Malawi & More

I had grand plans to sort the garden and tidy and take stuff to the charity shop and exercise and more but I was knackered after cleaning the kitchen so I had a shower and plonked myself on the sofa in the back room and drank tea having taken a lemsip to try and rid of the worst of the cold. E and D came for dinner and BigA did his specialty, falafel. I did have an early surge of energy on Sunday and set about sorting the compost heap, which was bone dry but some nice crumbly stuff right at the bottom. Then I got a bit overwhelmed by the rest of the garden so dug up my 3 beetroot and took in the last of the cherry tomatoes and dug out things I felt confident were weeds before my body protested and so I spent the rest of the day reading in bed with a hot water bottle and kept my lemsip topped up. Delightfully Hayden made dinner.  The work week was much of the same, with only a couple of weeks until half term I started to worry a bit about the BTEC stuff, but I have joined a lovely w...

As is often the way in Tetbury, our day was planned around being outside as much, if not more than inside. The 12 adults split into cycling and walking groups, all of us trying very hard not to let the 'late' night before impact us. This was after breakfast, split into the porridge v fry up crew. Although, K, my newest pal did an impressive both!  These cottages are really beautiful and so tastefully done, loads of space. I recommend them.  I was a walker and fry up. Our walk ended with us in a cafe with tea and chats then we drove back to the cottages to prep the pre-prepared lunch. Rosie and Michael (I think mainly Rosie) had cooked meals in advance so they could maximise pal time. With the glow, and slight whiff of exercise we all happily tucked into the hearty soup and delighted in the cheese and bread. Then a small group of women headed to the open pools for a cold water swim. And yes, I was one of them. In a borrowed swimsuit I did it, I was worried about my knee and nec...

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...