Things

I think we all have little things that make us happy. Whether it be in the garden, out on your favourite walk, in your house or somewhere you go on holiday. 
      I haven't written a blog in what seems like forever and I decided to write one about the little things that make our days better and brighter. Do you have an item in your house, or even a room, that you could just look at forever? - Something that fills you with a warmth and joy every time you see it? I know I do, and most of these things lie at home. 

Home is my place of comfort and warmth. It's the place where, all my life, I've looked forward to going back to after a long day at school or on a rainy, cold school trip. I remember when I was little, I hated school trips because it always seemed to rain on the trips that were outdoors, and was sunny when we had an indoor trip (that's just the way England works though, isn't it?). I can remember a specific trip we went on that was an outdoor adventure type thing. We had to do archery, bike riding, orienteering and an outdoor puzzle solving thing. From the minute I got on that little mini bus that morning, I knew it was going to be a bad day; the bus had ripped fabric all along the edges of the ceiling and the seats were revealing almost all of the yellow foam inside. It smelt of a mixture of tuna sandwiches and sick - my two worst things. 

I recall it being damp, dark and dingy at our "base" where we ate lunch and left our bags. It was raining, and we'd been told to take lots of different changes of clothes: waterproofs, cool clothes, more waterproofs, trainers, sandals - you know, the usuals. It was a freezing, damp, horrible day that ended with swimming in a cold pool with freezing, damp "changing rooms" which were really just four brick walls with a hook on one of them, and they called it a changing room. The lucky boys didn't need a changing room, because back then it seemed that girls where the ones who always got evicted when needing to change in private. 

Anyway, the point of this is that the whole day when I was there, feeling completely lonely and miserable, I couldn't wait to go home. I can vividly remember, that when I was doing all the horrid activities, I knew my mum would be waiting at home for me with a run bath, gorgeous smelling shampoo, a yummy dinner and some fresh homemade cakes. Mum was always prepared for everything (she still is), and always seemed to know how I'd be feeling when I got home from something, especially a school trip on a rainy day in a damp swamp. 
      As I'd expected, she was waiting at home with exactly the right things ready. She knew I'd be muddy, so I hopped in the shower and then she hastily ran me a nice hot bath before making my favourite meal finished with a delicious desert, no doubt. 

All I used to think on these school trips, and anything I didn't like, in fact, was coming home; the fact that soon, I'd be wrapped up in my duvet watching TV on the sofa with a hot chocolate and some toast with Nutella. 

My favourite things these days are things like these: 

One of my favourite plants in my garden - a pink rose we planted in memory of my Grandma. It brightens my day whenever I see it.

These daisy-like flowers also make my day brighter. Aren't they cute?

Seeing my gorgeous bed every day makes me happy. It's so colourful and flowery that it just reminds me of why I love flowers and pink and anything vintage. I also love my day bed. It's perfect.

 Seeing these shells on my windowsil reminds me of the dreams I used to have of mermaids and dolphins. I love the ocean, and it always makes me think of how one day I'll travel and see the incredible beaches that God has created.

My lanterns also make me smile. They were a spontaneous buy on a trip to a local quirky town near me and I just love looking at them every day. 

So what are your things that make your life just that little bit brighter? I know we all have them. 

Until next time, 

Ellie xxxx

Holiday

I'm currently sat in the far end of our caravan, watching Zeus try to find a place to lie comfortably and listening to the wind pound against the walls of the van. Dad just turned the car engine on as he is off to a military museum and Zeus is up at the windows wanting to go with him.
      There's something about caravanning that just brings us all together and makes us happy. I don't know if its the fresh air or the fact we all work together to make this small space work, but it just brings me a peace and happiness. 

We got here on Friday evening in 50-60mph gusting winds and tried endlessly to put the awning up. It was so hard and when we eventually got all the poles up and sturdy, the canvas started coming out of the rail that the awning threads through, and we realised that it had come apart and was broken. So after 2 more tries, we gave up and all got moody and upset because, having Zeus, we can't camp without the awning.
       But then after a silent meal and a few comments, dad knocked it all together and managed to fix it (luckily). We really thought we'd have to go home.

On Saturday, I did my first ever flying lesson, in practice for my charity flight. Scary or what!?
I kind of got the hang of it after a while but it was very challenging, but also worth it.

Then on Sunday, we went to this old disused military airfield and because it was quiet and not a real road, dad let me have a go at driving the car! I got so excited, because I kept flashing back to when I was 7 and I'd sit in the car on the driveway, pretending to drive with the indicators and wiggling the gear stick. And now, 8 years later, I actually drove it properly with the engine on and the car moving. It's amazing how time flies!

Anyway, sorry for the kind of boring blog post, but I felt I had to write about this weekend as it was so fab!

Love, 

Ellie xxxx

PS: I actually wrote this blog post on Sunday evening, so at the time I was in the caravan but we're home now!

Bank Holiday Weekend

Last weekend was just one of those blessed weekends. I only get them every now and again, but when I do, it's always so worth the wait. 
The picture above is of my friend Becca, me and then Kat. It's not the greatest picture, but it was such a great day that I just had to capture it. 

We went to a place called Highcliffe in the New Forest, and I'd never been there before this day. We started off by getting something to eat and we ate in this bus-shelter type thing right on the top of the cliff, looking out over the beach and sea. It was so windy but it was awesome - you could see for miles.

Then that evening we went out to the entertainment that was there, and we chose to go to the "dance party" thing. Unfortunately, it was only half an hour long but it was so amazing. They started off by playing a song I quite like by Nicki Minaj, and then after that, "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift came on and I couldn't believe it! A few hours before this, mum had said to me, 'Imagine if they played Trouble. You'd have to clear the dance floor and start doing your dance for the festival', and then they actually played it! 
      They played a lot of songs we loved that night. Becca, Kat and I were just dancing and having a generally awesome time. Just like I say in my last blog, when I dance, I forget everything. Although it wasn't like dancing in a class, it was still dancing, and I was  having so much fun that I forgot about my M.E. for a while and I forgot how tired I actually was. 

I feel like this weekend was a blessing from God: amazing friends for company, a lovely location, beautiful weather, energy and dancing all combined in to 3 and a half days. Can you believe that? Our God is an awesome God, that's for sure. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your bank holiday weekend, wherever you were and whatever you were doing. Let me know what you got up to.

PS. Here's a picture of Zeus (our dog) and Maisie (our friend's puppy). Aren't they adorable together!? 

Lots of love xxxx

My Wonderful Mum

This is my mum (and me, of course.) Isn't she gorgeous? 

Now you see, my mum doesn't think she's gorgeous; but I know for a fact that everyone around her sees her as one of the most beautiful people on the earth - inside and out. I don't see why she doesn't see that she's beautiful, but I think she is, even when she does wear the clothes that I don't particularly like. My mum is always beautiful to me, and here's why...

Mum is a chef. 
She makes the most amazing meals, even catering for my fussy, healthy vegetarian diet that I'm seriously particular about. Everyone knows her for her famous Lemon Curd, Marmalade, Risottos, Slow-Cooker meals, soups, baking, and pretty much everything else you could think of making. Mum has taught me how to cook, and she has brought me up around one of my main loves in life - baking. I love to bake, and it's all thanks to my mummy... she taught me everything I know! 

Mum is a chauffeur.
Mum drives me everywhere, even when it's very, very inconvenient. I have a funny feeling that she'd drive me 100 miles away if I really needed to go and see someone. I love that about my mum. She'd do something as crazy and small as that, and only she would know how much it means to me. 

Mum is a counselor. 
Mum comforts me when I'm sad or crying, even if it's over the stupidest things; even if it's over a plug not fitting in to an extension cable with another plug in there (this actually happened, and yes, I'm not proud of it). She listens when I need to be listened to, and she responds when I'm looking for a response. She advises when advice is needed, and stays silent, still comforting me, when it is not. 

Mum is a nurse.
Even though my mum is squeamish and doesn't like the sight of blood or sick or anything gross, when it comes to her own children, she couldn't care less about the gruesome stuff. All she cares about is the health and happiness of her children; so much so that she always puts us before herself - even when I beg her not to! When I'm sick, she holds my hair back and comforts me, not scared at all of catching the bug. When I'm bedridden because of my M.E., she brings me everything I need without any complaints at all. No one could ever know how much that means to me, and words couldn't express it, either. It must be so frustrating to have to respond to a bell (not because I'm bossy, because I lose my voice and can't shout) and bring me the slightest thing, like an extra cushion or even some lip balm. 
      
When I'm angry and frustrated because I'm stuck in bed because of my M.E., she tells me to not worry about tiring myself out and to do things I love anyway, because it keeps me sane. Her love and encouragement is the best medicine, and without it I think my M.E. would have taken over me by now. 

But as well as all these things, mum is my best friend.

She laughs with me when something's hilarious or when either of us do something stupid. She comforts me when I'm upset. She tells me I'm beautiful when my self-esteem comes crashing down. She prays with me when I'm too tired to do it on my own, and always knows exactly what I want to say. 
My mum knows exactly what to do, what to say, and how to think in pretty much every situation. 

      I know that mum wishes she could wave a magic wand and cure me of my illnesses and make me happy and better again, but the thing she doesn't realise is that just being her is waving a magic wand in itself. I know she wishes she could make all my dreams come true and help me with everything, but sometimes she can't, and I understand that. The thing that makes my mum my mum, is all of the little things she does. 
I know she can't wave a magic wand. I know she can't fix everything. I know she doesn't think the same as I do all the time. I know she can't stop me from crying about little things. But none of that matters! My mum's love is everything I need in life, and I hate the thought of ever losing her. 

So, mum, if you're reading this... when I say "I love you" to you, the meaning behind it is all of the text you just read. Thank you for being there for me, thank you for being my driver, thank you for cooking so awesomely, thank you for helping me when I'm ill. Thank you for being you, and I hope you never let anyone tell you you're a bad person or even a bad mum, because... you're not. You're the perfect mum. 

"The only thing better than having you as my mum, is my children having you as their nanny." 

I love you mummy! I'm not afraid to admit that, and I never will be.