Trying not to loose our Christmas sparkle...

The latest lockdown is upon us, the new variant of Covid-19 is reeking havoc in East Anglia, the girls school is closed and the world of not going out is back as a fixture of family life until at least mid February. The girls have completed their first week of remote learning, Mrs Hammond is zoom teaching and I can already see the frustrations setting in. It's so very hard for teenagers to not wish or want for something vastly different in their lives other than this. A new year has asked them to dig deep and find more resilience. I know they can. I know that by spring there will be an emerging different picture that will begin to restore some 'normal' childhood opportunities. As sad as I am about this loss, having to work out in homes where the new variant is causing so much worry, ill health and sadly people passing away, I am glad that everyone in my house can't go anywhere. This lost time can be caught up. Other opportunities will be around the corner. New friendships, new adventures and one day hugs from friends. Dig deep my lovely family. Keep your Christmas sparkle and carry it into the shit show that is the start of this year with optimism and positivity xx   

New year and the rising of the sun...

As we usher in a new year as a family, I am filled with sadness and continue the push on in the pandemic with the focus of keeping everyone safe. Wave two is hitting really hard now, deaths are rising and we remain in tier four. The decision has been made that the girls will home school for the first couple of weeks of term and I'm so very pleased about this. There is hope on the horizon though, as I am the first Hammond to have my vaccine tomorrow, I pray and hope my family follow me soon after. Last year was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, fear, anxiety and stress. I do have hope though. I finished the year personally with pride as I completed my mammoth bike ride in aid of Macmillan and in memory of my foster parents. I am so proud having raised over a £1000, well beyond my wildest dreams. I'm still hurting to be honest days later! Doing something such as that felt like completely the right thing to do to celebrate and remember what is so important about family. I will find more resilience, keep going and try to stay positive for my girls. I am finding it hard and dreading going back to work again into an environment that carries so much risk. The sun is rising, things will change for the better in the coming months and my greatest hope is the return to some kind of normality for my family. One day at a time, this is the goal. May 2021 bring light and positive experiences for my children moving forwards with less fear, opportunity and start to rebuild a positive future for them both. This is my belief and one I hold onto that in six months a different family life will be well and truly emerging xxx