My Sunday Photo | 31st January 2016 | Last Day School Holidays

Tomorrow morning the alarm will wake us all up. Our seven and a half weeks of living free of the bell come to a close. There is generally a feeling of excitement and positivity at starting a new school year, mixed with a dash of anticipation.

Farewell to long, cuddly lie ins with this furry friend…

Alice and Cocoa

Naturally, on my part, I have mixed feelings. It’s been an amazing summer break. The children (well, I say children, but my oldest is starting Year 9 ‘High School’ and will turn 13 mid-way through the year, so is more of a young lady than a child these days!).

A Sunday walk with Cocoa

My second born daughter starts Year 6, and her second year of formal schooling (after many years of home education) and my youngest starts Year 2, her second year of formal education, and is looking forward to catching up with the rest of her class-mates in turning 6 later in February!

I took this photograph today, as she five swung in her hammock in the garden, singing away to herself and her imaginary friends.

Happy hammock days of summer

There have been many happy hours spent swinging in hammocks this summer!

Happy sisters

But, just because school starts back tomorrow doesn’t mean the summer fun has to end! We have a couple of good months of sunshine and light evenings to play in before autumn starts to creep up on us.

Houghton Bay on the last day of January, Sunday 31st.

So, I shall step forward into this new school year with a positive stride. It is wonderful to have all three of our daughters at the same school together. Their uniforms are labelled, hanging up, and waiting for the morning.

This magnificent dragon-fly was discovered in the garden today, by my youngest daughter, and I shall take that as a sign, as the Native Americans did, as a sign of happiness, speed and purity. To the Japanese a dragonfly symbolizes summer and autumn, and are admired and respected so much that the Samurai use it as a symbol of power, agility and best of all, Victory!

With that in mind, bring on Term 1 of a new school year! Here we go!!!