Summer has arrived!!

20/52

Wednesday Weekly!

A super busy week workwise!

It's been nice to come home and see the sunflower seeds Jeff planted making an appearance.

It's been a ridiculously busy week on the work front but I escaped on Wednesday afternoon and squeezed in a cinema trip, to see The Devil Wears Prada 2. I'm glad I got to see it. I needed to do something other than work.

Thursday was full on. Not enough invigilators to cover everything that was needed, so I ended up with someone who had done nothing before, so I effectively did the work of two people with 10 students on laptops, then did a clash supervision, straight into an afternoon exam with another 10 students! Even Jeff had to do an invigilation slot!!! I took in treats for the office team, just to soften the blow!! I can honestly say, I was so ready for half term!!

I came home from my busy day to a full house!

Sophie came home before heading off for a few days holiday with a friend. Sam came home to collect his computer and plants. Jeff had detention, so we had a late tea together when he got home. 

Have to make the most of time altogether when we get it xx

The week ended gloriously, with a fabulous forecast for half term.

Sophie jetted off to......

....Majorca on Saturday.

She's staying in Cala D'or, where Jeff and I had our honeymoon!!

Looks gorgeous x

Jeff broke up Saturday afternoon and now has a week to rest and recharge.

We went out for an evening walk. 

We're going to make the most of this lovely weather.

We never go away during this week for a number of reasons. Jeff has to work the Saturday, so you start off losing a day. It's soooo expensive and busy. We always cross our fingers and hope we get good weather here in the UK and we have so many so many jobs to catch up on in the garden, MOT due on the car, dentist appointments etc.

After a busy morning gardening, we've both enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in the garden reading.

I can not tell you just how lovely it is to have this glorious sunshine. 

It's hot, there are blue skies, it's perfect and it's here for the whole week  xx

The boy has left the building!!!!

19/20

Wednesday Weekly!!

This week has been predominantly about the boy!!

I had a rare morning off on Tuesday, so we went for a walk!

Felt a fitting way to spend time together before his new adventure begins.

We walked to Hurcot Hill.

A walk we first did together in Covid.

It's a good workout and then it was back into school for exams!

It's been a busy week and I've been doing some training sessions too.

I've been chivvying Sam along to get organised!

Making piles of stuff ready to move.

Playing a little Micra tetris!!

It's amazing what you can squeeze into a Micra!!

And then he was off!!

On Friday he picked up the keys!

The weather this week has been showery, with really heavy downpours and it's been unseasonably cold. It needs to warm up and treat us to a little sunshine. At least when I've been at work, I've not been missing out on the good weather. There's always a silver lining!

The alliums aren't liking the weather either.

They've been really disappointing this year!

The very wet winter won't have helped!

So today, Jeff and I headed over to Bristol early, to help Sam get organised.

To help build his Ikea flatpack furniture.

We made good use of the cafe he lives above!

That would be dangerous for me!!

And we left him in a good position.....

...already looking right at home!

It's now down to you Sam!!

Wishing him every happiness in his new home and every success when he starts his new job!

"Tell them you love them"

I think we did that today!!!

And we came home with a car as full as when we went!!

Tip run pending!!!

Home to a quiet house and my first peonies of the year opening upx

Next week is a super busy week of exams for me, with extra training sessions and a dose of clash supervision in the mix. But we'll be five weeks down, a week off for half term and then just three weeks remaining! There is an end in sight!!

A mixed bag of a week

18/52

Wednesday Weekly

I ended last week (Sunday Evening) on a walk up on the Poldens. 

With the nicer weather, I'm trying to get out for a walk after tea, even if it's just once around the block. It was too nice an evening not to take advantage of, and get out for a longer walk.

I'd given myself Bank Holiday Monday off, Jeff still had to work!!

As it was dry, I headed over to ham Wall, as it's been a while.

I managed to get this capture. 

Sadly the two kingfishers I spotted were far too fast to capture. 

I did hear a cuckoo too

It's so good for me to get outside for a walk.

I feel the weight of the world lift off my shoulders and I feel so calm and content.

I always feel so restrained by work and not being able to get out and make the most of any dry weather, particularly at this time of year. 

I had a short exam on Thursday afternoon, so popped over to Sainsbury's to collect my Argos order. A few bits and pieces for Sam's new flat. Glad I'd amassed a few Nectar points to spread the cost!

And then on Saturday we headed to IKEA bright and early! 

It was a successful trip!

Bed frame and mattress were top of the 'must buy' list. 

I shouldn't of laid down!!

It was a cheap trip for me, just coffee and a muffin!

Sam on the other hand is mourning the dwindling of his funds! 

The joys of being an independent young adult!!

He has a delivery booked in for next Saturday and then a few days of putting it all together!

He went out to friends in the evening and Jeff and I got to enjoy tea out in the garden. 

Always feels like such a treat x

I then sat out the front, enjoying the last of the sun, whilst Jeff prepared the front planters... 

....ready for planting out the geraniums today.

Sadly we're not planting out sunflowers this year, even though it's our 30th Wedding Anniversary. We'll be away for too long, when they need a little care and attention, so it will look a little different this summer. I wonder if anyone will notice!

This week marked the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough. 

This mural has been done in Bristol in his honour. I must go and see it! 

I can always go and see Sam too once he's all settled in.

So we go into week four of exams, slightly more pressure as these are 'real' exams now, rather than mocks. I am doing 7 out of 10 available slots. I'm hoping to get a walk with Sam before he moves out and I have a couple of coffee catch-ups booked in with friends. Then I think Jeff and I are booked in to help build Ikea furniture on Sunday! So another busy week ahead.

Pinch and a punch...

17/52

Wednesday Weekly!

It's been a big week for Sam! 

He officially finished at Millfield on Monday...

....and got on with flat hunting!!

Securing a flat by Wednesday - hurrah!!

Although I feel he now thinks he sorted and forgets he has still a lot to do! 

Like, order furniture, sort through all his Uni stuff in the loft, buy work appropriate clothes, tidy his room before he leaves!!!!

I've had a super busy week with exams. I have felt a little fed up this round! 

It's the classic case of doing more and not feeling appreciated or thanked for doing that extra bit, whilst still being paid the same as everyone else. We have so many new invigilators and it's been left up to us to train them, so when they know nothing (and that's not their fault) you are effectively doing the work of three people!! It grates and I hate feeling myself moaning. It feels a little deja-vu from my Sainsbury's days!! So I need to rethink what else I could do, so I'm not dependant on invigilation in the summer and I don't spiral into just moaning and doing nothing about it!. Ideally, I need something one day a week, that would give me enough money. It's just finding something that also doesn't include working in the holidays.

So Friday was the 1st of May!

Sam met friends and went to the Beltane celebrations in Glastonbury.

I mustered up enough energy in the evening to go for a slightly longer walk. I've missed not having the free time and flexibility to go out walking. I feel I've missed a huge chunk of the changing seasons.

So when I am free, I must make the most of my time and get out!

We've had rain, typical for a Bank Holiday weekend. 

It does make all the greens 'pop' but it's not sitting outside weather.

My fig is doing well.....

....and more alliums are flowering.

And the garden is full of young birds. 

Jeff refereed this morning. He doesn't get bank holiday Monday off, I could have given availability for exams but have given myself Monday off instead!! I had hoped it would be a wonderfully sun filled day but rain is forecast. Will fill my day with plenty of other things I need to get done. 

Like chivvy Sam on!!!! 

Here's to a good week x