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...

Tetbury is soul tonic, as is R. Our men were off to be brutally beaten at an Ultimate Frisbee grand masters tournament in Glastonbury, and we headed to her gym for a 'body blast' of squatting and more. Followed by Tesco, dog walk and lunch, afternoon nap, oodles of tea and talk in time for our men to return to a lovely evening meal. Sunday we had a lie in and then more tea and talk before walking across fields on the public footpaths, into town, a brunch and for me to get my glasses fixed. We spent much of the afternoon in her garden, us women weeding and moving primroses while the men tried and failed to put up a second hand greenhouse. Once home I caught up with the girls, burnt dinner, ate around the burnt bits and went to bed, content and rested.  I was disappointed with the level of cloud on Monday but set about my list of things to do. One was a meeting to see if I could become a governor for a Trust in Islington. It is a fairly minimal commitment of 6 meetings across th...

In a too early burst of optimism I'd put my big winter coats at the back of my wardrobe last week, but had to relent and get one back out. The sun was shining brightly but I was glad I had my bigger coat as the wintery air chilled my face on the walk around the Embankment. There I met with 2 wonderful women who I have known now for over 20 years and who always make me feel loved and seen and we ate well and spoke lightly and deeply. C had to get back to her son and S and I continued the day wandering through Covent Garden and had a nice coffee and chats a plenty. I went home via A's work and at the end of her shift we ate an ice cream by a pond and chatted in the sun. A fitting day to remember my brother.  I once again headed to roller derby rookie practice on Sunday and this time I fell over quite a few times. I put this down to being on my period and slightly harder skills. This time we were practicing pushes, pace lines, weaving, skating backwards, turns and transitions. I l...

  I am always frustrated getting a headache when I've not been drinking so getting one last Saturday morning was annoying - but then I sat in the sun in my increasingly beautiful garden and let the cup of tea and cool air sooth it. BigA played an old record and the girls joined us in the sun. It reminded me of Malawi. The girls had been out in central London the night before and A told me about her day while wrapped in blue towels smelling fresh and looking completely fine despite not much sleep. I then spent most of the day in the garden, putting in a bit of colour that I'd got at the sale section in B&Q. Tidied and sat. Then when the sun stopped hitting the garden I set about preparing a meal for my pals who were coming over. I made far too much food. We had a really lovely evening.  Sunday was a fantastic day, I had signed up to do the beginner programme for roller derby - I was quite nervous. Worried my knees wouldn't let me even get a proper start. I don't reca...