6 day working week!!

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Wednesday Weekly

Conker Haul!

This week has pretty much been about work again.

Sam came home on Monday evening to return the Micra, 

and then again on Friday to show off  his new car.

His visit coincided with my day off, so I ended up being his taxi to Wells. Meant my day off was pretty much a non event as my hair appointment, which I rushed back for didn't happen, as Charlotte has been poorly. I know I'm trying to grow it but it's now entering 7 weeks since it's been cut and that's ages for me!!

I spent the afternoon hemming up another couple of pairs of trousers, so not a complete right off

I worked the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and have done half a day today in the gallery, so have done very little else, bar work. We hosted a Parent coffee morning on Friday and have had workshops this weekend, so it has been nice and busy.

Typically, the weather whilst I've been at work has been lovely and then this afternoon (my afternoon off!) it's rained. I had hoped to visit a sculpture garden over in Wells, part of Somerset Art Weeks but that's not happened and now I'm running out of time.

I just have to think of this time at work, as an opportunity to make some money

 to save up for when I do have some time off

I have been gifted some late ripe figs on my tree....

....which were delicious this morning for breakfast.

So Jeff is enjoying his EXEAT weekend, three much needed days off for him, whilst I have to work them all. I'm in again tomorrow in my Art Office role. No day off for me! To be fair time is whizzing by, I find it hard to think we'll be in October this coming week and in three weeks time we'll be in Italy. Working does have some benefits. However that said, I could quite easily fill my time if I had the luxury of not working. (Come on lottery win!!) 

So another busy week ahead - work Monday, day off Tuesday, work again Wednesday through to Saturday but a day off on Sunday as it's my mums birthday x 

Work, work, work

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Wednesday Weekly

The weeks revolve around work at the moment, so I made the most of my day off on Tuesday and headed over to Stockhill Woods. It's my happy place. I LOVE it there. It's calm, and still, and peaceful, everything seems and feels a million miles away.

And the fungi finds didn't disappoint.

I even had time to cook a roast!

and watch the final instalment of the 7UP series.

Before it was back in the gallery and the start of my 6 day stint! 

I don't mind, it's enjoyable, but when the weather is good outside it's a little frustrating.

But when you work in such a lovely environment, it's not really a chore.

We're part of  'SAW - Somerset Art Weeks', so we're opening up on Sundays too. 

I've been in all day welcoming visitors and ticking off a few jobs on the 'to do' list.

So I have nothing more to report!!

My next day off is Tuesday again, followed by another 6 days in the gallery.

I just think of the money, my chance to put a bit away for the times when I'm not working. And of course, the main reason I do this, is so I can enjoy my time off with Jeff when he has his holiday weeks.

Only 4 weeks now until we go to Italy xx

Mid September and one week down!

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Wednesday Weekly

Our 'back to school' pic!!

This week has been all about work.

The summer holidays a distant memory!

I think I wrote last week, that I was in on Saturday for the artists to drop off their work. We spent the last hour on that Saturday, beginning to curate and place where we thought some of the work should go. This carried on into Monday, so that by Tuesday......

....we were in a position to hang!!

The biggest piece first!

This took a couple of days....

.....then there were the labels, painting the plinths, organising etc

Putting up the banner and dotting about the A-frames.

Ready for the Private View on Friday evening.

All to be revealed!

It was a fabulous evening...

...really well attended and ended up being a late night!

I was then in again all day Saturday and from now on for the next 5 weeks.

I've actually started another little job, a day a week manning the Art Office. Whilst I'm in the gallery hosting the exhibition, I do a Monday but when the exhibition closes, I will be doing a Friday every week. It does mean the next few weeks are going to be very busy. I will be doing my regular four days in the gallery, plus my new day in the art office, plus we are opening up for three Sundays whilst Somerset Art Weeks are on, so I will be doing a 6 day week!! 

I go from nothing to everything.

 A short, intense burst of busyness!!

So this Sunday has been a day of relaxation.

Jeff did a tiny bit out in the garden before it started raining.

We have a self-seeded 'something' growing in the front trug. Alongside the self-seeded sunflowers and rejuvenated geraniums. It's all looking alive again, after the hot, dry summer.

So week one of back to work done!

This is how my weeks for the foreseeable are going to pan out!

Full on work mode until half term, literally. The exhibition closes after 7pm on the Thursday, the work comes down on the Friday and we head off to Italy on the Saturday!! 

It's always good to have something to look forward too x

The 'ber' months begin

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Wednesday Weekly

This week I taught myself to sew......

.....well, to hem trousers!

I am so fed up of there being so may nice trousers in the shops but they are just way too long! So I bit the bullet and taught myself to use Sophie's sewing machine. I now have 4 new pairs of trousers that were hiding out in my wardrobe, that I can wear and it means I can now buy any I see, knowing I can take them up!

This week has been a mix of enjoying the last of the summer holidays and having to get back into work mode. Jeff has been in since Wednesday afternoon for INSET sessions and I have been in for a few IT bits and have had to do some training at home!!

We've made the most of the good weather and walked in the evenings

and I've got out when I've had a chunk of free time.

Jeff has gone back into school this afternoon for a couple of hours.

Note our fabulous self-seeded sunflowers and how well our geraniums have recovered from the heatwave.

I was in for a big chunk of yesterday to meet some of our fabulous artists, as they dropped off their work for our next exhibition. There is a great variety and a lot of pieces, so next week is going to be busy getting everything hung and labelled before we open on the Friday.

So, we have a 6 week term ahead of us and a 6 week countdown until we go away to Puglia. 

It's good to have something to look forward to.

We're also on a countdown to retirement!!

Three more school years for Jeff (currently) 

I say currently, it can always change!!

This is the first September start when Sophie and Sam are not starting something new! 

This time last year Sam was at home after Uni, starting up at school as a GA.

Both are now sorted, settled and financially independent for the first time!!

September and this school year has felt less of a big start, probably because of this. Both Jeff and I have loved this summer and really haven't wanted it to end. It will be fine once we settle back into the routine of work but the thought of the alarm having to be set tomorrow morning and long days, with just our evenings together, will be a big change. Let's hope the week goes quickly with no dramas!!

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!!