Journal Entries for September 2023
The Journal is not a diary; it is more of a traditional blog section. Don't expect many updates; these are the entries written in September 2023.Notes for September 2023
Notes are snippets of information. Therefore they are often very short. These may become thoughts in the future or a journal entry; who knows? These are my notes for September 2023.Thoughts for September 2023
Thinking is something I do a lot. Writing those thoughts down is something I don’t do a lot. Below are some of those I have written down during September 2023.Things to Remember in September 2023
As I remember things, they will be added to the Remembering section of XXX. these are things I want to remember in September 2023.Events for September 2023
Very few events will show up here. Important dates will form part of the Remembering section. And as I spend most of my week looking after my adorable grandchildren, I don't get out much!Tasks for September 2023
Migrated Tasks:
(Unfinished tasks from previous months.)
New Tasks:
(Tasks added during September 2023.)
There are no new tasks this month.
Completed Tasks:
(Tasks completed during September 2023.)
No tasks have been completed this month
Rescheduled Tasks:
(Tasks rescheduled to another month.)
No tasks have been rescheduled.
Diary Entries for September 2023
Today is my 34th Wedding Anniversary, and I have started a journal entry called “34th Wedding Anniversary: How Ruth and I Met!” This is active but needs work.
Thirty-four years is a long time, more than half my lifetime, and I’m a sexagenarian. However, with two children and two grandchildren, it has been worth it.
I mention how we met, which is covered in the Journal entry. But it was by chance.
Adam and Jenny took Ruth and me out for lunch today to help us celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. The Cafe was 19Fourteas—a clever play on the 1940s and the word Teas—based in Havant.
The food was good, and the setting was impressive. I would go again if shopping in Havant. I had a jacket potato with chilli—there was no low-carb option. Ruth also had a jacket potato but with cheese. We both had tea, though mine was Earl Grey. Nice time.
Evie is having a meeting at her new school—she starts on Wednesday, her only full day this week. Next week, mind, it is full-on!
With Bethany needing to give Evie her full attention, Maisie is visiting Granny and me. Granny being Ruth. However, Ruth needs to go to work for an hour this morning to prepare for the new term at the preschool, which starts tomorrow. So, Maisie will need to spend some time with Grandpa—that’s me!
As the weather is nice, I might take her to the park.
Today is a BIG day for Evie; she starts school. And with that, my life will change forever. My morning cuddles will now be few and far between.
For almost four years, I have been the luckiest grandpa. This wonderful little girl using me as a glorified pillow and being a friend. From changing nappies, feeding her, watching her go to preschool and looking after her during the times that mummy had to work. It’s been a pleasure.
School is part of growing up. And as Evie moves into this next phase of life, I must adapt—though it will be hard. Thankfully, both the girls will be here tomorrow and Friday, as Evie only has one day at school this week—today. But next week…
Today is finally here. The day I’ve been dreading. Evie’s last weekday with us until half term. And my regular morning cuddles watching Cbeebies will be a thing of the past. The last few years have flown by. There are many memories and great moments—like her first crawl to knock over a stack of toy cups.
I gave up work to look after Evie when Mum went back to work after maternity leave. So, I have seen her grow into a wonderful, happy, caring little girl and a pleasure to be with.
My saving grace is Maisie will still be here a couple of days a week, though much of her time will be spent at preschool.
We are taking the girls to Portsmouth today by train—they keep asking to go on a train. They have also asked to take a bus, so we will do that today.
Our day didn’t quite work out as we expected. We took the girls on a train to Portsmouth—they kept asking to go on a train. And we had our lunch in Victoria Park—as planned. However, Maisie got a blister on her instep.
Watching this little girl struggle as she tried to walk to the adventure play area in the park was heart-wrenching. However, she did it and enjoyed the few elements she was old enough to use. However, it was clear that we needed to sort out her foot.
Ruth tried to put a plaster on Maisie’s foot—she screamed. Evie, bless her, kissed the sore area. Maisie was still not happy. So, rather than go onto the next phase of our trip—vising Gunwharf Quays—it was off to the shops to hunt down some footwear.
With the two girls suited and booted—an hour or so later—OK, new socks and shoes, and yes, Evie wanted new shoes like Maisie. We headed to the bus stop. Alas, with time now against us, we decided to forgo the trip to Gunwharf Quays and head to Southsea as we were due to meet up with the family for a meal.
Two buses failed to turn up, so we caught a different bus with a longer route. Evie informed us that we were on the number one bus, not the number 3.
Anyhow, we arrived in Southsea before the others!
The final part of our trip to Portsmouth was a family meal at the Deep Blue restaurant on South Parade Pier in Southsea. Geoff and Kay turned up first, with Bailey Rae—a Teardrop Chiwawa. We were at the top end of the pier, and Evie and Maisie excitedly rushed over to Geoff and Kay. However, I think Bailey was a big part of their excitement.
Geoff bought us a drink—I had a cider—and we sat on the pier at the Deep Blue restaurant and waited for the others to arrive. Adam, Jenny and her parents were next to come, followed ten minutes later by Bethany and Nathan—mummy and daddy to the girls. After a bit of chit-chat, we ordered food.
I know I am on a low-carb diet. However, I had consciously chosen to eat carbs today—who can resist fish and chips by the sea—or on South Parade Pier.
Ruth had scampi and chips, I had fish and chips, and the girls, Evie, had battered sausage while Maisie enjoyed her chicken nuggets, both with chips.
After the meal, the British Navys’ Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier left Portsmouth harbour. South Parade Pier offered an excellent, though distant, view of the event.
Soon after, it was time to go. Ruth and I missed walking the girls off the pier, which was sad, considering trips out like this would now be few and far between. It would have finished off the day.
Geoff and Kay brought us back to Petersfield as we would have had to wait an hour for our train. The girls went home with mummy and daddy.
Though the day took a different route than expected, spending time with the girls and our family was wonderful.