Posts in category: Photography

Oh this summer has not been kind to us so far.

I don’t think we’ve had a single day without at least one of us feeling unwell.  So last week was another rather quiet one.  It feels like we’ve had so many days spent at home, resting, taking it easy trying to shift this virus that has been plaguing the family.

Rhys has quite enjoyed it though I think, he quite likes days at home where he gets to stay in his pyjamas all day because apparently that’s the rule when you’re poorly!

I have to remember though that we have actually made it out a few times and seen some of his friends from school.

We spent a lovely few hours last week in Brynmill Park with a couple of school friends.  Rhys had great fun running round playing football, and Nerys had a go at climbing some trees until her cough got so bad that she was actually sick.  At that point I decided it was probably time to call it a day, but it was fun while it lasted!

On Friday we even made it into town to pick up a few bits ready for the new school year.  The children both love hopping on the bus to go into town, and I love that reminder to see the adventure in those little everyday things.

We managed to get pretty much everything we needed before both Rhys and Nerys reached their limit and needed to head back home.  It really helped that there was a little pop up park in the Quadrant in town, so we were able to take a break halfway through our shopping trip to sit down and draw some pictures.

That helped perk them up enough to last long enough to pop into Wilkos for the last few bits and pieces we needed, before heading home to change back into pjs for the rest of the day!

Here’s hoping that this week might finally bring some good health.  I’m not holding my breath though!

You have to laugh at the way the summer works here.

Last month my photos for the siblings project were taken on a beautifully sunny day, spent at the beach watching the Wales national air show.

Some of August’s photos were also taken at the beach.

But honestly look like they were taken in October, it was such a chilly, wet and windy day!

I still absolutely love these photos though.

The cloud cover actually gave me some gorgeous soft light to work with, which I always prefer over bright, harsh sunlight.

And these photos will always act as a reminder to me that children just don’t care about the things we think they might care about.

I thought that Rhys and Nerys might complain a bit about being on the beach on such a chilly, windy day.

Honestly though, it didn’t bother them in the slightest.  They were just happy to be out, investigating rock pools, climbing over rocks looking for caves, running away some waves, jumping in others.

They had a whale of a time.

They seem to have a found a good balance between them of doing things together and then being happy to do their own thing.  Look at this photo of Nerys though, she still thinks the world of her big brother and I hope that never changes!

After a real run of that almost autumnal weather, we did get a glimpse of summer again in time for my birthday.

Despite our collective coughs and temperatures and general unwellness, we popped out for a walk through Singleton park and then to a little play-park behind the local shops.

I just love how Nerys, despite being almost three years younger, keeps looking more like the older sibling in photos by putting her arm around Rhys’ shoulders!

Rhys is the big brother though, and sometimes that means I have expectations of him to act a certain way towards his sister.

It can be hard at times, as in a lot of ways he’s quite introverted, so needs time by himself.

Sometimes this means he’ll walk away as soon as Nerys tries to come and play alongside him.  So I’ve had to chat with him a few times about being considerate of other people’s feelings and spending at least a bit of time with his sister before taking a break to be by himself.

I think that’s one of the real benefits of having a sibling though.  

It’s a chance to learn about things like considering other people, and perhaps putting their needs ahead of your own, and all other aspects of relationships, within the safety of the family environment.

I just have to learn when to intervene and talk things through with them, and when to step back and let them figure things out between them.  There’s always something new to learn as a parent, isn’t there!

I have a feeling that in years to come I will look back at this summer and remember it as being the summer of lurgy.

Whatever this virus is, it is working its way systematically through the family, taking us down one by one.

And it seems that its next victim will be Nerys.

We went out for a walk through Singleton park yesterday, to see the stunning flowers in bloom in the botanical gardens.  Then we stopped off at a little play park behind the shops for a play on our way to get milk and bread.

You wouldn’t know it from this photo but it was at this point that Steve and I both started to suspect that Nerys might be next on the virus’ list.

She just didn’t seem to be coping with anything at the park.

It was like her resilience just vanished, and her energy levels dropped to next to nothing.  And once we were home it was then a battle to keep her awake long enough to have some dinner and a bath.

A dose of calpol at bedtime seemed to help perk her up a bit, but we’ll just have to wait and see now if she can prove to be stronger than me and Rhys and stop this nasty little bug in its tracks!

Is anyone else finding this summer just seems to be welcoming in one bug after the other?!

I’m writing this while wearing a jumper and a cardigan and sipping on a coffee with a good glug of pumpkin spice Baileys in it.

It has been so chilly here in Swansea this afternoon, it has definitely felt more like Autumn than Summer!

On Saturday though we did get a good dose of sunshine so we hopped in the car for a quick trip to Swansea bay for a walk on the beach and a play in Victoria Park.

I love that you can tell how windy it was down there, by the way Nerys’ hair is flying about in that last photo!

We’ve really not been out and about that much since our trip to Cardiff in the first week of the holidays, and I think we were all in need of a blast of fresh sea air to clear away the cobwebs.

Rhys and Nerys had great fun poking sticks in the sand and running away from the waves as the tide started to come in.

It really is the little things that are the best fun when you’re little isn’t it!