the station (with the rest of the school) to wave flags at Prince Charles. It was very exciting, apparently. He talked to both of them in groups and Rose even answered one of his questions. At home, Isabel Wakeman dropped in for coffee, I played badminton with Simon (lost, but it was very close and an excellent game), Cindy went into town to get a bit more Christmas shopping, we had a nice lunch together, I picked up the new curtains for the back room and for Toby's room, Rose sang with the school choir at McArthur Glen, then she went to trampolining and eventually it was time for bed!
Saturday: Toby played rugby for school against All Saints and beat them resoundingly, then went to Tom's for the rest of the day. Cindy, John, Rose and I got the 9:25 train to Birmingham to watch the Gymnastics World Cup Final. In spite of being called a World Cup Final, it can't have been a very important competition, because lots of the big names that we saw at the Olympics weren't there. It was exciting being at a proper competition though, and when British gymnasts were involved you got some sort of idea of what the atmosphere must be like at a big competition with lots of supporters for all the different competitors. We saw the Men's floor, which was great, rings, women's vault, men's pommel - I can't tell who is good or not in this event at all, it all looks the same to the untutored eye, and the women's asymmetric bars, with Beth Tweddle taking part. Here are the results. We got a taxi back to the station because Cindy had found the walk through town to the National Indoor Arena too much, and just as we were getting in the taxi, John spotted two Brazilian gymnasts signing autographs. One of them was the winner of the men's floor event, and they were just out on the pavement going off to wherever! He got their autographs, jumped in the taxi and we got the 4pm train home.
After fish and chips for tea, Cindy and I went off to Judith and Martin's Christmas party for an hour.
Sunday: Cindy had a lie in while the rest of us went off to Meeting. Toby went swimming with Link Group, then dashed home to have lunch and go out and play football. I don't know where he gets the energy from. After lunch Pauline and Lal dropped in with Christmas pressies, and stayed for tea. Cindy made scones and swiss roll. John and Rose have started making themselves felt stockings for Father Christmas to fill. I hope they aren't too large! Fungus the Bogeyman is on the telly. Bedtime soon.
", "date_published": "2004-12-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/09/one-touch-of-venus/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/09/one-touch-of-venus/", "title": "One Touch of Venus", "content_html": "Cindy and I went to see this musical at The Grand, Leeds. It's by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Ogden Nash and apparently has never had a full performance in this country, and has not had one in the states since it was first performed in 1943. It had really colourful costumes, great songs, good dancing and some slightly rude jokes. An excellent evening out.
We went on the last preview night, when tickets were half price. This meant that seats in the dress circle were affordable, instead of extortionate.
", "date_published": "2004-12-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/09/off-to-the-doctors/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/09/off-to-the-doctors/", "title": "Off to the Doctors", "content_html": "I went to the doctor again today, and he signed me off for another 8 weeks. This will take me up to the February half term holiday. Cindy's current round of treatment will have finished by then. So I plan to go back to work after that holiday - that'll give me a term and a half till the end of the academic year.
School are arranging for the LEA occupational health people to get in touch with me. It'll be interesting to see if they have any useful suggestions.
", "date_published": "2004-12-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/07/good-food/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/07/good-food/", "title": "Good Food", "content_html": "Cindy & I went out with Jane and Andy for a lovely meal on Saturday. We went to Meltons, the restaurant where I used to work as a waiter. We were upstairs, which was a slight problem to start with, as it took Cindy quite a while to get up the stairs. But once we were up it was better than being on the ground floor because the toilet is on the same level rather than down in the basement!
We all ate too much (I had a fantastic bouillabaisse and three of the four of us had blue cheese and walnut gnocchi for starters), pulled crackers and drank well. Meltons was very busy, as I expect it is all the time now until Christmas.
On Sunday we went to Lance and Mary's for lunch. Jane and Andy were staying there, and Will and Sarah came over with Jack and Grace. It was fun having such a large family meal - especially as we're not going to have a huge get-together at Christmas. Jack and Grace were really well behaved - they both sat at the table and Jack did his best to use the cutlery. He is so big for his age!
", "date_published": "2004-12-07T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/04/badminton/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/04/badminton/", "title": "Badminton", "content_html": "I played Simon again at badminton yesterday, and for the second time in recent weeks, beat him. For his peace of mind, I should probably say that it is unusual for me to win, normally its quite close but he wins. Anyway we had a really good runaround and went home hot and sweaty.
Cindy and I are off to Melton's tonight with Jane and Andy. Looking forward to it enormously. Cindy has been in bed for part of the afternoon, so should have plenty of energy for staying up late.
", "date_published": "2004-12-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/01/johns-birthday/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/12/01/johns-birthday/", "title": "John's Birthday", "content_html": "All the children had a day off school yesterday, so after a lateish morning (for me and Cindy, anyway) we went into to town and had brunch at Meltons Too. John had a full english breakfast, with bacon, sausage, 2 fried eggs, black pudding, lambs kidney, mushrooms, grilled tomato and a grilled muffin. It certainly filled the plate, looked delicious and was all eaten up (Cindy had the kidney, and I had most of the mushrooms). I had scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, Toby had a bacon and egg butty and Rose had a big piece of chocolate cake. Much enjoyed by all.
While Cindy took the children home, I dashed off for my regular game of badminton with Simon. He won again, but it wasn't the awful walkover of last week. 2-1 to him with the last game very close.
Cindy went to bed when I got home, John and Rose made cards, Toby pottered and then had to go to the dentist to have his brace tightened again. The dentist says that he should be able to have his brace off by Easter next year.
In the evening we watched Shrek 2 and kept nice and warm indoors.
Most exciting of all - John got a Blue Peter badge.
", "date_published": "2004-11-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/25/york-christmas-lights-turned-on/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/25/york-christmas-lights-turned-on/", "title": "York Christmas Lights Turned On", "content_html": "I got back from town with the children just a couple of hours ago. We'd been into town to watch the lights being turned on, but the big attraction were Huge. They played for about 45 minutes before the lights were turned on - which was very dull, with the Lord Mayor, Sherriff, someone from Nestle and a couple of boring Radio York presenters - and then for about the same time afterwards. All their usual songs - Jungle Book, Walking on Sunshine, American Pie, Build Me Up Buttercup, Sit Down - and almost all with audience participation. I really enjoyed it and so did the children. It was exciting being out in town in the dark.
The photos are more impressionistic than realistic. It was dark and too far away for the flash so most of them are a bit blurred, and possibly look all the better for that.
The rest of the day - I went to yoga and the supermarket, the children to school and Cindy rested. She's ok, but has some aches and pains and feels drained.
", "date_published": "2004-11-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/23/day-out-with-ted/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/23/day-out-with-ted/", "title": "Day Out with Ted", "content_html": "I had a great day today. Immediately after dropping the children at school, I went to the station, met Ted and went over to Leeds for the day.
We spent the morning looking around the morning looking around the art gallery. Unfortunately, the main part of the sculpture gallery was closed while they were setting up a new exhibition. We looked at the pictures though - some Paul Nash, Stanley Spencer, Francis Bacon and Bridget Riley stick in my mind. There was also a 6ft tall model for a 150ft tall brick man by Antony Gormley that never got built and a rather dubious video art installation.
Then we went for lunch at an Italian restaurant that was recommended by one of Chris's friends and ate and drank well!
Then back to York in time to pick up the kids - or rather go to a talk/show by Kjartan Poskitt plugging his new book - The Magic of Pants. Kjartan did his usual amusing mix of maths tricks, magic and banter.
Toby cooked tea, John and Rose went to gym and are finally in bed (just) and I'm hoping to watch Teachers with Cindy soon.
Quite a contast to Cindy's day.
", "date_published": "2004-11-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/23/chemo-number-3/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/23/chemo-number-3/", "title": "Chemo Number 3", "content_html": "Cindy went over to the Cancer Care Centre for a 9:45 appointment this morning for her third round of chemo and an appointment with Dr Bottomley.
Again the chemo wasn't too bad, a couple of hours on a drip and not too uncomfortable. On her way home she \"popped into town\" to do some Christmas shopping - where does she get the energy?
She seems fine this evening, we're expecting that she will have a few more days of feeling exhaused and that more hair will fall out.
She is due to have another scan on Thursday, and we should get the results of that next week.
", "date_published": "2004-11-23T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/22/lunch-with-kath/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/22/lunch-with-kath/", "title": "Lunch with Kath", "content_html": "Cindy and I had lunch with Kath Pringle today. We've seen very little of her since she, Marcus and Louis left York 3 years ago. But since Marcus's death earlier this year she and Louis have come back and are currently living over in a friend's flat in Heslington. Louis has gone back to the Steiner school for the one remaining year that he can go there, and Kath has got a job in a special school in Knaresborough.
It was great to see her, and lunch turned into 3:30 by the time she left. She looks just the same as when she left York. Louis who we saw briefly a few weeks ago doesn't, of course. He has grown a lot and at the moment looks ages older than Toby, even though they are about the same age. We've arranged that she and Louis will come over on New Year's Eve, unless they arrange to go to Spain to see Marcus's sister.
", "date_published": "2004-11-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/22/dance-festival/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/22/dance-festival/", "title": "Dance Festival", "content_html": "John's Saturday morning dance group were part of the city's Dance Performance yesterday afternoon. His group had prepared a dance based on Hilare Belloc's Matilda - a poem about a girl who told lies about fires and so ended up being burnt to death! I really enjoyed his bit - the whole lot was thought up and choreographed by the children, with lots of help from Janetta no doubt.
As usual there were lots of other good dances from primary and secondary schools from across York. It's really interesting looking at the different range of types of dance and level of skill that's going on in schools
", "date_published": "2004-11-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/20/badminton/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/20/badminton/", "title": "Badminton", "content_html": "Normal service has been resumed. That is, Simon slaughtered me, again, as usual.
I didn't even win the third game - often he wins the first two and I manage to win the third.
Pah!
", "date_published": "2004-11-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/12/week-and-a-half-after-chemo/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/12/week-and-a-half-after-chemo/", "title": "Week and a Half after Chemo", "content_html": "Cindy is doing fine, but is absolutely exhausted. Today, all she has managed to do is pop out in the car with me for an hour or so to look at kitchens (obviously we only like really expensive ones). She has had a long rest this afternoon and so far is doing ok this evening.
This version of chemotherapy is much better because she doesn't throw up for two days after each dose, she doesn't have a Hickman Line, she doesn't have the continuous infusion and she doesn't throw up for two days each time.
", "date_published": "2004-11-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/12/reiki/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/12/reiki/", "title": "Reiki", "content_html": "So (see comment here), what was reiki like?
Well… while trying to remain scientific and sceptical - I certainly enjoyed it and definitely feel more energised yesterday evening and today. I think I felt an unusual amount of heat from Robert's hands and a sometimes a peculiar tingling sensation where his hands were resting. Is this just because he has warm hands and my legs were falling asleep. Hard to tell. I definitely felt slightly spaced afterwards for a while, and more awake. I'm sure that just talking to someone for half an hour and then having a rest/snooze has some effect though!
Will I go back - at the moment I think I probably will, I'll see how I feel in a few days.
", "date_published": "2004-11-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/12/badminton/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/12/badminton/", "title": "Badminton", "content_html": "I said the reiki made me feel more energetic - here's proof (perhaps).
I beat Simon at badminton (notice Simon doesn't mention the result here). I very rarely beat him and today felt really good. I always enjoy playing and feel I get a lot out of an hour of frantic running around.
", "date_published": "2004-11-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/10/late-night/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/10/late-night/", "title": "Late Night", "content_html": "After a busy day and evening yesterday, I managed to go to bed fairly early, but just as I was drifting off to sleep (11:15ish), my dad phoned.
He was in a lot of pain from an overfull bladder that he could not empty (ugh). I phoned the out of hours doctor service, spoke to a nurse and then a doctor and then a doctor came round. It ended up with me taking him to casualty, the doctor phoning the urology oncall person ahead and him having a catheter put in. Once that was done he felt hugely better and once they'd found him a bed on a ward he was able to get some sleep, and I was able to come home (2am).
We expected that he would have to stay in for a few days, but he was discharged this afternoon and is at ours at the moment where he is going to have tea. He still has the catheter in but he is able to go normally. He's going to be put on a waiting list for some sort of prostate operation. He seems fine though.
I hate hospitals and I seem to be having to go to them far too often at the moment!
Oh well, tomorrow I'm going for the more alternative health care end of things. I'm going over to Leeds to go to Robert Maida, the reiki person that Cindy has been going to for a while. I know she has got a lot out of it, so I will withhold my total and utter scepticism and see what it's like.
", "date_published": "2004-11-10T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/09/day-out-to-harrogate/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/09/day-out-to-harrogate/", "title": "Day Out to Harrogate", "content_html": "After I'd dropped the children at school, Cindy and I went over to Harrogate to the Turkish Baths (recently renovated). I really enjoyed it, as always, and spent a lot of time in the steam room and the plunge pool. Cindy, however, found it too hot, too exhausting and spent her time either in the coolest dry room or relaxing on the day beds. We left earlier than we might have done otherwise, but it did mean that we arrived in Betty's just before the queue started.
We had a lovely lunch, as you can probably see from the photos - rosti with smoked salmon for her, and rosti with scrambled egg, mushrooms and tomatoes for me. We walked back to the station and then arrived back in York just in time to pick up the children.
In the evening, I took John and Rose over to gym, where I bumped into Saffron - Nok has joined the same gym class as Rose. So I was able to chat for an hour instead of sitting reading, much more pleasant.
And after that, Sam came round to babysit for a couple of hours so Cindy and I could go out to Gill's fiftieth birthday party. It's difficult to believe that she is so old, she certainly doesn't seem it. I suppose that 50 isn't that old nowdays. Chatted to people about the oddest things - Cindy's electric bike, reliable garages (Clive Hartley if you're local and don't already know), drumming and various other odds and sods.
Very nice day all in all.
", "date_published": "2004-11-09T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/07/bonfire-weekend/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/11/07/bonfire-weekend/", "title": "Bonfire Weekend", "content_html": "We've had a great weekend - two bonfire parties and visitors to stay.
On Friday evening we went to John and Katie's house and then allotment for a fantastic bonfire, lots of sparklers, red wine and port, then back to theirs for pumpkin soup, bread, cakes and Rose's extra special chocolate brownies. Unfortunately Cindy was too worn out by her treatment to come to any of this - she sat on the sofa and dozed and then went to bed early.
While we were at John & Katie's, Simon Palmour told me about his new blog.
Then on Saturday afternoon, Lal and Pauline came to stay, bringing a lovely butter dish for Cindy's birthday. We went to Steve and Sam's for another bonfire party - lots of fireworks set off by Tom, Josh, Toby and even John lit a couple. We had soup, veggie burgers for the children, quite a lot of red wine and a very pleasant evening. Cindy had to go home about 9 o'clock and was soon followed by all the others. Once we got home, we were all feeling rather peckish, so we got a take away curry.
Today, we all went to Meeting, while L&P cooked lamb for us. Toby missed the meal, because he had to go and play football. Yet another loss for the Panthers.
Have thought a lot about whether or not to write you all a letter each for when you are older. This is because I am feeling very much like the best breath is draining out of me as a serious wheeze seems to be setting in and my energy is failing. Now this may of course be yet another re-run of the treatment taking its course and I will be ‘bouncing’ around again tomorrow. Or at least sometime soon. But I’m afraid I cannot dispel this doom + gloom feeling every time my health goes in this direction.
So what would I want to say to you all that you do not already know.
Can I possibly say what I feel in a letter.
How much do you all remember.
", "date_published": "2004-11-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/10/31/off-work/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/10/31/off-work/", "title": "Off Work", "content_html": "Here Cindy left some thoughts about Rose and John, which feel too personal to post.
I've been signed off sick for eight weeks by my doctor - stress. It takes me from half term to Christmas.
It's a relief really, as I wasn't able to concentrate on work at all. Now I'll be able to think about the important things - Cindy and the children. I'll also have time to sort out in my head how we're going to work things in the long run.
I've sorted out the medium term planning for the half term, and can now try and forget about school for a while.
", "date_published": "2004-10-31T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/10/31/mandy-and-david-visit/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/10/31/mandy-and-david-visit/", "title": "Mandy & David Visit", "content_html": "We've had Mandy, David, Amy and Tom to visit for the last few days. They came up on Thursday and are leaving on Sunday.
We've had a really good time, and have done a lot of things together. Toby, David, Tom and I visited Aerial Extreme to pretend to be monkeys. And then fish and chips on the way home. Cindy, Mandy, Amy, John and Rose went off to do some shopping.
On Saturday morning, all the adults went out for a meal at La Piazza and had a really lovely time - see photo.
After a few weeks of gradually getting more wheezy, Cindy has had results of a scan that show she needs to go back onto chemotherapy.
It is a different sort this time - Docetaxel or Taxotere.
She is going to have 6 lots, with three weeks between each session. It only needs her to go into hospital for a couple of hours each time and shouldn't induce the sort of vomiting she had before - thank goodness.
It's disappointing news, we had hoped it would be longer before she needed to go back onto chemo, but we'll carry on trying to take each day as it comes, and enjoy what we can!
", "date_published": "2004-10-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/10/05/journal/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/10/05/journal/", "title": "5 October", "content_html": "So busy enjoying life have had no inclination to write anything here.
Keep say to E that I haven’t written anything down.
Looking back on this it’s kind of interesting to reflect on what we did last year. And brings a smile to my face that much of it is pretty much the same again!
And so life goes on.
And so I’ll try to put a few things down.
Fantastic summer.
A week in Ambleside. I was very pleased to manage some reasonable walks that gave me some good views over Windermere. Enjoyed a lovely day with John + Rose when we went to Bowness on the trail of Captain Flint’s houseboat! Good weather and you all enjoyed swimming in the Lake.
Travelled to Bath to stay with Phil + Marcia. Enjoyed croquet, some good meals and a trip out to the ancient Roman Baths. Picked up a stomach bug, but didn’t let it get in the way of enjoying ourselves too much.
Back to York and then off to Hawkshead with the larger family. Numerous problems with the house, but otherwise very nice. Visited a country show, did some walks, went on the Gondola on Coniston. Super week + nice to all be together.
Last week and Toby off on his Kayaking part II, John on an afternoon theatre course. Produced ‘Jabberwocky’ - really excellent!
", "date_published": "2004-10-05T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/07/21/summer-holidays/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/07/21/summer-holidays/", "title": "Summer Holidays", "content_html": "It's been ages since we added anything, so here's a general round up of events of the last month or so.
Cindy is off treatment and is generally feeling fine - she's got a cold at the moment, so is rather breathless, but it should go soon.
Edward has finished at Wheldrake, to his great relief! The last few weeks dragged like anything. Now he's starting to get ready for his new job.
The children are enjoying the start of the holiday.
In late June we had a fantastic party at Lance and Mary's. It was on a Sunday afternoon, we had about 100 guests, Cindy had done lots of wonderful food and everyone drank quite a lot. Perhaps it should become an annual event.
", "date_published": "2004-07-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/06/15/in-the-lake-district/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/06/15/in-the-lake-district/", "title": "In the Lake District", "content_html": "Well - I needn't have dreaded it! The coach journey over to the Lake District was fine, even quite pleasant, and after the first night when the children were up till 2 in the morning (about what I expected), last night was a pleasant surprise. Most of the children were tired enough to get to sleep by 12. Some were awake later, but they managed to be quiet(ish).
The activities on the whole are well run, the outdoor type things particularly so. The ICT things are not as interesting, but the Wheldrake adults are not needed to help with these, so I get a bit of a breather every now and again - such as now. I've particularly enjoyed the quad biking and the fencing. I had a great time during an activity called Nightline. The pupils had to go around a small assault course blindfolded, during which time I was able to tickle them with a feather, roar in their ears and scrunch dry leaves in their hair.
The food has been surprisingly good - I've turned myself into a vegetarian for the trip and as usual this means the food is better! Vegetarian samosas and spicy potato wedges have been the highlight so far, but most of it is fairly good. There always seems to be salads and fresh fruit and there are also lots of water dispensers all over the place, so plenty of chances to be healthy too.
I've enjoyed the trip and am certain the kids have too, but it will be very nice to be sleeping in my own bed tomorrow.
", "date_published": "2004-06-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/06/12/edward-gets-a-job/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/06/12/edward-gets-a-job/", "title": "Edward Gets a Job!!", "content_html": "After what feels like an age of apply for jobs and not getting anywhere, I've got a job for next September at last! It's full time, permanent and close to York - Cawood.
Not only is it a job, I think it's actually a good job. It's quite a small village school, (info here), 150 pupils and 5 teachers plus headteacher, teaching assistants, and so on. It seemed like a very supportive school, with lots of community links. It also had a good Ofsted report and looks good in league tables (for what that's worth).
Now all I've got to do is survive the rest of the term at my current job - I'm off tomorrow to the Lake District for three nights/four days with the class, which I'm dreading!
", "date_published": "2004-06-12T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/06/01/final-treatment/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/06/01/final-treatment/", "title": "Final Treatment", "content_html": "The last treatment in this round of chemo has gone well, with Cindy out of hospital after only one night, and the side effects not being too awful.
Roll on the day when the Hickman line comes out!
", "date_published": "2004-06-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/05/28/nice-photo/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/05/28/nice-photo/", "title": "Nice Photo", "content_html": "Taken before Helen Andrews' wedding.
Cindy and I went to the hospital to get the results of a recent CT scan, and they were very positive.
The treatment seems to have been very effective, with all of the tumours shrinking or going entirely. There are still some left however - we knew from the start that the chemo would not cure her, but this scan result gives us hope for a pleasant and healthy summer, autumn and winter. Dr Bottomley said he was very surprised how well it had gone, especially considering how ill Cindy had been during the second treatment.
Tomorrow, Cindy goes in for the final treatment of this round, and then in three weeks time she can have her Hickman line out - which will be a great relief.
", "date_published": "2004-05-25T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/05/14/pauline-and-lals-wedding/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/05/14/pauline-and-lals-wedding/", "title": "Pauline & Lal's Wedding", "content_html": "Edward is deep in SAT's land this week with light relief provided by a very nice art project creating a pattern using felt that will culminate in a banner.
he has about 4 applications in at the moment and is having a week of doubt that a job is ever going to happen. Something will come up soon I'm sure. We all had a busy weekend and Edward took John and Rose to a music event at the Early Music Centre on Saturday for a show of Indian dance, poetry and music. Greatly enjoyed by all. He then took them all off to Meeting on Sunday while I helped katherine put the finising touches to her puddings for the 40th Wedding Celebration of lance and Mary.
Sunday 9th May and Lance and Mary's 40th Wedding Anniversary. Sorted out several weeks ago what everybody would like to do. So, there was sarah on salads, Jane on champers, Katharine on puds and me on meat and fish and a celebration cake.
We have tried to buy a sundial, but measurements of the sun's movement have held things up a little and so this will be arriving later.
Arrived at 118 The Mount to assist Katharine with her puddings. She was well in control and Simon was on baby sling duty so we were able to get on with the final preparations. A table for 17 plus Jack plus Grace plus Thomas. Goodness knows what we will do when they're sitting at the table. L and M will have to move again and buy an even bigger table.
Jane arrived with Richard and Katherine from London. Anne came with Jan and Roland. L and M arrived home from church followed by Edwaqrd and the children from Meeting and finally Will and Sarah with the children.
Following on from drinks, to the table and crack open the champaign with a toast from Edward and then on with the meal. There was a side of salmon with hollindase sauce, salmon eye of beef, green and potato salads, mozerella cheese with tomato and basil and pork pies. Lemon and lime and deep chocolate tarts and fruit salad for pudding. A selection of lovely cheeses that Jan brought.
To walk this lot off Mary took everybody down scarcroft road to look at the progress in the allotment. John and Rose wanted to see if any frogs had arrived in the pond attracted by the addition of the tadpoles the other week, a present from Charles and Tanya's pond on the Hull road.
On return the cake was cut and tea and coffee made. Jan and Rowland had to get away taking Anne with them and Richard and Katherine followed on with a 6 o clock train to catch. Simon and Katherine departed with a slightly grumpy Thomas and a had a good journey home. We cycled home soon after. A lovely celebration that I think all enjoyed.
Cindy's back home again, all having gone well with her fifth treatment.
She got home at about 11:30, Lance giving her a lift home from the hospital. She's been sick a bit, but not too much.
Lovely to have her home.
", "date_published": "2004-05-06T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/05/04/day-out-at-the-earth-centre/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/05/04/day-out-at-the-earth-centre/", "title": "Day out at the 'Earth Centre'", "content_html": "Biked to the railway station this morning to catch the train to Connisborough just one stop down the line from Doncaster. We had to amuse ourselves for ha;f an hour waiting for the connection. Toby and Rose found the luggage trolly a good way to pass the time and then Toby decided that we should break into the packed lunch. The Earth Centre was relatively quiet for a bank holiday and we set off with our map to make the most of the full £10 package. Simulator first followed by the climbing wall . Toby, John and Rose made good work of this and then after a change of harness ascended the tower to leap offf on the zip wire. It looked massively tall and John assured me it looked a very long way down when you're standing on the platform. Pirates adventure playground followed by the laser storm at which point Edward and I decided to abandon them and discover the cafe for a drink. Onto mini golf, Toby won, and archery which was at the furthest end of the centre and very chilly so I set offf for the sub tropical clime of the sewage processing greenhouse. More climbing wall, zip wire and laser storm and then onto Amazon adventure finishing off with the simulator. Another half hour wait at Doncaster causing a few moans that you didn't have to wait if you came by car. Everybody very tired, but managed to cycle home. All the children are really good at cycling now and Rose is getting more road confident. We all had a great day and Toby even had a bit of energy left to play an hours' tennis with Luke Holman.
", "date_published": "2004-05-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/05/01/feeling-better/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/05/01/feeling-better/", "title": "Feeling Better", "content_html": "Cindy's been off chemo since Wednesday, and is now feeling much healthier. She has spent most of the afternoon in town with Rose, who had birthday money burning a hole in her pocket. Cindy was able to enjoy pottering around for several hours - much more than she could have managed earlier in the week. Her mouth ulcers are mostly gone and her hands are starting to feel better.
Everyone except me is getting ready for Pauline and Lal's wedding - I went with John today to choose a new shirt and Cindy is busy deciding which shoes she should add to her collection. Toby, John and Rose are looking forward to it especially because they'll get a day off school - which is why I can't go.
Toby has spent all day out, first in town with his friends and then watching Huddersfield Town play football (unfortunately they lost and so are still not guaranteed promotion). He's just phoned on his new mobile to say they are just leaving the car park in Huddersfield. I think that was probably his first phone call.
I'm going to go and open a bottle of chilled white wine and sit in the yard with Cindy and enjoy the sunshine.
", "date_published": "2004-05-01T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/27/treatment-postponed/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/27/treatment-postponed/", "title": "Treatment Postponed", "content_html": "Cindy's fifth session of treatment in this round of chemo, which was due tomorrow, has been postponed, probably for a week. This is because she is \"still too toxic\"!
The main reasons are that her hands are so sore and she has bad mouth ulcers. This should give her a chance to recover some more, to be at a higher level of health before being knocked right back down by treatment.
Quite a relief really.
", "date_published": "2004-04-27T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/22/back-to-school/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/22/back-to-school/", "title": "Back to School", "content_html": "Well it's Thursday and we've all been back at school since Monday. The children seem to have all settled back in well and are enjoying themselves. Toby did very well in maths and science tests at the start of the week - thanks to all the revision he managed to do in the last week of the holiday. John and Rose have both signed up to go on an orienteering and a cross-country afternoon. John has been saying since he saw the Great North Run on Blue Peter last year that he wants to do a run and now's his chance. Edward is also back at school - only two weeks one day to go before Y6 STAs start - arrgh.
Cindy expended so much energy during the holiday; particularly during the last weekend, when we went to two things on Saturday and spent the whole day out on Sunday; that she was absolutely wiped out. We actually got the GP out on Sunday night in case she had an infection, but she doesn't. She spent most of the day on Monday sleeping, slept all Tuesday afternoon dozing and had a very quiet Wednesday too. She is gradually recovering though - in fact she should be just about back to normal when it'll be time to go back into hospital for her next treatment next week!
I'm just finishing next week's planning at school and then I will go home. It's a lovely afternoon, and I'm looking forward to going down to the park with the children.
", "date_published": "2004-04-22T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/17/cindys-morning-tablets/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/17/cindys-morning-tablets/", "title": "Cindy's Morning Tablets", "content_html": "I thought it would be amusing to show a picture of all the tablets that Cindy takes each morning!
The blue one is Echinacea - 400mg.
The red smarty sized one is a boots multivitamin, mineral and iron,
The yellow one is a high dosage multi vitamin B supplement with 39mg B1, 50mg B2, 50mg B3, 41mg B6, 400micrograms Folic Acid, 50micrograms B12, 0.05mg Biotin, 50mg Pantothenic Acid, 50mg Choline Bitartrate, 50mg Inosoitol and 50mg PABA (whatever that is).
The yellowy liquid capsule is vitamin E - 268mg.
The speckled white one is Beta Carotene - 15mg.
The 4 little red ones are Prednisolone - a steroid. Each is 5mg.
The two white ones are Pyridoxine - very high dose of B6. Each tablet is 50mg. This is to treat the sore, red, cracked hands she gets as one of the side effects.
The white powder is Calcium Ascorbate crystals, that get dissolved in her daily orange juice as a vitamin C boost. Each half spoonful has 2g vitamin C.
She normally has a 1000mg Fish Oil capsule - but they've run out at the moment.
The purple liquid in the drinking glass is another multivitamin and mineral with lots of micro minerals, that Cindy is trying out at the moment.
Does this lot give her anything other than expensive urine? Who knows.
She also has Eprex - a weekly injection to boost blood production, 4 daily doses of Salbutamol and Ipratropium by nebuliser, and not forgetting the constant pump of chemo, and visits to hospital each three weeks for the other lot of chemo.
To counterbalance all these drugs, she has monthly visits to Diane the reflexologist, and to Robert Maida for Reiki.
", "date_published": "2004-04-17T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/16/rose-and-tobys-birthdays/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/16/rose-and-tobys-birthdays/", "title": "Rose & Toby's Birthdays", "content_html": "Just a few photos of Toby and Rose's Birthdays.
Cindy can create entries on her palm.
", "date_published": "2004-04-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/13/photo-gallery/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/13/photo-gallery/", "title": "Photo Gallery", "content_html": "I've just uploaded the first lot of photos to the photo gallery section of this site. They're of the Forbidden Corner in the Dales - we went there in May 2003.
To celebrate the birth of Thomas Austin Bowers on 10 April 2004, here are some old photos of Katharine and Simon's Wedding.
Look at John doing backflips!
Today I took John and Rose to see the 'Cat In The Hat' very medicore and given only 5 out of 10 by John. It has been a lovely day and we have all spent the day generally settling back home after our time in the Dales. Toby has a job trial doing a paper round and Edward has continued with completing job applications.
", "date_published": "2004-04-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/13/arkengarthdale-at-easter/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/13/arkengarthdale-at-easter/", "title": "Arkengarthdale at Easter", "content_html": "We've just been to Arkengarthdale (in Swaledale - Yorkshire Dales) with David and Anita, friends from Meeting, and their two children - Jordan and Mimi.
We had an excellent time roaming on the moors, playing games (Great Game of Britain and Perudo), bird watching, stream damming and - particularly in the case of the boys - staying up very late.
Jordan and Mimi are strict vegetarians, but David and Anita seemed to enjoy having a sausage and a little bit of bacon!
The children did an Easter Egg hunt and had a large amount of chocolate each.
", "date_published": "2004-04-13T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/08/fourth-treatment/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/08/fourth-treatment/", "title": "Fourth Treatment", "content_html": "As scheduled and amazingly easy again!
", "date_published": "2004-04-08T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/02/third-treatment/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/04/02/third-treatment/", "title": "Third Treatment", "content_html": "Cindy started her third session as scheduled, in spite of still being tired from the previous one. This time round things went much more smoothly and she was back home the following day.
", "date_published": "2004-04-02T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/03/21/funny-doctor/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/03/21/funny-doctor/", "title": "Funny Doctor", "content_html": "While Cindy was in hospital for her second lot of treatment, there was an amusing incident with a young doctor.
The doctor was listening to Cindy's chest, to see if there was sound of congestion or infection. She kept moving the stethoscope from one side of Cindy's back to the other - for quite a long time. Eventually I said, \"Do you know she's only got one lung?\" to which the doctor replied, \"Oh, that would explain it.\" She then disappeared - presumably off to tell off a nurse for not filling her in on this useful information!
", "date_published": "2004-03-21T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/03/20/second-session-oh-no-this-is-awful/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/03/20/second-session-oh-no-this-is-awful/", "title": "Second Session - Oh no this is awful!", "content_html": "So during the last week in February Cindy went into York District for her second session of chemo. We were hoping that this would be as easy as the first lot when she was in an out of hospital very quickly, but unfortunately it wasn't.
Cindy eventually came out of hospital after ten days - during which she was the worst she has ever been. It turned out that she had had a chest infection which was treated with antibiotics, but for a while things looked very bleak indeed.
After a couple of days she was moved to a private room on a different ward - which was better because the children could go and visit her. They don't like going into the normal 6 beds wards, because they are so full of sick-looking people. Cindy gradually picked up and eventually came home. She was still very weak and extremely tired.
One good thing that has come out of it, is that she has been given a nebuliser, which helps a great deal with her breathing. She's now able to go up stairs without wheezing.
", "date_published": "2004-03-20T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/03/14/a-new-round-of-chemo/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/03/14/a-new-round-of-chemo/", "title": "A New Round of Chemo", "content_html": "Early this year Cindy had a routine scan to see how she was doing. Unfortunately it showed that the tumours had grown, and Dr Bottomley recommended that she started back on chemo.
It is the same type of regime as before, with (generally) one night in hospital every three weeks, and the other drug pumping in constantly through a central line.
She went into hospital in early February to have the line put back in and have her first lot of treatment. All went amazingly well, and she was back at home on Friday, having gone in on the Tuesday. She recovered from this first treatment extraordinarily well - which was good, because I started full-time work at Wheldrake Primary towards the end of February.
", "date_published": "2004-03-14T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/02/04/journal/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2004/02/04/journal/", "title": "4 February", "content_html": "Have been having such a good time that I have not written anything here.
Edward and I had a wonderful time in Amsterdam for my birthday. Galleries, coffee shops, walks, canals and so on. Fantastic.
Great minimalist hotel room, but with everything we needed including a great shower!
Busy build up to Christmas.
Had a day out in Beverley with Judy and bought an advent calendar at the Minster.
Good work/Christmas assemblies for John and Rose. Good to get to see them at last. John a ‘tropical’ dancer, Rose a ‘mouse’ with long, long snout.
Christmas week and my family came to Stamford Bridge. Meet up with Mandy + co for some last minute shopping.
We all go to carols at Meeting on Christmas Eve - everybody seemed to enjoy this.
Bucks fizz + smoked salmon on rye for Christmas breakfast with M + D, D + M, Amy + Tom. Lots of pressie unwrapping. All goes well. Then we go to L + M for Christmas lunch + more pressies. Jack + Grace are there with Will + Sarah. Jack is a delight an enormous baby and very sweet. Grace looking like a little dolly in a very designer outfit. Katharine getting larger and glowing with happiness, thank goodness. Simon over supportive. Jane + Andy.
And of course L + M putting on a super feast as always. So the dining table was very full and heavy with festive fare.
And so the holiday passes with lots of gatherings.
We go to a good new year’s party John + Debbie’s and drive home through heavy snowfall. Had a fun game of ‘doodo’, the children enjoyed themselves running all over the house and goodness knows wat they got up to.
", "date_published": "2004-02-04T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2003/09/26/journal/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2003/09/26/journal/", "title": "26 September", "content_html": "(I think the date’s right)
I have left my diary at home and am sitting in the gym club. John is attending the Friday invitation class and I have a pile of reading matter and this diary. Also am indulging in mini-smarties and coffee.
Have had a busy time since last writing. I am amazed how quickly the days go by and left wondering how I ever managed to fit everything in when I was working.
I like being at home looking after the school runs, tea and other domesticy things. The freedom to meet up with friends or go shopping is great. Getting up later is good for me and not having to work in the evening is wonderful.
Last weekend John had his first weekend away at Barmoor with Meeting. A mixed excitement for John. The Friday evening saw a fatal motorbike accident at Stockton-on-the-Forest and we sat for over an hour in traffic. Oscar gave us a running commentary about possible routes. Took the back route as darkness fell and rain lashed against the windscreen. Messed a turing and finally arrived at Barmoor 2 1/2 hours later - took me 50mins to get back.
Settled John + Oscar into the bedroom and you bounded off John to join the group. I wanted to give you a goodbye hug and kiss. You would have nothing of it - who can blame you - but you looked a bit anxious. I decided to leave quickly before one of us got upset.
You had a wonderful weekend. Another experience in independence and a great feeling for you to be in control of your own time.
Toby spent Friday evening + Saturday with a friend, Josh Cole. A really nice boy from school. You both had a good time: car boot, town, computer. We then went to the theatre. Pouring with rain so we drove.
Quite a sophisticated play and not a lot of action. Burgess + Blunt were the focus. 2 short plays and it really would have helped had we read the background - one play where I should have bought a programme.
You fell asleep in part 2 + snored!! Had to give you a nudge and work hard to stop myself giggling. Lovely to have time out together, you are such good company Toby.
Picked Rose up from Eleanor’s on Sunday teatime. We cycled together across Scarcroft Green you Rose chatting happily about your afternoon with Eleanor. You are so happy and confident. I’m so glad!
Popped into Sam’s for coffee on Tuesday morning - left 3 hours later. She is good to tak with and to just spend time with. However, she does have 2 jobs - no 3 - and I mustn’t distract her from what she has to do.
Missed E at lunchtime
Had coffee with Chrissy Dell on Wednesday and lunch with Cathy Holman on Thursday - truly a “lady that does lunch”.
Popped in to see Swea this morning. Nice to sit and talk with her rather than her doing my cleaning. Her mum died last week and she is sad but realistic and with a good sense of humour.
Came home to have lunch with Edward. The end of a rather boring week at Tregellis for you. You are taking Rose off to a puppet show this evening and then we can have some time together.
", "date_published": "2003-09-26T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2003/09/15/journal/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2003/09/15/journal/", "title": "15 September", "content_html": "Said farewell to Dr Finan. She has seen the arrival of all of you and looked after us since we have lived in York E + I were sad to say goodbye.
A lovely busy week.
Edward has booked a flight, hotel + visit to James + Emma in Amsterdam over my birthday. Very exciting. We are now looking through the guidebook to plan what we want to see. Really looking forward to some time together - travelling again… lovely.
John, Rose + Toby will have the pleasure of granny + grandpa looking after you - always nice.
E has a job at Tregellasis(?) as a teaching assistant - it is quiet here today and very strange being on my own. I think I’m rattling around a bit.
Will cycle along the river in a min. - one of my very favourite things to do - to buy a recorder for Rose, theatre tickets for Swan Lake ballet and provisions for the Arc Light puddings.
Had a sauna + steam in Harrogate yesterday with Jane + Mary. Travelled by train - much more relaxing than car - and spent a good two hours getting hot and sweaty and plunging into cool water. We were the only 3 in the place for the last hour. It was very calm + still.
Betty’s for carrot + orange soup afterwards.
Just met you all leaving Grandpa’s and we walked home together.
Saw ‘Calendar Girls’ with Chris Hughes on Saturday, couldn’t get tickets for the 7:15 so bought for the 9:15 and both came back here. Chris made you all giggle - I’ve noticed this lately, she is always fun with you all and you love it. We set to and came up with a Penn Group activity, made a leaf shape brooch when she then wore to the City Screen.
E, you are low on this day and it makes me sad to know it is because of me. I love you.
Sunday lunch with L + M, Andy and Jane.
Then Jane takes you all for a swim. Toby + John have been big time bickering and I have to make sure you both understand to stay together in the changing rooms. Jane said you had a great time together!!
And so it will be, I suspect, you will ultimately always look out for each other and most of the time will like each other.
Off I go now on my bike. Lovely sunny day. Lovely, lovely.
", "date_published": "2003-09-15T00:00:00Z" } ,{ "id": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2003/09/10/journal/", "url": "https://tarrant.org.uk/2003/09/10/journal/", "title": "10 September", "content_html": "The Alhambra garden was still looking good and the waterfalls delightful.
John + Rose thoroughly enjoyed themselves here early in the summer when we came so that I could have a Reiki treatment.
You both got very wet, particularly you John - as usual.
It was a very hot day and to run in and out of the arched fountains must have been delicious.
Edward and I sat and watched you and we all eat a packed lunch before setting off home again.
I love the Alhambra garden. First the treat of walking through the Monet garden and then the complete change in atmosphere with the red tiles and long strip of water with regularly placed fountains.
John and Rose like to change their direction by adjusting the water nozzle.
Today it was empty except for two women with a small child.
I did not have very much time before my appointment and had to rush my salami sandwiches.
A very peaceful Reiki that has left me with a calm feeling - not that I confess to feelings of anxiety before I went.
Homeward now. Toby finishes school early and Edward can retrieve his role in picking up John + Rose.
Swea has been - brought me chocolate! - so it well be lovely and clean.