Farewell August

Farewell August, a fabulous sun filled month. An abundant month of figs, blackberries, apples, sunflowers, ice-creams and dahlias!! Celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary, Sam's 23rd birthday, niece's exam results, trips to Moulin Rouge, numerous visits to the Newt, coffee catch-ups with family and friends, evening walks with Jeff and Sam for company, now he's home for a bit.

 It's been a great summer.

Every time I go out for a walk, I return with a few more blackberries. 

They're too good to ignore x

I've spent half my week in work at the gallery, helping to hang the new exhibition starting on September the 10th. I love doing that, displays were always my favourite bit of teaching!! 

And it was great, because I got to work alongside the artist, photographer Jesse Alexander. So I feel quite knowledgeable going into the exhibition about his body of work.

Jeff has been back in the majority of the week for INSET's and Sam has started up in the Dining Hall as a catering assistant. It's a short term job to get some money saved, whilst looking for something 'proper' Bristol way. He has no idea what he wants to do but he does know he doesn't want to be in this job for too long, living back at home.

Sophie came home on Saturday, so we have a full house for a couple of days!!

She has had an offer accepted on a place in Cardiff. No loud fanfare yet, as she doesn't want to jinx things but I wanted to note it here, as I like to look back through my blog from time to time.

As the summer holidays end, so the weather is changing. We've had more rain in the last day or so than we have all summer. Of course the gardens need it, but it does nudge you towards summer ending sooner than I'd of liked. That said, I am away for a week, so really have no room to comment!!

I have found my first conkers, so Autumn really isn't that far away.

And the DM's went on the other day, first time since June!!

The rain has been heavy when it arrives and as a result, 

we've had a few magnificent rainbows out the back over the Tor. 

Today has mainly been all about packing. 

Sophie and I are off to Corfu tomorrow, for a week of rest and relaxation. I've been told it's going to be a lie by the pool/beach and read type holiday!! So I'm not to drag her around exploring in the heat!! That'll be slightly hard for me but I'll give it a go! I do feel a little guilty going away, just as Jeff starts back at work but he'll be busy and now has Sam for company. We booked it a while ago, as the exhibition originally was going to move dates to October, but after we booked, the dates switched back, so we return the early hours of Tuesday morning and I'm straight in the gallery on Wednesday......rested and ready to start.

A sociable week!

It's been a really busy week, catching up with people before the summer hols come to an end and my next stint in the gallery begins. On Monday I met with my sister-in-law over at the Newt. I'd gifted her a guest pass back in February for her 60th birthday and it was time to visit. So we booked the Garden Cafe for breakfast, and then chalked up an impressive 12,000 steps showing her around.

Meanwhile, back at home Jeff was getting through all Sam's washing! 

An equally impressive 3 and a half meters of socks!!!

He completed his stint of Jury Service on the Wednesday and is now back at home for the time being. It's nice having him home and he seems quite settled with the prospect of some time here, just to get some money behind him. He's just got himself a minimum wage job locally to get started, whilst saving and looking for a 'proper' job, ideally in Bristol, where he hopes to be by this time next year. He'll be company for me when Jeff is back at school and he likes to accompany me on walks. Poppy is going to be in Bristol, so close by. It's not the year in London they had planned but...I'm a believer in things happening for a reason and it'll all work out for the best in the end..

Plus he's tall and can reach blackberries that I can't!!!

On Tuesday I met with two of my old Sainsbury's colleagues for coffee and then on Thursday met with my walking friend Lynn. We headed over to Farrington Gurney for their Dahlia picking. 

We got married in Farrington Gurney church, so it's always nice to see.

I would grow Dahlias if we didn't go away in the Summer.

Ten stems for £7...bargain!!

Thursday was GCSE results day. Jeff spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in school, guiding and helping his Year 11's get into the right subjects/courses for Sixth Form and starting to prepare for his new Year 10's in September. Ella, my niece got her results and is off to Bath College in September, to train to be a chef!

I met up with my sister on Saturday, over at the Newt again!! 

I'd not been for ages and now 3 times in August.

Whilst I've been catching up with friends, Jeff has been doing jobs at home, particularly in the garden. The lawn or 'wild area' if you can call it that this year, has taken a battering during this hot, dry spell. He's given it a strim as rain is forecast during the coming week, and it's easier to cut and rake whilst it's dry. It's hard to imagine it greening up again.

I'm keeping things colourful inside!! 

Jeff referee'd this morning, so Sam and I went for a walk, whilst it's dry.

We are lucky here, we've plenty of good walks on our doorstep. He's just got to remember his mum is short and hasn't got such a big step span!!

Next week is all up in the air at the moment. Jeff will be back in for INSET days, Sam is not sure when he will start his job and I have a question mark in the diary about possibly helping out with the new exhibition hanging. Sophie will be coming home the end of the week as we're flying out to Greece on Monday, so a potentially busy week ahead.

 

What wonderful weather.....

This summer has been the sunniest we've had for a long time. It's wonderful to wake up and see blue skies and sunshine. I'd  feared the good weather wouldn't continue once we were back from holiday, but I've been happy to have been proven wrong

The sunflowers are enjoying the sunshine too.

Poor Sam has been having to drive to Weston every day for Jury Service. Thankfully the M5 has been kind and no hold ups so far!! He finished midday on Thursday, so he and Poppy headed back to London, to start packing up her student digs. He returns this evening to continue with his jury service this coming week. Let's hope he is given something straight forward and he can complete it this week.

Jeff's been working his way through all the 'outside' jobs!

He always has to make the most of his time off, as once term starts, his own time is short.

We've been making the most of the cooler evenings and have going out for a walk. 

The ground is soooo dry.

The blackberries have been ripening earlier due to all this lovely warm sunshine.

I took Jeff blackberry picking, making the most of his height and picking potential!! 

Getting to places I can't reach

We got a reasonable haul. Will go again next week if I can.

 I've frozen all from this lot, perfect for breakfast or a crumble!! 

I'm desperately trying to be good/focused before Sophie and I go to Corfu, so maybe a crumble is not such a great idea!! I've been trying to establish some good routines, which I can continue with once work starts. I've been doing so much reading around hormones and the menopause and am trying to help myself, with...... 

* a regular wake up time * first drink - hot water with lemon and a pinch of salt * go outside first thing, to kick start my circadian rhythm * no screens for the first hour * daily exercise with weights * shower * protein rich breakfast * reduce my coffee consumption (none after 2pm) * increase my water intake. Food focus on * protein, fibre and good fats * no snacking * but no restriction 80/20 approach * no eating after 6pm * walk after meal times * no screen time an hour before bed * reading a book instead of scrolling through my phone * regular bed time * aim for 8 hours sleep!! 

I need to be consistent and make these habits a routine that just becomes the  norm. I'm going for the long game instead of short bursts/countdowns to things. I'm actually going to try and be reasonably focused whilst in Corfu (good intentions!!!) but will see how that pans out! I'm 2 weeks in so far and it's been reasonably easy to keep to and I can see how I can tweak things when I have to go to work. Consistency will be key!!

Full house!

It's been lovely having Sophie home for a few days. She met up with friends a few times, read lots, relaxed and we got to do a few things together. She got her hair cut on Monday, then her car was in for it's MOT on Tuesday, which thankfully passed!! And then we headed over to the Newt together.

I've not been for a couple of months. 

Every time you go over there is something different to see.

A day of treats.

 Coffee and pastry for breakfast, ice-cream before leaving!!

On Wednesday we were up and out early and headed over to Bath, as she wanted a few holiday bits. It was sooo busy, didn't help there there was lots of work being done. If I'm honest, I thought Bath looked really scruffy. I think I would have been a little disappointed as a tourist visiting. It wasn't Bath at it's best.

We're still enjoying good, sunshiny, dry weather. Jeff is doing his best to keep things watered. We're in for a bit of another hot spell over the next few days, so will be making the most of the sunshine.

Sam and Poppy arrived here late on Wednesday evening. 

Back for his birthday!!

I LOVE this photo x

I still find it hard to think that I have a 23 year old!

Cake made as requested!!

He's back home now for a couple of weeks, doing Jury Service. He got called up during the end stages of Uni, so he got it delayed. Annoyingly the court in Taunton, where is supposed to be, is closed. So he's been told to go to Weston-Super-Mare!! If he went by public transport, it would take him 3 hours to get there!! Luckily for him, we've insured him on the car so he can drive in every day, but it's still a fair commute and having to navigate the M5 during the summer hols!! Then he needs to find a job and start earning some money!! The joys of no longer being a student!!

The holidays are whizzing on by. On paper Jeff still has 3 more weeks off but in reality, he'll be back into school mode a week on Wednesday, when the GCSE results will be arriving into school. Once you start having to do school stuff, the holidays are pretty much over and next up, it's INSET days! I'm actually going in for a couple of days too, to start hanging the next exhibition and help get things set up.

Sophie and I then head off to Corfu for a week. She wants a week of reading and relaxing! So a very different holiday to Jeff and I. I will have to learn to do nothing!!

29 years of being Mrs Peabody!

Happy Anniversary to us x

29 years married xx

I carried a bouquet of sunflowers and sunflowers will, forever, be associated with our wedding.

An easy gift for Jeff to buy every year x

Our cards to each other x

A day when it's always lovely to look back at photographs from our special day. 

Still a wedding many remember, as being a fun filled, relaxed, happy celebration. 

Must have done something right as we're still smiling 29 years later x

I'm not sure where the week has gone. Feels like we've been back from Nice longer than a week. This time last week, we'd got back in the early hours. Took Sam and Poppy to the train station and started on the mountain of washing!! 

We've had good weather this week....

.....so the figs keep on coming!!

And the sunflowers are blooming.

I had my hair cut and coloured on Monday. Met up with a friend for coffee on Wednesday, early birthday celebrations for her. Then on Thursday evening Sophie arrived home  for a week. I met up with my sister on Friday for a long overdue catch up and then on Saturday....

....Sophie and I headed into Bristol.

We did a little shopping, had a nice lunch at Zizzi's, courtesy of my Tesco vouchers!! and then went to see Moulin Rouge. We've waited ages for this to tour and it was worth the wait.

The show was incredible. The main lead performer voices, were absolutely brilliant. The whole show was brilliant. Fantastic!! If you get the chance to go, go!!

And then whilst wandering back up to the car, we spotted Wallace

"that'll do nicely"

and Gromit!

And a Feathers McGraw and a Norbot!

There's a new Unleashed trail on, in and around Bristol. 

Maybe worth another visit to spot a few more!

"A Grand Day Out"

It's actually raining today, not the sunshiny day we had on our wedding day.

We're using the time to start planning out our big 30th wedding anniversary trip, next summer. 

We first holidayed together, in Greece, in 1993 and then each subsequent holiday was spent in Greece, barr our actual honeymoon, as we felt we should go somewhere different. We ended up in Majorca, staying half-board in a hotel with a pool, but wished we'd stuck with Greece. So our plan is to re-visit all the islands where we first holidayed together. Re-visit a few places and explore new parts of each island. We've already booked our flights and are now chunking out the time we spend on each island, depending on the ferries schedules.

Gosh! Don't we look young? 

And I think Jeff still has that same shirt, after all these years!!

One things for sure, I still love him as much as I did then, and marrying him all those years ago, was the single best thing I have ever done xx