buffet breakfast

R and I made the most of the hotel breakfast buffet before we took a walk around the grounds. Then we headed to the gym. I took it easy but was very pleased to be doing something like real exercise. After that we had our treatments, a back massage and a facial. Both excellent and I felt very relaxed before heading to their house for the rest of the weekend. 

The weather shifted from the brighter morning and so it was lovely to snuggle on their sofa after a hearty soup and play Codenames together. The tranquility of the countryside was really needed. It's this time of year when you just aren't sure you can cope with the greyness and shorter hours with any sun. Stretching our legs, me watching R and A swimming in bloody cold water. I did join in the hot drink and enjoyed a bacon sandwich. An afternoon of love and laughs and then sadly we had to leave. 

BogA drove home and once in and in my pjs, I fell asleep easily enough although I've been getting that sinking Sunday feeling. As suspected the boy I'd 'lost it with' had told his mum a quite different version of events. I've been in this game long enough to know that although right now she truly believes her son never lies to her, she will get a nasty shock or two at some point. I gently explained he had a very different perspective and was not telling the full story. He's a nice enough lad most of the time and we have arranged a meeting to try and re-set. Fingers crossed it goes well. 

I went to choir on Monday, knackered but in need of the peace it brings me. I stayed the whole session but did feel the pull of robust singing on my neck, as I've been told I should be doing exercise, I'm continuing with the every day but would like to feel more motivated to do more. 

I met my new PGCE (trainee teacher) this week. She lives very close to me and seems lovely. I really enjoy mentoring so I hope it proves to be a good experience. 

A highlight of my working week was delivering some training to staff on coaching. I did something very similar while at SAIntS and, as with mentoring, it's something I enjoy and hope makes me a more appealing prospect to. It went very well, with some lovely feedback and people really appreciating it. After that I headed to an Enfield branch meeting of the NASUWT (my union.) I have always been a supporter of unions, something I worry younger staff don't fully appreciate, the way things seem to be going they couldn't be more important in the world of work. It was a good meeting, I didn't stay for the food after, mainly because I wanted to get home and spend a night in front of the TV with BigA, ready to start my long weekend. 

Yesterday I woke up the usual time and did a few bits and pieces before heading off to art therapy and later that day I had my flu jab and a one off phenomenalcocular one. (No idea how to spell that or even if I've got that right.) the NHS is rather wonderful isn't it. I was going to have an interview for an online tutoring job, but when I found out more about it I realised it wasn't for me. So instead I did a bit of birthday present shopping and considered doing a big shop. Which I didn't fancy in the end and instead did a much lovelier thing and went to see my pal, who fed me propa tea and high quality biscuits. 

The rest of the family are doing well. M has been doing work with BigA, helping deliver the training sessions. So he's seen more if her even if I haven't. And A continues to enjoy all the new things she's learning, the sewing machine being one of the biggest challenges. The cats miss her and we've had them in with us a little more of often.