For the final time in this house, GCSEs are over, and school is once again out for summer. Study leave and exams seemed to go on forever this time, unsurprisingly I suppose, given that exam season these past few years has been unprecedentedly cancelled. To celebrate, we took our youngest and four of his friends out to Italy immediately after their exams finished for some well deserved R&R. The eternal city of Rome did its magic as did hanging out at the beach and laughing and singing in the hot tub under the stars. They were as nocturnal as the local wildlife. My husband and I drove home exhausted if happy, that kind of, end of Christmas Day feeling, when you know everyone has had the best time, but it’s not an experience that you’d like to repeat for at least another 365 days. The weight of responsibility looking after other people’s teenagers is real…
Our eldest three children are on a road trip in America. By way of apps and other sorcery, we have been able to track their progress from their initial get together in Los Angeles, down to San Diego, into the National Parks and up the Pacific coast to San Francisco and Oregon. Remarkably, they have hiked and camped all the way. The irony is not lost upon Hubby and I, who, over glass of rosé, remember the long hikes we would drag them on every weekend. So much whingeing, so many strops, so much “Is it nearly over?”, “My legs are killing me!”, “Mummy, can we stop now for a snack?” ad nauseum. Now that they are adults, they choose to spend their time doing the same. Who knows, maybe they are still whimpering? Hubby and I look at each other knowingly, relax and take another sip of the wine that is as chilled as we are. They’ll be home in a few days and, after innumerable rounds of washing, chaos and noisy catching up, we’ll all squish together in the car and head back to Italy to our house in Abruzzo for the annual making of tomato sauce and limoncello in the hot summer sun.
Before then however, as some of you may know, we make candles for other brands, and we have a particularly wonderful brand that is keeping us very busy so there are literally tens of thousands of candles to make in the next few months. Our Murano candles have also proved popular, and I’m delighted to say these are back in stock and refills will soon be available!
Team Limelight then is relieved and delighted therefore to be welcoming a new member of staff this week, Sian. She’s from our village and used to babysit for our eldest children twenty odd years ago and so it’s lovely she’s coming to work with us. We will also shortly hopefully be welcoming Bea who is on her Gap Year. Each one of my team is much valued at Limelight and like every business, its success is due to the commitment of its staff. Thank you to you all x
Here’s to more sunny days, rose-scented balmy evenings, birdsong, fetes, carnivals, picnics and good exam results! Have a lovely summer,
Cathy x
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