2 week half term

 Our good friend Jess visited on Saturday day and we had such a lovely catch up. I am wondering when I'll stop catching up and be in the loop with people more. Maybe never in this busy life. 

Saturday evening was the much anticipated 40th birthday party at a posh hotel in London, the dress code linen, I had bought a dress but I looked rather rubbish in it and went for a linen skirt and a cotton top - an outfit I would have worn to work in Malawi, so with the help of very high red heels and some make up and nail varnish I glammed it up as much as possible. The party was lovely, extravagant without being ostentatious - but I still felt like the old and poorer guest. I met a celebrity and I think, bored one women to sleep. But as we only knew the birthday boy it was an evening of small talk. Fun though. 

As a result of the free bar BIgA and I spent Sunday on the sofa and did nothing else. 

On Monday I got up with the girls who went off to college, did a little house work and then set off for Norfolk to see my mum and sister. I very much appreciate the ease of getting there in a car. It really didn't take long and I was soon tucking into mum's homemade chicken soup, talking about all sorts and deciding what to do with our afternoon. We did a bit of shopping and that evening mum made me a lovely meal with lamb, asparagus and mashed potatoes. I was very disciplined and didn't drink that evening. I introduced my mum to a series called catastrophe - which we both giggled away to. 

Jo had booked us in for a lovely lunch the next day and we got on the bus to Norwich - a first for mother dear. Some time for a bit more shopping and then we wandered to the restaurant. I was surprised to see that it was in fact, the place where I once worked and where BigA brought me flowers for our first date. It is quite a different establishment now. We continued our day into a range of bars, a small bar crawl I suppose. It was so lovely to be with them, to connect and laugh and remember. As different as we are, we share some important fundamentals of life and of course have plenty in common too. 

Upon my return I headed off to meet one of my newest friends, we agreed that, once I get sick leave again we plan on starting roller skating again. She's very sporty and does so much. I can't quite figure out how she does it all. I was due to see another new pal but she cancelled and, a sign of my age perhaps, but I was pleased to just spend a night in with the girls. M cooked and us three had an early night. 

Thursday and Friday were very exciting for me because I went into my be school. Loads of information to get my head around but I feel genuinely happy to know I'm going to be part of the school and have some clear sense of what needs to be sorted. My new Head, Bruce, is great and keen for me to find my own space to get on with making the school better. I've got lots to learn and will find it hard to have to wait until January to start.

It's M's birthday soon, so A and I went shopping for that and had a cheeky MacDonalds for our lunch. That evening A cooked and we had some crumble that I'd been given by the food teacher at my be school.