Where did that holiday go...

After our brush with Covid and period of isolation we all started to try and get into the summer holiday groove, have a break and enjoy the sunshine. Thankfully Amy and Anna are now both well. August decided we would have to do without the sunshine and in my case, work and circumstances decided I would have to do without some of my much needed break. 'm back at work now and that opportunity to rest has gone. The girls are having a strange summer with the after affects of Covid still lingering and not getting out much. Habits formed in this challenging year are not yet being broken. Both have had such difficult years and the need to flop, chill and watch Netflix seems to be the overriding mission at the moment. Anna has returned to playing footy, but Lucy has not yet found her stride. I'm worried that we have to try and change this and get her out of the house doing! Lots of talk with Lucy about exams, sixth form college and prospective A-levels fills me with joy and slight anxiety as to how old I am getting! We feel a bit stuck as a family at the moment and not in that much of a hurry to embrace the summer and what's left of it. The Hammond's seem to be experiencing a massive Covid hangover! So to force the issue and build up family life in the next year, a dream holiday to Italy has been booked. 'Carpe Diem' and something very much to look forward to. I've been struggling to recover from the last year and stuck in a rut, but my focus must be to support my kids first and foremost. My problem is, I can barely work it out for myself, let alone my kids! I will think on and try to help them, Who would have thought a year or so ago that overcoming the impact a pandemic has on our children would be a parental challenge we needed to overcome...

On the mend....

Really good news that Anna is on the mend. It's been a week of worry and her frustration at being stuck in the house for ten days now is showing. She's left with a cough, no taste and still sluggish. Just as worrying Amy tested positive for Covid this week with cough, feeling wiped out and headaches. It is of huge relief to us both that she has been vaccinated as this killer respiratory illness could have been much worse. Thank God for the fates and good timing, Amy seems to be on the mend too. Other adults have not been so lucky in the last year. It's a strange place to be in as a family; with no affection, no hugs, no contact and giving each other such a wide birth. You almost become a little frightened of the ones you love.  Lucy and I remain negative for now and have spent the week cleaning, hanging out together at distance, decorating her room, cooking, playing evening Potter Uno, singing badly and virus dodging. I've so enjoyed her company 😊All being well, the world will let us out and about on Friday lunchtime. For Anna, this will have been fifteen stressful and difficult days. She's been awesome, carrying this worry for one so young virtually without our physical support. I continue to believe that everything happens for a reason and the fates led us to this house and all the space we have that makes such challenging circumstances easier. Despite this space, I am tired and feeling penned in, as picking up everything to keep us going in running the house and more. Can't cook, won't cook seems to have gone out of the window! 😖 One day at a time! 

Isolation....

The pandemic continues to have an impact on our lives as a family and in particular our children. We are sadly in a period of isolation and not being able to leave the house for up to ten days (or even more) as Anna has sadly been tested positive for Covid-19. She is stuck in her room feeling groggy, tired and generally pants 😟 Lucy has missed out on a positive finish to the end of such a difficult year that she so richly deserves having worked so hard on her mock exams. She has been commendably patient and tolerant throughout all this, occasionally ranting about how the Boris has made a cock up in his handling of the pandemic. I feel sad and disappointed for them every day of what they have not had the opportunity to experience. They can never get these years back. Me - I'm just trying to survive and roll with each punch and to get through being strong for my family. Stresses such as further loss of income in the battle to keep a roof over our head don't help! I'm tackling this latest enforced 'staycation' by being my usual self and keeping busy. Work, gardening, biking, housework and I'm am going to be tackling decorating the hell hole that is Lucy bedroom at the end of the week. I'll hopefully see you on the other side safe and well! It's day four or three, I forget. The sun is shining and we go one day at a time xx

The best kind of present!

Anna's teenager years are upon her and in what felt like a three day celebration of entertainment, food and visitors bringing gifts, love and best wishes. After I got over the initial shock and almost choked myself to death purchasing her a Chelsea shirt for her present 😝, the best present she could wish for arrived. Her finger has healed nicely and we began practicing in the garden and drilling balls at her to test it. She was grinning like a Cheshire cat when all was well and she could dive around once again making saves. That smile was a memorable one. First football training starts next week and she couldn't happier, as Amy and I for her. Its been a tough couple of months for her, hampered and not being able to do what she loves so much. This absence has really shown how truly important football is to her. A trial for Norwich is coming up in August and fingers crossed she excels. I think she's had a super birthday and one that has been closer to normal than last year. Happy birthday Wiggle. You are much loved, despite your hormones and general levels of teenage grumpiness! x 

The one with the knuckles, drama queen and the mad hatter!

It's been an eventful few weeks. Lucy has had her first dramatic GCSE exam and having watched her performance live on zoom, I think she nailed it. Great for her confidence - it was funny and though provoking. Very proud of her indeed😊Anna's football dreams are sadly and distressingly on hold as she broke her knuckle making a save. The impact was so hard the opposition lad actually ripped her gloves! I really feel for her and weeks after the accident her frustration is still showing. It's a cruel blow for her, as sport and footy are her main focus she is devastated as she'll be out of action for a few months whilst it heals 😟 And last but not least I would like to introduce Lizzie. She is the latest addition to the family Hammond. She's mad, disobedient, uncontrollable around food but very sweet. I am sure that she will fit right into our house!!! 😆

One door closes..

And another one opens. It has been an emotional footballing week for Anna and myself. She has made the very hard decision to leave her football team in Fakenham after six years of fun, heartbreak, friendship, hard lessons, learning and some epic, epic saves! Anna has continuously improved in her role as a keeper and she has been given the opportunity to break into the Kings Lynn Elite side and potentially train with the goalkeepers at the Norwich girls development squad. Both not a given as of yet, but really great opportunities to prove herself and go to another level. Today she played her last game with her friends and put in a typical performance full of outstanding saves, courage and balling out her team mates! I felt so proud as she was given a standing ovation off the field, presents and some lovely words from her coach. She's outgrown her team and it was time to move on with great memories in the bag and she can be very proud of her contribution. She has grown so much and I am grateful to everybody for helping and guiding Anna to be herself and express herself on a football fields. The impact on her confidence and self esteem has been immeasurable. I know I am and could have spent the morning listening forever to those lovely compliments from parents and her coaches. There were tears from both of us. Here's to the next chapter Anna in your footballing journey and I hope to share it with you every step of the way 😊 xx

Grumpy buggers!

With the girls getting used to normal routines, Anna taking part in multiple footy training sessions and games, Lucy's school work getting more challenging as mock exams and assessments come up, our kids can only be described as 'right tired and grumpy buggers' this bank holiday weekend. Added to this the inclement weather, a lack of even a minute wish to spend time with their parents and a need to build confidence to go out and about, the only person smiling at me this weekend is the annoyingly photogenic Mrs Hammond! It's made a lovely change that we have managed to find some time to spend with each other this weekend, in between the shopping, errands, housework, cooking and endless busy life. Amy managed to tell and instruct me as to where everything should go in her 'bit' of the garden! 😆 As a family we've not quite embraced the gradual lifting of restrictions and still proceed on the road back to 'normal' like with the utmost caution, although visits from Granny and Grandpa, the odd coffee out and some dog walking with friends on Wells beach has been most welcome 😊 No holiday booked for this year, so plans to start persuading grumpy and grumpy to spend time with their parents and have some days out in the summer are slowly being formed?