Malawi & More

I had a restless night, no booze so I think it was simply the worry I've always had taking hold. Nothing major and, as my life goes things right now are really very normal and (touch wood) nothing big or bad is going on. But I was very much cheered by the fact that I was heading to Brighton to see marvelous people. The sun was shining and I got to the train station in plenty of time. So many trains leaving from Thameslink at London Bridge. Happily S got the same train, just in the nick of time, and so the day of walking and chatting and happy reminders of times before. A very sensible day, spent mostly right by the sea. It was therapeutic to be around people I know well and who know me.  And Sunday was delightful, I had a catch up with a dear friend. Swift but nourishing and then H took me for lunch at one of my most favourite places. A had told him he would be one of the many men I've let buy me lunch there. I went for the vegan breakfast which is as healthy as it sounds and m...

What I miss about my Friday off varies each week, last week it was driving on a Friday evening rather than in the day. This week it was that I felt shattered on Thursday and wished for a 4 day week. Mostly it's just that I like a long weekend every weekend. Mind you, better for my liver and I'm not drinking on school nights.  I did the usual clean up that you need after any work has been done and a few chores. Off to a small and modest birthday party of one of BigA:s frisbee people. I was the only non frisbee player there but they were all lovely and we played games and had a right giggle, and an early-ish night. Sunday was roller derby - still no contact although I did make two very spectacular falls when trying to do a series lap. My body has not have quite the level of workout in a while - and then Folk at 33. I hadn't placed to do a solo but as we were doing a tribute to Dolly Parton and the lady who read going to sing that couldn't attend, I, without rehearsal, did...

Off we set for Liverpool after breakfast and, despite a little confusion on route we got there easily enough. Rug laid and stuff moved in, we went to Tesco for a big starter shop. More sorting and chats with her new, much nicer housemates and we then went for a delicious meal with my cousin. Then back to A's and a bunch of her mates came over but all very sensible, not a drop off alcohol consumed. I took myself off to bed having been up for an age. But before I went I was able to enjoy seeing A in her element and relished in the warm feeling of knowing that she is so loved and respected by the people she had gathered around her.  I snuck downstairs the next morning for tea and a little tidy up. Then A took me out for breakfast and a wander in the autumn sun to the docks and a few shops. Once back I knew I needed to get going. Bitter sweet that parting. I miss her so much but I know she's having a great time and that she really does belong there. Back home it was actually lovely...

I had a quiet weekend, indulging in myself, exercise, reading, garden, chats with friends. Making the most of the sun.  The work week felt busy, because the pace of work life after holidays does feel relentless. I am on duty a lot, I've met almost all of my classes and they are, on the whole all lovely and I've enjoyed teaching them. I had some Governors stuff too which saw 2 evenings taken with training then a meeting. More excitingly BigA spent the week in a primary school which is part of the PGCE requirements. He had a good time by all accounts, talking each day about what he'd observed and done. And even more excitingly my intrepid explorer of a child came home. I was a bit frustrated that I had those evening things I had to do because really all I wanted was to spend every second with her. She went to the theatre one night so it wasn't quite so bad. This morning I take her to Liverpool having driven kinda half way last night for a very quick stop off for her to s...

As I sent last weeks email we were newly in Brussels and it was very early, and the place felt almost abandoned. As we wandered around, it slowly picked up and we went on a little walk to see the boy pissing statue (smaller than expected!) and a few other buildings. Another stop for a drink, a walk in a park, bit of food including a disappointing version of croque monsieur (Ham and cheese toastie) and then to a flea market. Which was huge and a bit overwhelming. Next to a few more shops and then bar, beer shop, bar, pizza, taxi, Eurostar, bus and finally home. Oof, BigA changed our bedsheets which I simply didn't have the energy to do. Checked there was milk and bed. I slept very well.  The bank holiday weekend was really just about washing and food shopping, oddly feeling like I needed to charge my batteries for work. Which to be fair, as a 4 day week and 2 of them training days with free lunch, wasn't bad and all was well bigger pictures wise. I've moved office and I'...

R and I did yoga and a core workout in the Tetbury sun before we headed off home. I'm always sad leaving, missing those days in Malawi when we could pop round whenever we wanted. We took a home grown marrow with us and, after BigA had checked the tyres we got home without any issues. Once back it was a day of washing, repacking, watering and delightfully getting A from the bus station for lots of cuddles and a catch up on her placement in Leeds. She loved it and they loved her! The Bs were back and we cooked up a bumper batch of veggie spaghetti Bolognese and had a pleasant evening before I turned in and, for the first time, slept in a room that wasn't by bedroom in my own house. Up with the sun we got ready for our trip to Germany.  Safely on the Eurostar we were served breakfast. BigA knows how to travel, a fancy breakfast of savoury pastries and some sort of yoghurt, fruit and basil concoction, tea and all in proper porcelain. This was As first Eurostar experience, she's...