Back in the Nest…

Back in the Nest…

Hi there!

Thanks for popping in.

Went and queued up on the M25 for a few hours this morning. That seems to be the state of play on that particular motorway! But it was with good reason and I did it gladly – because I was collecting Grace and her beau Mark from Heathrow!

It’s been a smashing day, drinking tea, talking, laughing, catching up. What a lovely woman she is. Wickedly dry sense of humour. I’ve left them in front of the log fire, watching the box, and have come up here to my little cubbyhole to chat to you. If you read this ’ere blog, you will know that the one thing which saddens me is that both kids live so very far away. New York and San Francisco are just too far. But they are both happy and making a good life where they are, so I should be grateful, I know. It’s so special to have Gracie home for a week. She’s just a bundle of energy and joy. And her fella is a lovely young man, too.

I remember a few years ago, somebody I know was wailing about the fact that their daughter was moving 20 miles up the road. She was absolutely inconsolable for days, and would insist on calling me to offload her despair. Eventually I told her to wind it in, and get a reality check. But I guess to her 20 miles was a long way.

I also remember meeting a French woman in a French market a few years ago. She was talking about her son who was doing his Doctorate in London. She said she missed him, but added, “we don’t have them to keep them, do we?” No is the answer to that. We don’t.

I left England at 22 and didn’t come back until I was 35, so this is just history repeating itself! And my Mum left Germany at the age of 21 and never went back, except to visit. It must run in our blood, this Wanderlust. But boy oh boy! Am I glad I live near my parents now!

Forgive me for not stopping long this evening. I want to spend what little time we have together together!

Love & Hugs,

Barb xxx

21 thoughts on “Back in the Nest…

  1. Glad Grace is home safe and sound, I’m sure her visit will be a happy one. Have been happily crafting for a few days trying to get things finished off before the big Christmas tidy up! Xx

    1. Enjoy every minute with your family, my kids are an hour away, but miss and love them so much, but seeing them all this weekend,wonderful
      Wishing you dear Barb and your family and staff a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year xx

  2. I know where you are coming from – I went to live in South Africa for 21 years and now my younger daughter and her family live in Vancouver. I came back home in time to spend my mum’s latter years with her, which was special.
    They say that the best gifts you can give your children are roots and wings.
    Enjoy this special time with your beautiful Grace and her Mark. I am sure that, like me, you will be FaceTiming on Christmas Day, time difference permitting. Hugs. Annette X

  3. Hi Barb,
    It must be lovely for you to have lovely Grace and her a Mark here with you even if it is just for a week. It’s a shame that your Mark can’t make it this year but at least you can FaceTime him. Enjoy every minute with Grace, even if it means you can’t do the blog – we will all understand. Love and hugs,Alison xxx

  4. Enjoy every moment that Grace is with you over Christmas & thank you for taking time out to do your blog for us to read. Looking forward to hearing your BIG news tomorrow xx

  5. Hi Barbara
    It’s wonderful to spend time with family
    I was not blessed with children 👶 I know we should never have regrets but that is one of mine.
    You enjoy every single second with your daughter over Christmas
    Merry Christmas to you all 🎄⭐️🎁🥂

  6. Enjoy every moment, Barbara. Time is so precious. Maybe one way to see more of them would be to fly over more often, even if just for a long weekend. Maybe just make the time because that is the one thing that we don’t get back. In the meantime, have a lovely week together. Hx

  7. Hello Barbara
    I know a bit if where you are coming from. My youngest went to live in Tokyo for over six years. He came home in time for Nikki’s funeral and came home for good six months later when Ian’s condition worsened. He now lives about 15 miles away but, because we used to Skype regularly, I think I saw more of him when he was in Japan, lol.
    Love
    Roz.xxx

  8. So we leased you got Grace home early ready for Christmas lots of special times to come over Christmas and her lovely partner have lots fun say hi to them from me lots love xxx

  9. So pleased that you have Grace and her Mark with you for a week and you must of course make the most of every minute. A few years ago I would probably have thought that having kids 20 miles away was like the end of the earth, but realise now our son is 10,000 miles away that is nothing. I have just been chatting to him and it is always great to do so, not a substitute for close contact but Skype is a lifeline, and when they are doing what they want to do and are happy it makes all the difference to how you feel about the distance. x

  10. Glad you have Grace home. We are in Nz spending our first Christmas with our daughter and her partner, it’s been 3 long years apart, but we are making up for it lots of laughs x x x

  11. Hello Barb, glad they had a safe journey, and despite the traffic you had a safe journey back home with them. Enjoy spending time with them, and yes it is along way away, but they always know the way home. Take care all. Bx

  12. Glad you have your daughter and her young man home for Christmas. My son and family came to see me last Sunday. It was lovely. I would love to wish all the Clarity crafters a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. Crafting Norita.😇😇💖💖🦋🦋N

  13. As you know I count myself lucky, my family are all close by. We don’t live in one another’s pockets but I know they are available if needed and Christmas and Birthdays are a merry time. Enjoy your time with your lovely daughter and her young man. xx

  14. I have four grown sons who all live within a 45 minute drive. I see them all at Christmas. People are all too busy these days, and I think girls are better at “family duty” stuff, :)! Enjoy your time together.

  15. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. Have a lovely family time. Our son and grandkids live up in Cheshire, we are in northants, that’s not as far a distance but we don’t see as much of them as we’d like. Sad but they have their lives to lead. Thank goodness for what’s app. We’ll see them Xmas day. Love and joy to all. Xxx

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