Cramming stuff in!

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Wednesday Weekly

The end of the summer holidays is upon us, too quickly for my liking!! I could happily do it all again. This summer has been wonderful. We are a bit bad once we're home. We tend not to do that much out and about but on Monday we did make an effort.

We headed over to Rockaway Park, an old junk yard, now creative hub and alternative community space over in Temple Cloud, about 10 miles south of Bristol. 

It's a fabulous space, with workshops, a garden and vegan cafe. 

We spent a good couple of hours there having a mooch around.

On Tuesday, I had a long overdue date with my walking friend. Life has been busy with both of us and it's been a while since we last managed to get out for a walk together. We headed over to Ham Wall for a couple of hours walking and talking!!

Tuesday was also the day Dolly Parton died. Such a wonderful human being, 

who will be missed for all her kindness and generosity.

We also saw the death of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, 

a huge inspiration to me but a very conflicted soul.

Jeff and I had to go into school on Wednesday to do the safeguarding training. It gets you a little more school focused and the start of term firmly back on the horizon. He's been busy doing jobs out in the garden, just to get on top of things before the madness of school begins.

Sam came home for the night on Friday for a party, so we saw him briefly before heading up to Cardiff on Saturday to see Sophie. We had lunch at her flat, then popped into town for a tiny mooch around the shops, then food out. She headed home on the train, whilst we headed to The New Theatre Cardiff to see..... 

Johns' Boys Welsh Male Voice Choir.

Ever since their Britain's Got Talent audition in 2023, I've wanted to see them sing live. They did not disappoint and when they sang (with audience participation) the Welsh National Anthem at the end....goosebumps on goosebumps!! If they are your cup of tea, they are touring next year.

We headed home after the show, as Sophie had plans. Then today (Sunday) we've been over to see Jeff's dad. His birthday falls on the first weekend of September, right when it's back to school busy time, so we popped in to wish him an early happy birthday. 

I've done a bit of a book tally this week, just to see how much progress I've made this year. 

 

15 books read! 

With the holidays coming to an end, my reading will slow down to mainly at bedtimes, the odd afternoon (maybe) My aim has just been to read and get my enjoyment back! I lost all love of reading due to my menopausal symptoms and poor concentration over the past few years, but I feel a little more hormonally balanced at the moment and the above reflects that. Long may it last!! 

I have loads still to read, both on my shelf, on my kindle, in a bag of more books from Sophie and a wish list that goes on forever of what I still need to add.

One book at a time x

 

So, next time I write, we will be in September!! I do love September. I love the start of a new school year and the beginning of new routines but this year, I really don't want the summer to end. 

Jeff has 3 more 'full' school years ahead of him before he retires. I will follow suit, just because it means we can holiday together in the shoulder seasons of the school holidays. I would have to give up my lovely gallery job as it requires me to work September, which would be a great shame. The exam invigilation, the job I like least, could continue as you give your availability rather than be contracted to set times. It's still a long way ahead but it's been a big topic of discussion this summer and the way time seems to be whizzing by, it will be here before we know it!!

Busy bees

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Wednesday Weekly

Mid August and we are picking large quantities of blackberries. Everything is so much earlier this year. Making the most of free fruit and stashing it in the freezer. 

Jeff has been a busy bee this week, trying to cut back some of the garden. It's all looking pretty dead at the moment, so we might as well make it look awful, it can then only get better x

I've been doing some sorting inside, having a little re-jig and 

making my corner of the kitchen a little neater....

.....I've brought down the dresser top from the box room, as I intend to re-organise the box room upstairs, add in some extra storage, so I need to clear up some space.

I've also been trying to get out and walk. First conker spot of the year.

I went to Bath on Monday, had the dentist on Tuesday, met a friend for coffee on Wednesday, then went to Wells on Friday.  

We've been walking every evening after tea...

....and whilst Jeff refereed on Saturday, 

I took myself off for a walk down along the river Brue....

.....stalking a heron!!!

Every time I got close, he flew a little further down river!!

The light was beautiful.

And then today, Jo and I headed just beyond the 'nearly there trees'....

...to meet up with mum and dad and U. Colin and his two daughters (old family friends) for lunch at Strawberry Fields in Lifton, Devon. U. Colin was Best Man at my mum and dads wedding and he chauffeured both my sister and I on our wedding days, which would have been the last time I saw him. They all turn 80 this year, so it was nice to get them all together.

And whilst I was sat enjoying a Sunday roast, Jeff was busy knocking down a wall and assembling a new fence side panel. Due to the recent hot summers, the wall has moved, which in turn has meant the gate has not been able to open and close easily, so he has come up with a good solution.

And finally, this week also marked 5 years since we said goodbye to Granny x

I'm not sure where the years are going x

Eclipse

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Wednesday Weekly

So back to regular Sunday blogging, now that our Greek adventure seems a distant memory. We came home to hot, sunny weather for a change. Although heat here in the UK is very different to heat in Greece! You just avoid being out in it and getting too hot!!! 

I got my hair cut and coloured on Monday after 6 weeks!!! A record number of weeks if you discount Covid times!! I have decided to 'maybe' try and grow it 'slightly'. Long to me will be short still to everyone else. No guarantees, I might get fed up of it after a week or two!

So the big thing this week, was the partial eclipse. We last had an eclipse back in 1999, the year I was pregnant with Sophie, so we had photos!! Sophie sensibly ordered the glasses the day we got back from Greece, so we were sorted, unlike a lot of people. 

Initially I wanted to go somewhere and view it from a hill, 

but we ended up just stood out on the drive!!

The Tor looked extremely busy!

I took lots of pics, over the duration but at the final moment.....

...we had cloud....typical!!!!!

I've had a catch up week here, coffee with a friend, Sam came here on Tuesday to collect the Micra after it passed the MOT. It was nice to have a meal together, before he headed back to Bristol and then Sophie went back to Cardiff on Thursday. Jeff went to see the Odyssey on his own on Thursday evening, not my cup of tea!! Then on Friday Jeff and I went to Bristol, third time I've been since we've been home, to see The Bodyguard. Not the best production I've seen but it was a lovely evening to go to Bristol, sit outside and have a drink, felt like you were abroad!! 

Then yesterday, I had an invite to lunch with a few of my fellow invigilators, which was lovely. Delicious food, great company and the perfect weather to enjoy sitting outside. A 1pm lunch saw me arrive home at 8pm, so as I said, a lovely afternoon of nonstop chat!!

Today has been a slow Sunday. Jeff decided to strim back the wild lawn area, 

as it was pretty much dead due to the heat.

I just finished my holiday read on my kindle, so I can get started on the above.

 

And we have turned our attention to getting accommodation booked for a few trips we have in the pipeline. We book flights a soon as they open, then think about the accommodation down the line. 

Our trip to Italy during October half term is all sorted, but we have booked a different trip for December as easyJet cancelled our original flights to Verona and we have booked our accommodation for our trip during the Easter break. I have given some initial thought into next summers adventure but I need to really deep dive into the islands and work out what we want to do, where we want to base ourselves etc. Ferries are easy as they run daily, so our movements can be quite flexible. It's worth getting an overall insight whilst Jeff is still on holiday and not in full on work mode. 

Sadly it won't be long before the term starts. A 'level results were out this week and then GCSE results are out on Thursday. You can't help but nudge slightly into work mode. I am trying to squeeze in a lot over the next couple of weeks as I'm in the Gallery pretty much full time for all of September, up until October half term. Then we go away, Jeff's around for half term, it's Sophie's birthday and then November mock exams.... My calendar doesn't really have much free capacity until mid November!

June v August

Birthday boy!!

We got back from our trip to celebrate with Sam

My baby is 24!!

Now he's in Bristol, it made it super easy to go and see him.

His choice - PIZZAROVA for lunch

And very nice it was too.

We headed back to his flat for cake and then said our goodbyes to make way for all his friends who were meeting up with him to celebrate in the evening.

Sophie and I were then back in Bristol the following day...

.... as we had tickets to see Waitress.

We've seen it before but it was it's 10th anniversary tour, so the perfect excuse to see it again and do a little shopping before. Not that we need an excuse!!

It's been a busy few days since we got home.

My fig tree survived us being away, thanks to Sophie being at home from time to time.

The first thing I did when we got home, is get out the ladder....

....pick all the gone over fruit (sadly quite a lot)....

....and pick all the good fruit!

Thankfully, quite a few ripe figs....

....which I've been enjoying.

Whilst we were away the UK was enjoying glorious weather too. Sophie would say it's been too hot and there has been next to no rain. It looks like the weather is to remain sunny and dry for the foreseeable. 

Off to sit out in the garden now I'm all caught up with my blog posts x