Malawi & More

It felt like a busy morning, A's birthday presents and a tidy to get the dust up from the solar installation and then I got ready for the game day. Sadly not me playing but still off to Tottenham leisure centre to set up etc. This did mean I avoided the arrival of A's mates and could ignore any sleeping arrangements being agreed and made for that night. I was very pleased that a bunch of mates and A's group all came and A had booked a table for her lot in the same pub I was in for the skating after party. We'd got them tickets to the game so they boosted numbers and, although they didn't have a clue what was going on at first, I think they enjoyed the sport. After the pub BigA and I were able to wander home together and went via Lidl - and impulse bought an air fryer!  A and her pals were all up and about relatively early the next day and it was great that they headed off to get last minute tickets for Wicked. I was lucky enough to have M and D over for a bit that m...

   Irritatingly I woke up early and just could not get back to sleep so gave up and got up and then set about doing a good old garden session, channeling my inner M by clearing away dead stuff, digging up a sad looking lavender that was spoiling the height lines and deciding that the bench was best left to the woodlice. Harvested the potatoes before the slugs destroyed it all and sorted the little vegetable patch as best I could. All this with a gentle breeze and cloud cover so I didn't get at all hot and I felt really rather pleased with my efforts.  A had a lie in, having been shattered by the physical week of work. I love spoiling her, breakfast in bed and making her food she enjoys. We had a lovely afternoon in the garden, chatting away and had our dinner there too before a bang on average film and me off to bed. Sunday I went to roller derby practice and was able to take part for the first hour but didn't try the much more hitting bit so headed home to get bits ready...

  My morning was delightful as my still teenage child was already up and in the garden with an iced coffee she'd made herself and I got her tiny paddling pool out and we sat with cool feet while we told each other about the night before. She had seen school friends, including her two favourite history teachers and me with old work school pals.  I'm of course that's age where I was really looking forward to seeing a pal but almost equally delighted when he said he wasn't feeling great so we did not do the bottomless brunch in boiling hot London. Instead I set about doing a cupboard sort out to fit the plastic plates Margaret had donated. I'd taken a good load into school and still have some left. I cleaned one freezer draw and did a general tidy in anticipation of 2 of A's uni pals who were coming for the week ahead. That evening we had a very nice time with a different pal who bought over stuff for a rather lovely evening of cocktails. Very chilled and relaxed e...