Toby Atkin-Wright

I’m on holiday next week! It’s Beth’s half-term week. We’re not going away or doing anything big and exciting; rather, I’m looking forward to spending time with Beth and Kate, doing some cooking together, playing on the Wii U, and watching some films.

Oh, and having a grand clear out of Beth’s bedroom too. It’s time to identify toys and books that she’s grown out of, now that she is approaching double digits.

Midnight on Saturday, and I’m half way through my fortnight of holiday. The first week has been pretty good; hope the second will be even better.

A week and a half off work. Kate and I started with a drive down to my parents in Nottingham, where we caught up with Beth after her holiday in Spain. She is getting used to her annual holiday with her grand-parents. 

We spent the first weekend with friends for our “Frogmarch” holiday. This time it was at White Lodge Farm, near Hingham in Norfolk. As usual I spent much of the weekend cooking. Very satisfying. Wonder where we’ll go next year?

http://www.whitelodgefarmcottages.co.uk/

Then we had a few days back in Nottingham, where I had great fun driving about in father’s new Discovery. And we had a great family dinner out at the May Sum Chinese buffet in the centre of town.  Loads of good veggie food; might become a regular destination.

http://www.maysumnottingham.co.uk/

On Thursday we came home to St Andrews, driving in our new car: a red Volvo XC70, which replaces the grey BMW 530d. Easy comfortable driving, a few years younger, better fuel economy, and it isn’t grey. What isn’t to love?

The last few days have been filled with eBaying, and watching Relic Hunter on Netflix. This evening we watched the Bahrain F1 (only the highlights, boo hiss BBC) — I know they have to edit it down, but I wish they would show the full prize giving instead of ending the prog with interview after tedious interview. 

Our next family holiday will be a week in Bute at the end of June, to mark my 40th birthday. 

Back to work tomorrow. Wonder what will be waiting for me.

Busy time at work these last few weeks. Have barely had a moment to put thoughts together and write something on LJ. But we’re fast approaching the end of the working day, and the beginning on my summer holiday. Beth’s school term finished today too, and we’ll be getting a train at Leuchars tomorrow morning to take us down to Devon for a couple of weeks.

Now I’m an employee, rather than a contractor, I can take advantage of annual leave, and take two weeks off in a row without worrying about the financial implications.

Our family have holidayed in Salcombe, on the south Devon coast, for generations. The last time we were there was two years ago. Every time we go back so much has changed, but so much more stays the same. It is a beautiful part of the country.

Looking forward to having a fine time with the family — and finding time to make a few more LJ posts too.

Busy time at work these last few weeks. Have barely had a moment to put thoughts together and write something on LJ. But we’re fast approaching the end of the working day, and the beginning on my summer holiday. Beth’s school term finished today too, and we’ll be getting a train at Leuchars tomorrow morning to take us down to Devon for a couple of weeks.

Now I’m an employee, rather than a contractor, I can take advantage of annual leave, and take two weeks off in a row without worrying about the financial implications.

Our family have holidayed in Salcombe, on the south Devon coast, for generations. The last time we were there was two years ago. Every time we go back so much has changed, but so much more stays the same. It is a beautiful part of the country.

Looking forward to having a fine time with the family — and finding time to make a few more LJ posts too.

I’m back to work on Monday. This is the first time in years that I’ve taken a fortnight of holiday. While I was contracting I took no more than a week at a time, to avoid losing too much income. And it’s been a fortnight of holiday at home. We’ve had visitors — Mary Frost and Mary W-K stayed over Xmas, and my parents visited earlier this week — but I’ve appreciated having a holiday that didn’t involve travelling.

Pizza for tea tonight. The dough is rising at the moment, and tomato sauce is bubbling in a pan. Homemade pizza is my favourite Saturday tea. Tonight it’ll be topped with a mixture of mozzarella and red leicester.

For the holiday I’d bought a couple of five-litre mini-casks of Marston’s Pedigree, which went down nicely. A civilised way to buy and serve beer. While moving house last year, my parents found a small pewter tankard that I’d been given as a christening present from my uncle. They brought it up to me when they visited this week; I happily supped the last of the real ale from it.

I’m back to work on Monday. This is the first time in years that I’ve taken a fortnight of holiday. While I was contracting I took no more than a week at a time, to avoid losing too much income. And it’s been a fortnight of holiday at home. We’ve had visitors — Mary Frost and Mary W-K stayed over Xmas, and my parents visited earlier this week — but I’ve appreciated having a holiday that didn’t involve travelling.

Pizza for tea tonight. The dough is rising at the moment, and tomato sauce is bubbling in a pan. Homemade pizza is my favourite Saturday tea. Tonight it’ll be topped with a mixture of mozzarella and red leicester.

For the holiday I’d bought a couple of five-litre mini-casks of Marston’s Pedigree, which went down nicely. A civilised way to buy and serve beer. While moving house last year, my parents found a small pewter tankard that I’d been given as a christening present from my uncle. They brought it up to me when they visited this week; I happily supped the last of the real ale from it.

I’ve had a head full of a cold this week. I’ve been managing to work when propped up in front of the computer, fuelled by hot squash and the aroma of Olbas Oil, but when I get up and move the dizziness quickly kicks in. There is a lot of work to do this week, but it will be good to get to Friday afternoon — we’re off to Inverness for a week of boating on the Caledonian Canal. Odd heading north for a holiday.

As it is Beth’s final week of term, so far she has had sports day and a sandcastle competition on the beach, and on Friday it will be speech day. Oh, and her second wobbly tooth came out, so she has a sizeable gap. She says it is perfect for her thumb.

I’ve had a head full of a cold this week. I’ve been managing to work when propped up in front of the computer, fuelled by hot squash and the aroma of Olbas Oil, but when I get up and move the dizziness quickly kicks in. There is a lot of work to do this week, but it will be good to get to Friday afternoon — we’re off to Inverness for a week of boating on the Caledonian Canal. Odd heading north for a holiday.

As it is Beth’s final week of term, so far she has had sports day and a sandcastle competition on the beach, and on Friday it will be speech day. Oh, and her second wobbly tooth came out, so she has a sizeable gap. She says it is perfect for her thumb.