Sailing

Finally we're all settled in at our new club:

 again with some beautiful spring light.

Oh dear:

back to thier old tricks though!

Itchenor

Utterly enchanting.

Two

It seems like only last week that we were with her as she turned one.

I don't know whether it's becuase mine is so big, but I have always loved the concept of family. I like watching how they all work and how different familes live. I love the little units within slightly bigger units that keep stacking up like Russian Dolls. And soppy as it sounds I adore the mutual love, repsect and support we all have for each other. It's a haven of solidarity in a modern world that so often feels like its crumbling at the seams.

It's impossible not to feel the infectious happiness of a brand new family drunk on the possibilities of life.

And to see the pride in a mother who has nourished and guided her tiny ward through another year.

I also love the tiny intricacies of  everyday family  life that can be captured when we all get togther

That unsure cuddle with the boy.

The catching up over a nappy change.

The excitment of birthday candles

The thrill of playing with a big girl.

The peace of story.

And the calm of a sleeping baby amidst the meandering grown up chit chat of the evening.

Alohomora

Well the student population do lovingly call this place Hogwarts. We've got the 'castle', we've got the secret passage ways, the ghosts, the funky tradditions (no one will be seated next to the polar bear picture when sitting exams in the gallery or else they will fail), even a forest. And it shows when Harry Potter Night fills out the union in a way I've never seen before!

 Seriously large amounts of back combing and hairspray (and that's just the boys!)

Bellatrix Lestrange

Of course he's a Ravenclaw

Ah it's Harry

And here's Percy Weasley in one of Molly's jumpers

'Oh don't make me press my dark mark'

What's this? Bellatrix kissing a common muggle? Surely not?!

General Practice

It's an idea that's been knocking around in my head ever since I was a child but one that never quite came to fruition. But, it is also an idea that won't go away. So I began my new year as I intended to go on. Trying. Making a conserted effort. This began with a week of work experience at a G.P. surgery. Never have I been more in love with an occupation. I was incredibly lucky to be with such a fantastic doctor, I have never come across someone who is so meticulous, so dedicated and so thorough. The hours flew by. Every patient was different, not necessarily in thier illness but in the way it could manifest in each individual. I loved the role that was played in the community and the treatment of a family unit as a whole. If there was ever a niche for me, this is it. So rather than sitting on the blog, writing about how lovely this could be, I'm off to read my physiology book!

The picture is my attempt at minor wart surgery, on Mr. Bloggs, the satsuma.