Cardiff with my girl x

Another busy, busy week!

Spent the first two days in school, chaperoning the vaccination nurses.

I took my Christmas cards in with me and a few other bits and bobs to do, but I ended up doing crowd control and got to see a few people for a chat (whilst being paid!!)

Missed taking advantage of a wonderfully frosty morning on Wednesday. Was fighting off the beginnings of 'something' so sensibly listened to my body and rested up, instead of getting up and out early for a walk. 

It's only 4 weeks until Christmas, so everything now moves up a gear.

Late Wednesday morning, I met up with someone I've met through Instagram for a coffee and then caught up with jobs at home and packed for a few days away.

On Thursday, I headed up the M5 to Cribbs. I'd bought a pair of DM's back in May, ready in waiting to replace my old faithful's. I did crack open the box this week, but they made the most embarrassing squeaking noise when I walked. So, I had to go to a store to prove the squeak was not acceptable and got them changed!! Had a mooch whilst I was there, before heading on up to Cardiff.

Sophie was working until 4pm, so I headed over to Rhiwbina, a lovely, 'village feel' area of Cardiff. It's where she had hoped to be living! The lady who works at the Estate Agents, is actually someone I've been friends with, through Instagram for the past 12 years. We've never met, so I dropped in, with some mince pies, to say hello and meet in person!! Popped into the lovely Snail's Deli for a coffee and to kill a little more time. It is a lovely area, shame she had to pull out of the property she was hoping to buy.

I stay at Sophie's in her one bed flat. It's in a great location, it's just small, and four floors up!! so lots of stairs! As her sale has fallen through, we are looking to make a few adjustments to a few areas of her flat, make them more appealing and functional. When she moved in, she didn't have much money and I guess, we thought she wouldn't been there too long. So we spent Friday morning in Ikea, getting inspiration and measuring and costing out a few possible ideas, ready for my next visit in January.

We then headed into town late afternoon, to watch WICKED for good! 

We watched WICKED Part One this time last year, and re-watched it Thursday night, so we could seamlessly go into part two!

Saturday morning, we were up and out early, in town before the crowds built. 

There was a Rugby game on at the stadium, so we wanted to be in and out!

It's so easy from Sophie's to get into the centre of Cardiff, by bus or train.

We then spent the afternoon decorating Sophie's Christmas tree.

Every year I gift her a new decoration, so she can build up her collection.

She has a few basic bits, a few from our tree and then new additions each year.

And it looks lovely.

It does feel early but she'll take it all down in a couple of weeks, to bring it all back with her when she comes home for Christmas. 

And it has become a tradition. We have, for the past four years, spent this weekend together decorating her tree and spending a few festive days together.

I'm home now. I left mid morning, was back home to make Jeff lunch. 

He was up a ladder, putting up the Christmas lights, ready for December the first tomorrow! 

I feel a bit behind with my own preparations, but am too tired to do anything today. 

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain and be generally miserable, so I am going to make a start and set my Advent scene in the morning, clean the kitchen, and if time, maybe, put up my tree, even if I just manage to get the lights on. It does feel early but because we are going away for 5 days, I feel I need to get the main bit done before we go. Sam is in the thick of it, having to work through all the Christmas parties. Jeff is as busy as ever but on the homeward stretch! It is a slog for them both, but they will  finish on Friday and have four weeks off.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is December the first!!

First frost and Christmas cards!

We've had our first proper frost of the year. 

Good job I went out in the garden before and picked the last of the figs. 

They weren't squidgy and jammy but they were edible

It's been a very good year for my little fig tree.

I've had this week off. 

I got the all important hair cut and colour done on Monday.

Had a couple of coffee and catch-up dates on Tuesday. 

A check-in with the HRT nurse on Wednesday morning 

And then a trip to our local cinema in Wells in the afternoon.

They do a 3pm matinee screening for £5 with a free coffee and biscuit!
We are so lucky to have it and I do believe it's the classic case of  'if you don't use it, you lose it', so I do try and go when something vaguely of interest is on, particularly when it's grey and cold out!

I have also made the most of the dry couple of days we've had, to get out and walk!

It's been beautifully cold, dry and frosty, perfect walking weather.

I went out to Ham Wall on Thursday morning.

As always, the robins were being super friendly. They have signs up now, asking you not to feed the birds, so I think they come close, in the hope you may have something for them.

On Friday, it was more of the same.

I instructed Jeff to wake me up if it was frosty!

I decided not to de-ice the car, and instead, walked down the hill....

...along the main road....

....up to the top of Wearyall Hill.

A bench with a view!!

We are so lucky living here, with so many lovely walks near by. 

They weather changed for the weekend. I am not a rainy day walker!! So I decided to start on my Christmas cards. I LOVE cards!! I can't resist buying a nice card. Sometimes it'll be with a person in mind, other times just because I like it!! I have a box for Christmas cards, that I add to. A mix of some left over from the previous year, some I will have bought in the sales, and new ones from this season.

Taking advantage of the fact Jeff and Sam were working, I then took over the kitchen table. Laying out everything I had squirreled away and then working out which card was suited to each person. I still send about 70 cards, which does work out expensive, if you choose nice cards and then add on the postage. But, I like to send cards, keep in touch with people, particularly who I don't follow on social media and it's the only time I get to check in with them and catch up on their news. 

I know some people say they aren't buying cards this year and giving to charity. I personally think some people will do that but that the vast majority use that as an excuse not to bother and don't actually give anything. Shoot me now, but that's what I think!

It does take time and effort, to buy a card in the first place, select a card for each person with thought and consideration. Find time to sit and write each card, adding a personal message, or I will admit to printing off a round robin type catch up note, to pop in with a card too. I would like to think people appreciate that, when a card gets posted through their door. If not, no worries, I get pleasure from doing it anyway. And on that note, I must get back to it and finish off some more cards. I have a really busy week ahead and will need to get my airmail cards in the post early December. Best get cracking!!

 

55!!!

Happy birthday to meeeee..

Friday was my birthday!

55!!!!

The weather was a wash out, rain, rain and more rain!! 

So I changed my plans and did nothing. 

And it was lovely. 

I didn't realise that I needed a day of doing very little!!

I've been in school all week....

.....doing exam invigilation.

Year 11 mock exams, both morning and afternoon sessions for the past 6 days. 

I now have a week off, before going in to do a couple of days chaperoning.

It's been incredibly mild up until today. 

A northerly cold front is moving down across the country and the temperatures are supposed to plummet! To be fair, it will feel a little more seasonal. I have a pile of jumpers in my wardrobe that haven't even been worn this year, yet!!

So, back to my birthday!
We don't 'do' presents! 

All I ask of my lot, is to get me a nice card...

....and I had lots of nice cards!

And a delicious tiramisu x

And a visit from our friendly hedgehog!

We first saw it in the summer and it's not hibernating yet!!

On Saturday I met up with Sophie in Bristol.

We had a look around the new 'huge' M&S, did a little Christmas shopping, enjoyed a delicious Italian at Moltobuono, a fab little independent Italian restaurant on Park Street, before......

.... the main event.....

MAMMA MIA!!

I think it's our fourth, possibly even the fifth time, Sophie and I have seen it on stage. 

Such a feel good show. We have vowed to go and see it, every time it comes to Bristol.

We first saw it together in London, in 2013, just before her 14th birthday and have subsequently watched all the films, and plan to go to Skopelos, the Mamma Mia island that Jeff and I visited this summer, on holiday together one year! She needs to get the full Mamma Mia experience x

Sam was waiting for us as we came out of the theatre. He'd been in Bristol for a few days visiting Poppy, so we gave him a lift home and for me, a rare 'birthday treat', I had the pair of them home together, for one night only!! Sophie stayed the night and met up with a friend today, heading to Bath for the day and then getting the train back from there. Sam is back in work today! He certainly doesn't love it, but until he finds something else, it's a job and he gets to save by living at home. Jeff is entering the final three weeks of term, with more and more added on top of everything else he does! A busy bee for sure. 

The week ahead is calmer, no work for me but lots booked in already....a hair cut and colour, coffee dates x3 (so far) a trip to the cinema, a check-up with HRT nurse... and so the list goes on, and if the forecast remains as it is, and Thursday looks dry, I want to get out for a walk. I feels like it's been ages since I've had the time to get out in the fresh air!!

Benson Boone, birthday treat

What a week!

We've had a birthday to celebrate

My Sophie is.....

....26!!!!
How did that happen? Where have the years gone?

I headed up to Cardiff on the Monday, stopping off at Cribbs en route. I stayed the night at Sophie's and then we headed to London, by train, on Tuesday morning (her actual birthday) We had a mooch around Marylebone before we could get into our hotel near Waterloo. 

Ready for the main event, our reason for being London bound...

The one, the only, BENSON BOONE!!

And it was!!
THE best live performer I've seen.

He was incredible

The best night ever!

And we were sooooooo lucky. 

He brought on Brian May at the end and did Bohemian Rhapsody.

Honestly, it was a once in a lifetime moment. The atmosphere was electric!

An absolutely incredible evening.

We joined the throngs leaving the O2 and headed for the Jubilee line back to Waterloo and our hotel. Could not get to sleep, still on a huge high, so was exhausted the next day.

We had a few hours to kill before our train back to Cardiff, so after a much needed coffee, we headed to Liberty's, Selfridges', John Lewis etc and had a mooch around their Christmas departments, getting a little inspo! Didn't buy much, everything was so expensive. 

I didn't take many pics either, as I didn't want to get my phone out, from the fear of it been grabbed by a bike thief, especially on Oxford Street!!  We were a day or two ahead of all the light switch on's and window displays being unveiled, which was a shame. 

We got back to Cardiff about 6'ish and then I had the drive back home. 

Was exhausted but my cup was well and truly filled! What a fabulous couple of days and I feel very lucky that I got to share it all with Sophie. Not many daughters want their mothers around, so I feel very lucky that we enjoy each others company. 

And I was home for the Traitors final!! Although Sophie and I texted each other throughout!

Was back to work and exam invigilation on Thursday, with a bump!! English mock exam, with 9 students with computer reader, extra time and rest breaks. Made working out all the timings, feel like I was doing a maths exam!!! Worked all Friday too, as I felt bad not being available at the beginning of the week, so have had a quiet weekend. 

I did however, go out on Friday evening to meet up with friends from my Sainsbury's days. 

Was lovely to have a catch up. I do miss the people but still glad I left the job!

Time is whizzing by again.

Just 4 weeks left of the term, before we head off to Italy for a few days. 

I'm invigilating all next week, morning and afternoons. Have Friday off, as it's my birthday. 

I did offer, but said, only use me if you really need me!! So far, I haven't been allocated anything.

I then have the following week off  but it's already filling up with appointments and coffee catch-ups!! So busy, but all good things, and then I'm back in for two days of chaperoning, a very welcome extra bit of money, as we throw ourselves into the festive season!!