Malawi & More

 The Easter weekend began with M and A getting ready to head off for a picnic that they had been planning for a while. I love listening to the two of them chat and plan together. They are good for each other and I hope that they keep in touch for all their years to come.  I decided to apply for some examiner work, a good way to earn a few more pennies and, if accepted, really helpful training for how to help my students. I also felt a looming oddness about the week to come. New job, hospital and my first ever official day not working in a working week, except I couldn't face filling in all the dates for the application and on Tuesday I got a call to say the appointment has been moved to next week. So really lovely that I got to see my mum for an extra day but quite frustrating to have to wait another week.  Easter Sunday was lovely, starting with an easter egg exchange before both the girls headed off to work. Then M and D arrived and we had a pleasant lunc...

Saturday was the first night of Pesach. We had Eover and I did a big bean stew and BigA made broth and kneidlach (dumplings). I had baked eggs in onion skins that morning, one of my favourite bits of the preparation. It turns the skins an interesting colour and pattern and they taste better than normally boiled eggs. E had sourced a horseradish root and we had the walnuts at the ready. Each part of the Seder plate was almost complete, although I'd forgotten to get salt water, an easy fix when it came to the dipping of bitter herbs in it.  And we went through the ritual, telling the story of the Israelites and their escape from Egypt and enslavement. Each time we do this I'm struck by the profound history that so sadly repeats over time and over the world, still we cannot say all are truly free. The message clear, we should do all we can to strive towards a world of genuine peace. M and I had cranberry juice and so I once again kept to my drink free weeks.  The next morning, af...

The sun remained glorious on Saturday and I had a very peaceful day. In the evening we headed off to the coast - Leigh on Sea - to meet up with T and D who are visiting the UK from Malawi. It was lovely to talk about those years together. The not drinking meant I could drive us home to a much warmer house than the night air by the sea.  More roller derby practice on Sunday, I'd told myself I'd do more core exercises in the week and really didn't do half of what I hoped I would. But I am now not hurting all over on the Monday so I'm sure I'm getting used to it and maybe a bit fitter. BigA and I headed to Hampstead Heath to meet SSi and D for a modest picnic and chats, before we headed home for an evening in front of the TV and a freezer meal.  My 'working week' actually began with me going to work, and although I haven't officially started I went to help with the year 12's practice for their devising exam. I had fun and enjoyed the directing skills ne...

After another cry or two and what might be considered a pep talk from BigA I got up and had my breakfast in my beautiful garden and read my book in-between moving the hose. It's been so very dry and I'm so keen for everything to flourish. The day before BigA had got a big slab to start a little area to BBQ on and I planned to lose myself in the garden for the day. The messages of love and care punctuated it. I finished my book and planted some seeds and surrounding myself with earth helped to soothe my soul. As did a rather excellent lunch of scrambled eggs made by my husband.  On mothering Sunday I was made tea and the girls jumped on the bed to give me gifts and a beautifully written card. I got some things I'd asked for and some not, and Asher had got me a gift too, which I wasn't expecting, a fancy eye mask that I can play podcasts into. Then I got up and I got my kit on and set off for Roller Derby practice, mindful of the fact that I might - will - have to have ye...