Together at Christmas

It was great to have all our girls around us this Christmas and I'm sure you'll all agree its a cracking photo. We had a great day- if on the lively side. Noise ,chaos and wrapping paper everywhere from the early hours (the teenagers were awoken with Elizabeth's sliding whistle-curtacy of Father Christmas)and it didn't stop till bedtime, but what a wonderful day.Elizabeth had been very excited and wasn't disappointed when she opened her presents and found a scooter which she has test driven up and down the corridor and all around the houses ever since- she says she's getting much better with all the practise. Maisy enjoyed eating her way through lots of the empty boxes but also loved her musical train. Sadie and Eren spent a comfortable Christmas night in new pyjamas and down loading images onto their digital picture frame key rings, whist Denise has been immortalised for ever with a star named after her (My beautiful Denise) which she loved. I'm all kitted out with new socks,slippers, boxers and some flashy ties. We ate our way through a fantastic dinner and a load of chocolate.

Now looking forward to the New Year and moving into our new house and starting a new job.

A Fond Farwell to Waterside Primary School

Well the time has come to leave my harem (as I fondly refer to them) of voluptuous colleagues and I will miss them all. They all have loads of eastern promise in lots of different ways. They gave me a great send off as can be seen-

I hope they will remember our time together fondly staying in contact and checking out the blog to see how life is going up North. The time has now come to break in a new harem !!! so wish me luck.

Merry Christmas Everybody

Not long to go now until the big day.

- We want to wish everybody a
Very Happy Christmas
-particularly those in foreign countries Germany, Australia and Canada. You haven't been forgotten.

We move into our new house in January so here is the address if anybody wants it:

8 Ings Close
Barlby
Selby
North Yorkshire
YO8 5XS
Tele: which was wrong on the addresses sent out to some of you is-01757 707 306

New Job

Great News-I have a job - I went for interview today at Barlby Community Primary School and was offered the position of year 3/4 class teacher and will start January. I'm very pleased as the new Head at the school and all the staff seem very friendly and look a great team to work with. I can't wait now to get stuck in and find my feet. This is the last piece of the jigsaw in place and it means that Denise and me can now look forward to Christmas and the New Year together with a new job and a new home.

Making a start

Well things continue to go well up here although the driving backwards and forwards each week-end to Southampton is hard going-but I'm hoping it won't have to be for too much longer(couple of jobs in the pipe-line hopefully!!). Denise has joined two mother and baby/toddler groups on a Tuesday/Thursday morning which means she is beginning to make some friends up here as she meets other mums each week. Elizabth goes to a pre-school on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons so she to is beginning to make friends -best one being Leah.Eren has also made a 'little friend' called Chelsea at her new sixth form college in York (claim to fame her gran is Vera Duckworth in Corri). Things seem to still be progressing with the house buying, surveys are being carried out. We have also found a church to join, St James in Selby, which seems very simular to St Andrews in Dibden Purlieu.

Our offer has been accepted.

Well at long last we've found our house and had our offer accepted. Its in a lovely position in the village of Barlby just down the road from a new all through primary school. We managed to take six thousand off the asking price and halve our mortgage.We are very pleased with ourselves. Don't worry though that blue carpet in the living room is going before we move in -trust me!!! Its got a nice back garden with french and patio doors leading onto it, good sized bedrooms . In the words of the estate agent-

'Situated in this small modern residential cul-de-sac is this larger than average double fronted three bedroom semi-detached house which has many features including a large rear garden facing south and west making this ideal for the family. Further features include en-suite shower to bedroom one, sealed unit double glazing, gas fired central heating, good size lounge, separate dining room and ground floor cloakroom with w.c. Early inspection is highly recommended not to miss out on this opportunity. '

We didn't miss out and just hope all now goes through smoothly.

A Day at the Seaside

Took time out for a well earned rest and some relaxation by going to Hornsea the other day and soaked up some lovely warm sunshine on the beach. We enjoyed some fantastic haddock and chips on the front and Elizabeth had a lovely paddle in a childrens paddle pool. (Went through my ancestral village of Seaton on the way and saw the farm labourers cottages they lived in). It was a lovely day and it was good to just chill out for a bit. We have been busy looking for houses and hope to put in an offer on one on Tuesday.

YORK HERE WE ARE!!!

Well we are here at last, the Robinsons have arrived back in North Yorkshire after an absence of 150 years. It was stressful to say the least but we managed to move in with few hitches apart from the internet and BT who gave me grief for 5 days. The house is lovely and has loads of space -a few pictures for you to have a little look. Its a town house (3 stories) nice back garden for Elizabeth to run around in. Lovely kitchen and wooden floors throughout, bath room on every floor including onsuit for us ,which I could get very used to. Went out on Saturday to have a good look around Selby which is lovely and reminds us constantly of Romsey.Bought a lovely cake in the bakers called 'Fat Scamp' 2 for a £ which was delicious.Went to the park and sat in the sunshine watching bowls and Elizabeth played in the park, brass band playing in the bandstand. Already set to work finding a house to buy and hope to view 4 tomorrow. Went to York Monday afternoon and had a lovely walk around and felt like a true native(so not a tourist !!!!).

Getting ready to move

Well we are packing like mad at the moment ready to move house on Thursday 9th August. It's hard work with two little ones who constantly want to help you pack-well Elizabeth anyway. Looking forward to getting up there now and de-stressing.I think a large bottle of wine in the garden will be in order.

Our rented house

A quick look at our new rented house which we hope to be living in really soon if all goes through(9th August). This replaces the other house which due to despute between Land Lord and wife is under possible repossesion. We have written to them and hope we might be able to buy it. This one will have to do for the next 6mths.

On our way

We hope to be on our way to York very soon. We have a moving date of the week of the 23rd July at the moment. Things are progressing well so fingers crossed it will all go through. We are now trying to secure rented accomodation and are viewing a property this Saturday.

Pleased to say that Sadie has made contact with us and has been around on several occasions and we are looking forward to the future now as we all make a fresh new start.

House sold

Our house is now under offer ,as of early this week, and we are now planning to rent up in Yorkshire for the time being in order to make it easier to buy a house as we are finding it difficult and expensive to keep traveling up there to view propertise. If all goes accoring to plan we could be moving up as early as the end of July/beginning of August. I'll keep you all posted on how things go.

A warm welcome to our Blog

Hello and welcome to our Blog.
I hope by setting this up we will be able to keep in touch with you all and keep you up to date with our news.