This week my Word of the Week is: Sombre! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

I think the word Sombre sums up this week pretty well. It's all been a little sad hasn't it? I have lost all motivation and I feel like all I've done this past week is watch the news.

Last week the news was just sinking in about the Queen passing away when I was writing my Word of the Week blog post but this past week it has really hit me. I am not a massive fan of the Royal family but the Queen dying has made me really realise what a big part of our lives she was. The Queen has really made me think of my Aunty Jean who passed away last year. She wasn't quite as old as the Queen but she did remind me a lot of her.

There has been so many moments which has made me well up and cry. The photos and memes on Facebook, poor King Charles, seeing the coffin for the first time, the amazing Princess Anne, the Queens children around the coffin and now when I think of Paddington Bear I will always think of the Queen. I cried at the fact that they are putting both films on over the next few days as a tribute. I didn't think I would cry seeing the Queen's coffin leaving Buckingham Palace but I did. That was the last time she would leave the palace. Poor Prince William and Harry walking behind her. They must have been thinking about their mother so much. I feel so sad for them as well as the whole family.

I have course have been watching a lot of the news and I had no idea everything that has happened over the last week would happen when a monarch dies. All the pomp and ceremony, lots of it has been really beautiful and amazing to see but I do feel so sorry for King Charles having to travel around and do so many appearances. I know he had some time off from the public duties on Thursday which is better than no time at all. I hope in time he gets chance to grieve for his mother without the worlds media watching. During the week I saw the clip of him losing his temper about a pen leaking on him when he was signing something and I think he handled it pretty well. It's little things like that which would have pushed me over the edge. On a normal day if I have things going wrong it would be something like that which make me blow my top and that's without the loss of a mother to deal with.

Now we have Monday to go through. Ellie of course has the day off school and Becky will be finishing work at 8am after a night shift and then will be getting back up to watch the funeral. Thankfully Stu has his day off on a Monday, his work have said everyone has to go into work as planned but can take time off to watch the funeral on one of the big screens in Hull city centre if they want to.

Sending love and hugs to those who need it.

Five of our favourite slow cooker recipes.

Slow cookers are cheap to buy, economical to use and they're great for making the most of budget ingredients. Just what we need at the moment with the price of everything rising. You can make everything from stews, curries and even desserts in an easy to use slow cooker. Just add your ingredients and let the machine do the work, perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.

The weather will be changing soon and there is nothing better than a hearty, warming meal on an evening. I love using my slow cooker to cook up delicious meals for my family and over the years we have got our favourites, one's that are simple to make and one's that as a family we all love.

These are some of my families favourite meals that are cooked in the slow cooker:

Sausage and baked bean slow cooker casserole!

Sausage and baked bean slow cooker casserole was one of the first recipes that I made in my slow cooker. It is comfort food at it's best. Sausages and baked beans are two staple foods here so I knew I was on to a winner with this meal.

Slow cooker meatballs!

Cooking meatballs in a slow cooker is simple. You can either make your own meatballs and add the sauce or even use frozen meatballs. If I am making meatballs with a tomato sauce we have it one day with spaghetti and garlic bread and the leftovers in buns and covered in cheese.

Slow cooker pulled pork!

This slow cooker pulled pork is spiced with paprika and cinnamon is oh-so simple when you make it in the slow cooker. Serve with and apple slices in bread rolls. We love this in buns or over jacket potatoes.

A lazy chicken curry!

We like a curry but I am not keen on spicy hot one's and neither is Becky so I tend to make mild one's sometimes I make the from scratch and other times I just can't be bothered and use a some jars of curry sauce and the slow cooker. It's a total cheat and a very lazy chicken curry.

Fakeaway Slow Cooker Doner Kebab!

The fakeaway slow cooker Doner Kebab is a great alternative to a takeaway and healthier too. My family love it with pitta bread and plenty of garlic sauce especially on a Saturday night in front of the TV. They are usually dead against eating lamb but have nothing against this kebab.

What do you like to cook in the slow cooker?

The Education Tag.

I love a good tag and I saw this on a blog years ago. I do love a tag but there was always something else to post. It was one of those things that has been sat in my drafts until I made a point of answering the questions last week.

What is your highest educational achievement?

When I left school I did a year and a half of a childcare course. I was set to finish with a top grade but gave it all up for a boy. What a waste. I left college moved in with him and went and worked in a factory. I do regret it.

What was your favourite subject at school?

I wasn't a big fan of school but did love the childcare lessons, now they would be classed as health and social care. I had a triple lesson on a Monday morning and my friends and I would whizz through the work and then play cards and we'd always take a packed lunch to eat. As much as I slacked off I still managed to get my one and only A from my GCSE's.

How are your children educated? (public, private or homeschool etc)

Both my girls went to public school with a little bit of home learning when Covid hit.

Why have you decided that educational route for them?

It was just the done thing. I didn't have the money to send my girls to private school and didn't really know much about home schooling until I started blogging. Many years ago I did think about home schooling Ellie when she was getting bullied at school but after home schooling during the lockdowns I now know that is not right for either of us.

What is your child’s favourite subject?

Becky loved her health and social care lessons and school, so much so she went to study it at college. Ellie is more of a hands on learner so loves subjects like Design & Technology, Art and Music. She is taking Photography and Engineering for her GCSE's and really enjoys them.

What is your favourite educational game?

Kahoot. It is the only one I can think of. I know Becky used to love it when she was at school and Ellie does too.

Who is your child’s favourite author?

Both of my girls were massive fans of Roald Dahl when they were younger but now Ellie is all about Alice Oseman thanks to Heartstopper and Becky doesn't do much reading.

What does your child want to do when they grow up?

Becky wants to be a manager of a care home and Ellie wants to be some sort of an engineer, she hasn't fully decided yet.

Do your children want to go to university?

Becky doesn't but Ellie is considering it. I think she just wants the social aspect of it not the actual learning.

Do your children enjoy school?

Birthdays are changing for us.

This year I have noticed a big change in how we have celebrated my girls birthdays. Becky is 20 now and Ellie is 15. Where has the time gone? Years ago it used to be all about toys, surprises, a day out, a party tea and of course cake but now they are getting older birthdays are changing for us.

We knew this year was going to be different as Becky is now working and is of course earning her own money. Anything that she wants now she buys herself which makes it harder to buy birthday presents and plus there's the fact that she is on a full time wage so it doesn't seem right spending the same amount on her that we used to. All of her presents were surprises for Becky and there wasn't as many of them. I always said when she hit 18 she wouldn't be getting the same amount of money spent on her as Ellie but it's took me a couple of years to actually go through with it. She had some great presents and I made sure to buy things that she hadn't thought of buying herself but things I knew she'd love. Friends bedding, prints in frames for her bedroom, some hoodies and a Friends Build a Bear.

Ellie chose most of her own birthday presents and knew about them beforehand. She would have been happy with just getting clothes but I don't think all clothes for your birthday is much fun. She ended up with a smart watch, lots of books, a fancy alarm clock and I think the only surprises were the Amazon Firestick and Yungblud Funko figure. Every time she had looked at the Funko it was out of stock so I feel like I did well to get it. 

In past years we have always had a day out or have done something special at home but with Ellie's birthday being on a Bank Holiday there was no going out, the buses are ribbish here. The last time Ellie had her birthday on a bank holiday we had a beach birthday party in the back yard but this year she said she wasn't fussed about doing anything and just wanted to chill which was fine with me. My dad and his partner came for a visit and that was the biggest excitement of the day, well apart from the huge Chinese takeaway that we got.

Becky wasn't fussed about doing much for her birthday either and just wanted a quiet day at home until she decided that we should all go to the pub to play pool before she met up with friends. We of course got another huge takeaway and had a family night in front of the TV watching the latest Thor film.

Another thing which has changed for the girls birthdays is that they always used to get 2 cakes. One chocolate and one vanilla sponge, just supermarket one's but this year I told them just to pick one! What a hard decision that was for them. For Becky I ended up choosing hers as she couldn't decide between two. lol

As much as I enjoyed this new way of doing birthdays I do miss all the toys, a day out and party tea but this way sure is a lot less stressful. I am saying birthdays are changing for us but next year it's big birthdays for my girls, Becky's 21st and Ellie's 16th. Where has the time gone?!

How has birthdays changed as your children have got older?