Malawi & More

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...

As is the way with birthdays, it was delightful and over all too quickly. After tea in bed, morning presents, opened in front of my mum and sister for the first time in years, I then got a scrumptious BLT for breakfast. Mum and I took a leisurely stroll to the seafront and had a small lunch while chatting away about the past and future. It was the first rainy day for weeks there on the coast, not too much and therefore no flashfloods that I'm sure will occur once the heat of this summer subsides. We went out again for our evening meal, a place most of us hadn't been to before and a meat eaters heaven. Really delicious. Home for a little more celebration and reminiscing about childhood and the warmth of fond memories made the absence of my little family ok in the end. I felt very loved.  Home to a poorly husband I set about getting the house shipshape for, firstly A's boyfriend who will be staying here while he works at a theatre in London and for the family of 5 who need a ...

There's no denying that I'm closer to 50 than I have been before. Very much hoping when I get there I look as hot as my big sister.  I set off to St Alban's last Saturday to see my ex pupil who is a delight to see and we laughed and shared injury stories as he'd come off his motorbike a few weeks before and is still working from home. Once home I had a craving for Ethiopian food and so for the first time we ordered some Ethiopian takeaway, we normally go out to get it, absolutely delicious and there was enough for breakfast the next morning. I think the injera bread is what really makes it so good.  I fitted in a couple of good pal catch ups this week before I scooted off to my home town, leaving BigA behind to do work stuff. One was at A p duck pond, and as we bemoaned the state of education these days we were thoroughly entertained by a boat in the shape of a flamingo, being rescued by a large man in a very small boat. Then we wandered seeing the impact of the recedin...

 My Saturday morning involved watching the scaffolding coming down and making a lovely salad for BigA and me. Later he headed off to watch The Odesy and I went for a little garden party and sing song with the Folk 33 lot and then back to the E for the DJ set there with the Bs. Back for cuddles and a catch up with my lovely husband. I forwent the after party I was invited to. Remarkably I woke feeling refreshed and ready for a good garden tidy, now I could get the brush down the side again and BigA quickly fixed the hanging basket bracket and hosepipe hook up. I felt very proud of my little garden and how it's coping with no rain. At least it wasn't roasting hot. Later that day one of BigA's child hood pals and wife arrived. They have returned from another stint overseas and we're using us as a base to house hunt. They have moved home 9 times in the last 18 years. They both agree it's never fun.  This week saw me having a much desired catch up with a very long lastin...

S and I were both feeling delicate after the night before and so agreed on a slow day which was garden based to begin with and then a slow stroll to the beach, fizzy drink, pier, sand, sea, ice-cream, home for a nap. That day also gave the joyful news that A's suitcase had turned up, complete and undamaged. Phew. (She looks like she's had the most wonderful time) Then to complete a delightful day, off with a delicious evening Indian meal.  And then the day we'd come so far for. We awoke fresh and excited. The background is simply a chance image that S saw and sent to our little WhatsApp group of 'Wuthering Heights day'. And then I saw that this year there was one at G, My home town! (This might even be an annual event although none of us had heard of it) And you can't ignore the fates telling you to go, that would be rude. Dressed in my only red dress that kinda still fits and Sharon in a plum red and glorious flowery, Frida Kahloesque headdress, we set off to ...