November freedom!

44/52

Wednesday Weekly

Now my gallery run is over, I have a little more freedom to come and go as I please. So whilst Jeff went back to work, I headed up to Cardiff, stopping at Cribbs en route to do a little Christmas inspo gathering. I had the added bonus of meeting up with Sam on his lunch break for a car picnic and catch up, as he works only 10 mins away.

The initial reason for going to Cardiff was to see Paul Heaton. I bought to tickets and dragged Sophie along to keep me company. It's annoying that these concerts are on a random Monday night, had it been in half term Jeff would have been able to come but it's too far to go on a school night.

I don't think she'll become a Paul Heaton fan anytime soon but she didn't hate it!!

I LOVED it x

Then on Tuesday we dipped our toe back in the house hunting arena. Sophie has taken a year off really after having to pull out of the maisonette she'd offered on. She's been thinking about her non-negotiables and a few compromises, so we go again! I then popped into Cardiff on the train to do a bit of Christmas shopping, then met up with Sophie for pre birthday burger and drinks.

Wednesday morning birthday breakfast! 

How can she be 27???

Sophie had to work after our breakfast and so I headed home.

Thursday - hair colour day!

I have been consciously growing my hair since June and it has now got long enough to actually look styled. How long it stays like this is debatable. I'm not someone who spends ages styling their hair, so if it becomes annoying it will be cut short again. This is long for me!!

Thursday evening was Bonfire Night. 

I loved Bonfire Night as a child. I think my earliest childhood memory was when I was four, having just moved house, sitting on a packing tea chest eating fish and chips, watching fireworks out of the window. I watched this years display from my bedroom window, courtesy of one of our neighbours putting on a fabulous display.

I worked Friday in the my new 'Art Office' job and then enjoyed a lazy Saturday at home. I decided to check out my Christmas card stash....good job I did! I have loads of cards. This doesn't even include the packs I bought in the January sales or the few I've bought this year. Realistically, I have enough cards for the next 3 years!!! I just love cards and supporting small designers.  I spent a very enjoyable couple of hours selecting cards for individuals. They've each got a stick-it on and are in a box, in order, ready to write. Given how rubbish the post is, I will try and get them written to go out early December.

So today is Sunday and we are, like yesterday, sat under a thick blanket of fog. 

You can't see the Tor but it does make my figs stand out.

We're having a lazy, cosy day at home. 

I need to get my head back into exam invigilation mode. I've got 3 days of exam invigilation this coming week. It's just the Yr 11 mocks, so there is a little margin for forgetfulness!! It's the same for both the exams and the gallery, I go for big chunks of time doing neither and then you have a short burst and have to remember what you're doing, how to log on etc. As always, I seem to be on the banks of laptops in the main halls, no gentle 1-1 sessions. I then have a day off  before it's back in for my art office day. So far it feels a good mix and a balance of work and free time. Thinking ahead to the summer, I'll possible only offer 5/10 sessions, just to stop the stress and foreboding in the summer season. If I won the lottery, I'd retire tomorrow, I can quite happily fill my time!