Wye Wye



I've been monitoring my step count using my phone, and as I don't actually carry it everywhere I go it's not completely accurate but I did smile at the 56 steps I did on Saturday. I had an uneventful day with lovely Joe popping in for a cuppa, reading a little, a little house work and a bit of pootling in the garden, making food and not a lot more. 

For Sunday we set off to meet the Robinsons at the pools in Hampstead Health. London really is beautiful in places, this part fully gentrified with well looked after homes and shops. The mainly green surroundings were a little yellow with the lack of rain, but still beautiful and expansive. The water was brown but the sun was shining so brightly and the high trees moving out any sound of traffic, it was like we'd left London completely. I'd done the chain, cost under my dress and so simply whipped that off and was asked a sensible question from Adam, 'don't you have goggles?' nope - breast stroke rather than blindness. I thought it would be too cold, but actually it was blissfully cool and just the right length of time to enjoy before my knee started to hurt. The weather was perfect. The session was only 30 mins but I didn't need any more than that. We then picniced together and after a wander and an ice cream we headed home. Not long after we got back, A got home from work, ready to get the car packed up for her camping trip. She and her friends were so excited. It was lovely to drop them off and see A take charge. She very much enjoyed the experience and I'm glad I ignored my doubts about her being away with her fellow teenagers. 

The house always feels empty when she's not in it, even more so without either of the girls. Even Bella has been away. I know I've got another year before I have to fully face it! It's certainly easier to keep things tidy though. As BigA had to work I decided to head into my school and although I didn't get any of the stuff done I had intended I did feel like I'd be able to spend a couple of useful hours at work. The next day I arranged to see my pal Joanna and Gabe's mum, one of the teenagers on the camping trip. We did a lovely walk through the Tottenham wetlands - something that was developed while we were away. It was beautiful and then we did a mini pub crawl to celebrate being alive and free on a Tuesday. 

A returned on Wednesday, smelling of camp fire and looking tired and hungry. I made her a lunch consisting of mainly fresh vegetables. 
Then the big day of the week - my birthday - I had a lovely day. Lots of presents to open on the morning. I think it's fair to say that that my love of jigsaws is well established. I got beautifully written cards, not least from BigA and A. After breakfast they both went back to bed! I got washed and dressed and headed off to meet up when Uma. We went to the place that the Currens and I had discovered a couple of weeks ago. It lived up to my expectations, a fresh delicious brunch. And I got a birthday brownie with candle brought over by the staff who were lovely too. We then went for a walk and finally said our goodbyes. Back home I got Ayla to join me in starting and completing one of my jigsaws. After that we chatted and agreed on Chinese for tea. And then I brushed up, changed into something a bit warmer ready for Chaz to arrive. 
She hadn't been to our house since we returned and I proudly showed her the good changes that have taken place, happy to share the garden too. We set off to the Beehive first, then the High cross and onto the Post Bar for some love music, except the band hadn't turned up and by now it was raining.. But we enjoyed a drink or two anyway, talked until they politely kicked us out. 

Yesterday I finished off packing, did a house tidy even though Bella is staying, and when Debbie and Dan arrived to set off to the Wye valley. The house is massive, room for all 12 of us, a short walk and then we cracked open the fizz. Tom and his children, now proper adults, made dinner and we set a small fire in the fire pit thing to talk around. I was shattered, not that I'd really done anything to warrant that and went to bed, a few other tested out the hot tub.

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