Back to just the two of us!!

It's back to just the two of us, after a lovely Easter weekend.

Sam and I managed a whizz up the Tor before he headed home. When I say 'whizz' I mean 'whizz'!! 

I think he forgets I'm more than 30 years older than him and have little legs. 

We were up, down and around in an hour!! 

It was lovely having them both home.

And a good excuse to get my yellow Cornishware out for Easter.

Monday was the 1st of April .......

....and time for Sam to head back to Cardiff. He has work and essays to write. So Jeff drove him to Bridgwater station, where you can get a direct train back to Cardiff. It takes a little longer but no changes and gets him pretty close to home.

I spent the day organising the two new cupboards I had delivered with my Ikea order. I've moved the little table into Sophie's room, so she has a little desk when she's home, and have filled one of these cupboards with all the bedding. We had a bigger bathroom in our last house and my current 'Christmas Cupboard' in the kitchen, was used as a big laundry cupboard, which homed all the bedding and towels etc. I've not really had a specific place here to store everything, it's pretty much been shoved into any little spare space I've had in my wardrobe, so I've been itching to find a proper home for it all. I think this will work and as these are two separate cupboards, so I can re-jig things if I feel the need.

So on Tuesday, Sophie and I headed into Bristol, for yet another show! I book these show's a good year in advance, I have 4 already booked for 2025!! So you're never really aware of when they fall, against a show you've already booked. Two in one week is quite a treat!!! We went in earlier and did a little bit of shopping and Sophie treated me to a delicious Greek meal at the Hat Bistro. The show was fantastic, well worth seeing. I really enjoyed it. 

On Wednesday we headed south. Wasn't sure we'd see the 'nearly there trees' as we turned off at the next junction. A bit of a cheat and less of a slog, than going all the way down to Cornwall.

Our destination - Strawberry Fields Farm Shop at Lifton. 

It worked out to be a good meeting up spot with my folks. It meant Dad only had to drive an hour, us only two! I've met them there once before on my own and we've all been there, when Granny was still with us. Might be a good spot in the future, less driving for dad! Sophie headed back to Cardiff that evening and after a really lovely busy week, we were back to it being just the two of us again. I spent much of the next couple of days cleaning, stripping the beds, doing a food shop and doing a little holiday research!

Then yesterday (Saturday) I got my hair coloured. When I last went, she cut my hair really short and the  remaining colour was really stripey! So she squeezed me in for an extra, earlier appointment and we decided to go for a full head of colour again, rather than the foils. Incidentally, she first did a full head of colour for me exactly nine years ago!! I did wonder whether or not I'd have to wear a hat around Italy, Ha! but it's turned out okay. I like it! ........

..... the pink toner matches the cherry blossom!!

So today I'm cleaning the house, pre holiday! I want to steam mop the floors now it's just the two of us again and hopefully the rain will now lessen, although the forecast isn't great still! It looks quite changeable for Italy too, so will need to pack for all weathers! I've been doing a bit more research and I'm really looking forward to going. I have been to a few places before, a couple of years ago with my sister, but we only had 3 days and packed in a lot, although this trip we are also doing a lot I've not seen before - all the Cique Terre villages, La Spezia, Bologna, Siena (went for an afternoon 32yrs ago), San Gimignano, Lucca, if we have time. I won't be writing here next weekend, I'll do an Italy round-up on our return but you can follow our trip over on our travel Instagram page @hap_pea_travels if you want to see more of what we get up to. Right, I'm off to hoover. Have a good week!

Ciao!

A birthday, Easter.......

....one day of warm sunshine!!!

(worth celebrating!!)

Today is Easter Sunday! 

It's early this year, it is still March (just!!) but it's cold and it's grey and even though the clocks went forward this morning, it still feels like winter!! Yesterday was the first day this year, that there was proper warmth in the sunshine and you could sit outside. Although, every time a big cloud went over, you had to go inside but it's the first day this year, I had a coffee outside.

Anyway let's go back to last weekend and my 'corner of the kitchen' re-jig!

My old desk had had it's day! The joints kept coming out and had to be hammered back in. The drawers kept sticking and I was running out of space. It just wasn't working for me anymore.

So it's gone outside for the time being.....well, until it rots and falls apart!

Saves a tip run and actually, it doesn't look too bad!

Poor Jeff then spent his Sunday off, putting together Ikea furniture.

Good job he loves me! As we hit a few snags.....

....but it's in!

And it's much bigger!

I had a good clear out and changed things around a bit and am so happy with how it's all turned out! I've also had a good sort out of my wardrobe and Jeff has built a couple of small cupboards for the small box room, which I've still to organise. I'm getting there, in my quest to tidy and de-clutter! The charity shop loves me!!

I went to Yeovil on Wednesday, before collecting Sam from Castle Cary train station.

It was looking very colourful with this tree full of ribbons and.....

...all the spring flowers outside of the church.

Must have cost a fortune in bulbs!

And then on Thursday (Maundy Thursday) it was Jeff's birthday and the end of term!

It was lovely that both Sophie and Sam were home to celebrate it together.

55 years 'young'!

Of course I made birthday brownies!!

With an Easter twist!

Friday, Good Friday, or as I like to think....

....Hot Cross Bun day!!!

Sophie and Jeff went over to Cheddar in the morning to collect this....... a replacement car for the 'Red Shed', that went to the scrap yard a few weeks ago. The plan is, that this will become Sam's car in the summer! We need him to take us to and collect us from the airport in July and had agreed (bribed him) to insure him on the car for the time we're away. The plan now, is that he'll then keep this car up in Cardiff. Tax and insure it himself and basically it'll be his. It only cost £800 and we never did go to Prague for his 18th birthday, due to cancelled Covid plans, so this sort of makes up for it. Better late than never! He's happy!!

We went to Bristol in the evening. We met up with Sam's friend Smithy, for food. The boys then went their separate ways, with Sam staying the night in Bristol and......

.....then Sophie and I finally got to see ' Everybody's Talking About Jamie'.

We originally had tickets, way back in Covid, so it's felt a long time coming. I'm not going to lie, it's not the best show we've seen. There was a lot of dialogue and I really struggled to hear some of it. Old age? Poor sound quality? Either way, it's a good job I'd seen the film and knew the story! But we only paid £11 for the tickets, so can't complain and don't get me wrong, it was good, and Ivan who played Jamie was amazing, as was Kevin Clifton and the mum..... just not the best we've seen. We're there again on Tuesday...I really should try and get a job there!!

So Saturday (yesterday) felt glorious, with a big dollop of warm sunshine. Sophie went out for lunch with a friend. Jeff pottered in the garden and I sat and soaked up as much vit D as I could!!

And now today is Easter Sunday! 

The clocks have gone forward, tomorrow is the 1st of April but....

.... it still feels like winter. 

We've no plans! 

I'm sure Sam will spend the day either in bed or eating chocolate. I, no doubt, will spend my day cooking!! Sam goes back to Cardiff tomorrow, with Sophie heading back on Wednesday evening. It's been lovely having them home. I think this has been the longest time that I've not seen Sam, as he went back to Cardiff just before New Year and only home now! He's like me when I was at Uni. He now has a job up in Cardiff and he always off seeing friends. Even when he is home, he's here, there and everywhere xx Oh to be young again!! I must try and get up to Cardiff to see them both, even if it's just for the day. 

We've still 3 weeks off now. Jeff and I are off to Italy in the next week or so, hopefully to find some sunshine!! Although the forecast is mixed, it'll definitely be warmer and by the time we get back, we'll be further through April, heading towards summer!

Have a lovely Easter, whatever your plans xx

Sustainable Art Exhibition....

Sustainable Art Exhibition.... 

....over and out!

So my run in the gallery has drawn to a close. I have really enjoyed these past five weeks, working in such a creative space, meeting some wonderful people, and being welcomed into such a busy, friendly department. It's been nice to wear smarter clothes too, rather than a uniform! Sometimes it's the small things that can make a real difference to how you feel!

But what a difference a day makes!!! 

Worked my last day on Thursday, everything came down on Friday (day off for me!) and this is what I returned to on Saturday! I was in for a few hours to liaise with the artists collecting their work. This space is being used for a fashion show on Monday evening, a clothes swap shop on Tuesday, then I'll be back in here from mid-April for exam invigilation.

I have walked past this Forsythia bush on my way to work for the last 5 weeks and have enjoyed the expanse of yellow increasing, as the weeks have gone on. 

The blue sky was an added bonus too.

It has been lovely to see a little sunshine, although the wind is bitterly cold at the moment, 

to make good use of it. This however was at 6pm, a small win!

I did manage a walk around Compton Dundon village with my friend on Tuesday! 80% on road and the rest on very soggy, muddy ground!! It stayed dry and was warm enough to take our coats off mid walk, for the first time this year!

Spring is trying to 'spring'!!

I've been trying to have a spring clean and a de-clutter! 

Spent my day off on Friday, having a proper sort out! I bought some nice baskets from Lidl and a clothes rail from Argos and I'm on a mission to better use the space I have! The under eaves cupboards are great, but I tend to chuck stuff in, close the doors and walk away!! And now I can wear nice clothes to work again, rather than a uniform, I could do with a little extra hanging space. 

I still need to have a proper sort through my main wardrobe but I ran out of steam!! 

But so far, so good!

We were up early, as easyJet released their winter flights. So we're off to Madeira for 5 days in December, once Jeff breaks up. Martin Lewis gave everyone a heads-up and warned the price altered due to demand, so worth buying early! If we'd have waited until we got home from work, they'd have been £70 more expensive. So worth remembering!

Anyway I must get on and cook tea! I have the next 4 weeks off, so I want to get a lot of jobs done around the house. I had an Ikea delivery today. I'm reorganising my little corner of the kitchen. Was hoping to share it today but have hit a few annoying snags that need resolving!! Will have to try and be patient and wait for Jeff to break up! I really wanted to sort it all before the kids came home for Easter. Not sure that's going to happen unless I try and tackle it myself tomorrow!! For now everything that I had managed to hide away in the desk drawers is out on a table in the middle of the kitchen. Not a great look!! 

Spring is in the air!

I started the week off with 'Magnificent Magnolia Monday' ...

no need to go into detail, the photo says it all!

Anything to cheer myself up after the Chiropractor and the Dentist!

Tuesday and (more) rain stopped play, for Lynn and I and our walk!

Apparently this has been the wettest winter since records began!
And if I'm honest, I'm getting a little sick of it!

I took my neighbour to the cinema in the afternoon. She's going through a tough patch, so this film certainly gave her a couple of hours of light relief! So funny.

And then Tuesday it was back to work in the gallery. This has been our final full week. This week coming, we're only open Wednesday and Thursday. Everything comes down on Friday and I'll be in on Saturday for any artists collecting their work. 

I'll miss it!

I've really enjoyed the past four weeks.

Another piece I like x

Bits of plastic found on southwest beaches.

Friday Jeff and I had a rare night out! 

It's not often we go out in term time and on a work night! 

We went to Bristol, to see Jesus Christ Superstar......

.....with Julian Clary as Herod. 

I saw it in Oxford 25yrs ago, a staff outing! My memory's not great at the best of times, but it seemed very different to how I remembered it, this was much more contemporary. And I'd forgotten it was all sung, like Les Mis! Excellent show, glad we made the effort but not one I'd probably see again. 

I worked Saturday and came home to this beautiful bunch of tulips, from my mum & dad x 

Cornish Blooms is a fab family run business, always my 'go to' if sending flowers, so really lovely to receive them too x

And then today, I went over to Wells and met up with my sister for a catch up, breakfast, a bit of wander, more coffee, more chat.... She's had Ofsted this past week, and survived, remaining a 'Good' school, so my treat x

And so here we are again, Sunday evening, but work for me tomorrow. I've picked up a couple of exam invigilation sessions tomorrow and then have a training session, in preparation for the upcoming exam season. It's nice to do a variety of things, even nicer getting the whole of the Easter break off! I'm hoping we get some warm, sunshine. There's not been one day, when I've thought I'll sit outside and enjoy a coffee. There was a hint of warmth this afternoon but by the time I got home it was cloudy again. I'm hoping Italy will be dry and t-shirt weather in the daytime and then once we're back home, things will start to warm up here.