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!!

Half term round-up!!

A quick catch up from this past few days, since returning from Lisbon. 

It's been a busy end to half term. 

Jeff's done a lot out in the garden, planting out all our bulbs ready for next Spring.

I got my eyes tested on Tuesday, was long over due a check up! Bit of a prescription change and was given some intense eyedrops to try for my dry eye! So will see how I get on.

I met up with my sister in Bath for a catch up.

Completely forgot to take a picture of us but did take one of our breakfast!!!!

Friday was the last day of October (a pic round-up) and we headed to Cardiff.

Jeff had bought tickets to see ABC - The Lexicon of Love album with a live orchestra. 

They were never a favourite of mine, still not converted but I did recognise 4 songs.

And Jeff enjoyed it, so that was the main thing!

Had plenty of leg room!!! HA!

Saturday morning, and 'A pinch and a punch....' and we are in November!!

From Sophie's we all headed to Bristol.

Sophie and I had bought tickets to see the Book of Mormon, a good year ago, before Jeff had bought the ABC tickets. In retrospect, he should have got a ticket too. Whilst Sophie and I went to the show, he had to kill time in Bristol. He exhausted his annual shopping outing!! HA! He's not a shopper!! Sophie then got the train back to Cardiff and we drove home.

Today is a catch up day. Sam has just left for work. Jeff has got back from refereeing and I am working my way through my 'to do' list! I'm heading back up to Cardiff tomorrow. Sophie and I have tickets to see Benson Boone in London on Tuesday at the O2. Although he had to cancel his show last night due to illness, so we may end up having an unnecessary, expensive trip to London instead. Fingers crossed, he'll feel well enough to perform, if not, we'll make the best of it, maybe go and see a show!?! It's Sophie's actual birthday on Tuesday, so I'll make it special one way or another xx 

LISBON

We are back from a fabulous few days in Lisbon.

It's a fabulous city to explore, so much to see. So many steps and hills to climb!! As always, we walked miles and miles! It was warm enough to be in a t-shirt, mostly grey skies. One day of rain and one day of brilliant blue skies and sunshine, so all in all, okay weather.

Our accommodation was at the top of these stairs.

A fab Airbnb find in the Alfama district

Modern, clean interior with a washing machine!!!

We got there early evening, so just did a little explore of the neighbourhood on our first day.

Spotted our first tram!!

We had a fabulous bakery less than a minute walk from our apartment

And the food was delicious!

We had Torrada, a Portuguese breakfast regular - thick toasted bread spread with salted butter

... and during our stay, tried many of the delicious pastries x

The staff were very friendly and I for one, will miss our little breakfast routine.

Jeff still had room to try various custard tarts...

and the famous pastel de nata...

... in fact, many pastel de natas were consumed!!

We tried to find small independent food spots, rather than eat at chains or tourist traps.

This cafe was a fab spot.

Grandmas homemade specials, delicious!

And in the evenings we did the same...

...although evening meals were accompanied by Fado, a traditional folk singer. 

It was okay the first night but by the 3rd!!! 

So we opted for an Italian, playing Pet Shop Boys and Tears for Fears!!

We had one ice-cream which was the best I've had since my Granny used to make her own. 

I could have easily gone back for more!!

Had to share one tile pic!! They are of course everywhere! 

As were the trams!

We pretty much covered most of the main bits..

Arco da Rua Augusta

Pink Street

Fab buildings

Greet Street

Basillica da Estrela...

and it's rooftop tour!

Many Miradouro's

The oldest bookshop (Guiness World Record)

The Elevador de Santa Justa

A pastel de nata pitstop!

We did take a tram ride on the famous tram 28.

It was good value. A 24 hour pass cost 7 euros and that was for unlimited travel on the buses, tram or metro. They did get crowded but we manoeuvred ourselves into seats

LX Factory

Book shop

Tower of Belem

Padao dos Descobrimentos

Age of Discoveries monument

The MAAT

Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology with the red Bridge in the background.

Lisbon living

These are the little details I love!

A miradouro night view.

As always for me, finding street art whilst out and about is a highlight for me.

Bordalo ll, a Portuguese sculptor, creates huge sculptures from various discarded objects. We did actually spot our first piece last December, whilst on holiday in Madiera.

This bee was in the LX Factory.

Storks by the Santa Justa Elevator

Spotted whilst on the bus!!

Panda in a hotel courtyard

Whale spotted from the train in Cascais

We took two trips out of the city. 

The first to Sintra, a town in the Sintra mountains.

Where it rained. 

There is a famous palace there but with the rain and low cloud, we gave it a miss and just wandered around the town. It was a bit disappointing. Too touristy, with lots of large groups and expensive places to eat. It has become too popular, so had lost it's original charm. I know we are part of the 'tourist' population but it wasn't for us. Other than the sculpture lined walkway to the town, I have no real key highlights. Maybe if the sun had been shining, I may have felt differently.

Cascais on the other hand was really enjoyable.

Was that because we had blue skies and sunshine I wonder!!

It was a small seaside town. We explored the lighthouse..

....and walked along the coastal road to Boco do Inferno.

A clifftop scenic spot, nothing too special given I've grown up around the Cornish coast. 

I imagine more impressive on a stormy sea day!!

Despite not packing trunks and a towel, Jeff went in for a swim!

His last for the year.

It was a great way to end our final day and few more arty spots (below) to wrap up our trip

This is the newest mural apparently.

Go visit Lovely Lisbon if you can xx

Jeff has written up his Lisbon blog HERE if you're interested xx