Malawi & More

 Saturday started and ended in Thanet. I had an interesting day, Anna is very into CrossFit, she knew better than to get me into the actual session, but I sat on the sofa there with my earphones in listening to a political podcast while she, her man and his daughter did all sorts of physical activities that reminded me of the horror of my primary school PE lessons. The rope climb the most visceral. There was a disproportionate number of white people with dreadlocks but nice people.  Then we headed to her home and the disappointment of the British weather once again. But we took a long walk to the sea, a couple of hours and ending up in her local. They made me a lovely stake dinner and then the next morning I set off home to spend some time with A, my garden and later that evening my cousin Cameron. A finished with her boyfriend as they arrived back in London having been to Leeds together to look at the university there. She made her mind up about him and the uni in one day. So...

My weekend was lush... Despite getting stuck in traffic, mum and Jo got here for lunch and we wandered off to The Garden House which is now 'our place', given that mum and I have been twice. It does lovely Turkish food and we were stuffed. A joined us after her shift and we all enjoyed the food and company. Encouraged by the sun we got very indulgent cakes and prosecco on the way back and spent the afternoon sitting on our new garden furniture and wobbly patio. The best part was seeing A and Jo get to know each other better and discovering how much they have in common. Later, when they had headed home A remarked on it. In the genes! I could see how happy it made her to have that family connection.  Sunday morning and BigA kindly offered to take the girls to volleyball practice. The girls have been asked to take part in London Youth Games in a couple of weeks. Except it wasn't on so back they came, I was making lunch for Margaret and Dick and they arrived with arms full of p...

  I send this email to a bunch of loved ones, I don't think that's blowing anyone's mind. So it's seems potentially strange that Daren Francis isn't included. As life long friendships go, he's one of the longest. I answered an advert in the great Yarmouth mercury newspaper (he worked there so got it for free) at the age of 17. Mum came with me to the 'audition' in his box room bedroom. She remarked on a stain on his trousers and I felt acutely embarrassed. But a song loving duo was born. For years to come we wrote and sung together. So on Saturday night I met up with him and his newest romantic squeeze. We laughed our way through memories and moments. I am so very happy that we've managed to keep our connection going for so long. Perhaps one day we will perform together again too. I'd like that The sun was out in all lots glory on Sunday and I sat enjoying the changing colours of the garden, hints of yellow, orange, pinks and purples nestled amon...

The girls and I had decided to head into Camden on Saturday in search of something we had seen on Instagram. So it would seem, had quite a few other people so we avoided the extremely long queue and went to a totally different place. It was nice to get out and see that bit of London.  Sunday was lovely, warm sun and we knocked down more of the small and ugly white wall in the garden. Booked in local decorators to start on the hallway. Both projects very much long term. BigA ordered some furniture for the garden and we might be able to enjoy it beautiful flowers that are appearing as the sun tries. I can see some apples forming in the tree and the space is getting nicer to be in each week.  Monday came too fast and back on the bus I got. The timing meaning I was first in and I got some stuff done before a very full on day with two rather violent outbursts from students who needed to be restrained. The second was mostly in my office and the boy was finding all sorts of thin...

  As I got myself ready to go to my MRI I looked out at the grey sky and wondered what to wear and tried to decide on socks or no socks. I always ask for a blanket in the machine, even though they tell me it gets hot, I don't agree. Being still makes me cold.  I also smiled at the fact that last week I felt I didn't have enough warm weather outfits and given that for 6 years before that's all I needed, I thought I perhaps need a trip to the shops with the changeable and unpredictable weather here.  I have moved my winter stuff to the other side of the wardrobe and reminded myself I'm bound to need it all again for what we call summer fully arrives and no doubt during it too. I've done quite a bit in the garden, keeping in top of weeds and planting out some seedlings. I've enjoyed the sun and the air in the house. The front room almost doesn't smell of cat piss anymore.  On Sunday I cooked for my guests from Malawi. Listening to radio 6 and thinking of my dad...

  Malawi had what felt like loads of public holidays, these days are joyous to me, they feel like a little gift of time. Us teachers get plenty of holiday time, in Malawi I almost felt it might be too much, when I was in the thick of term and worrying about squeezing all the events and tasks in and then I didn't when we were on the road heading off to a safari, or the lake or another country.  This bank holiday we headed up to Rugby to see Margaret and Dick and I also included a visit to my godfather. This was after a Saturday morning getting the last bits of my INSET in my head and some TV watching and some house chores.  The weather was beautifully spring like, warm in the sun and we ate outside. We also went for great Korean food. A and M love it. I'm not quite as big a fan but I chose well and had a excellent curry.  It was lovely to see Ian, not only to catch up with him but to remember my dad, and hear about him through his eyes.  Back ...

  I neglected to mention the flying visit from my niece Monday last week, I didn't see much of her as she and her friend set off for their gig and I was up and off in the morning before they were out of bed. But is was nice to see her and welcome her to our home once again. May it be a regular occurrence. I had such a fun weekend. The 5 of us got on really well, reminiscing and laughing about hen doos and parties of the past intermingled with more serious conversations and agreements on the state of education these days. We really got to enjoy Oxford, despite the grey rainy days, and I did my first ever escape room. We made a great team and we're told so once we escaped - apparently lots of people don't get on quite so well. It felt like a genuine break away and a chance to switch off.  Monday rolled on and that evening we headed to a Banksy exhibition in which I learnt quite a bit and appreciated the art lots. We had food out, A treated me to an orange and lemonade. She co...