Malawi & More

 After BigA had fallen back to sleep after a particularly bad night with almost no sleep, I got ready to go to the big sing. Wearing a bright top as per instructions I headed to Hornsey Library where my Monday choir joined the Tuesday and Wednesday ones and we sung a set on the street for the gathering crowd. Edgar is in the Wednesday choir and, although all I could see was a slight halo of whisky white hair at the back of the bases, we  sang together. I knew most of the songs but not all and managed to busk along. It was lovely to harmonise away and share the joy of the bright and positive songs. Edgar then took me to lunch and I had a rather delicious salad. He set off on his bike and I decided to walk home to get in a bit of proper exercise and stopped off at the Hub to see A and grab an ice cream.  Once home I had a lovely little nap and then woke to get ready for our evening of Murder in Kent. BigA looked dashing as Ed Itor and I a Spanish heiress, Rene Weigh. With m...

  We had a great day on Saturday, I spent most of the morning prepping food and BigA went and got more stuff before a whole load of great friends came over spread out over the day and into early evening. While I was prepping my uncle Colin called and we chatted for almost an hour, he is very easy to talk to and I appreciated his love and concern. We had a much shorter chat on Wednesday. At the party everyone made the right appreciative noises about the garden and how beautiful it is, and we sat in the moving sun all squished up one end as it set for us behind the houses and had a fire. It was really good to catch up with people and see them chatting happily to each other too. I| felt very loved and had a couple of cries when people inevitably asked about the upcoming surgery.  The sun shone the next day too and I spent a fair amount of it helping BigA tidy up, he did the lion share, but couldn't face skating round and round with a little hangover. I did make it ...

 Saturday began with BigA bringing me a cup of tea and then he set off to get sealant for the bath which he then spent the best part of the morning sorting and then he headed to see his mum with his brother. I pottered about the garden and enjoyed the sun. Sunday was more full on, with skating, singing and a party. The party was so much fun, I danced quite a lot, mindful of the luxury of moving your body with abandon. I used to worry about what I looked like, but who actually cares?  Then a Bank holiday, grey and a bit uninspiring but I did a short workout and made food and lounged about doing a jigsaw while watching a film and then off to choir which was still on despite the holiday, we had all missed it so much over the Easter break.  The girls are mainly using their time to revise, A had her art exam this week so she now only has 3 written exams to go, poor M has 6. They both seem to be coping well enough and went to school dressed as a soldier and clown for the last d...

  I have had a rather impressive bruise on my inner wrist due to a fall at roller derby practice that my wrist guards no doubt helped the bruise but also prevented me breaking my wrist. I showed it off to my new form, telling them I explicitly wanted some sympathy. It was great to get out of my own head and while we practiced jumping in roller skates I felt a beautiful freedom from the worries of life and replaced them with a fear of falling. But I'd really missed it for the week off - and speaking of missing I was so pleased to get back to choir after the Easter break. Both such good releases for my woes.  School was hard work, it really doesn't matter how long you've been teaching, children will test your limits. I'm ashamed to say there was some shouting this week, but I mainly used my very disappointed face and waiting, this got most of the classes quiet enough to at least do something. And the phone calls home might help things improve. I'm always so sad when I...

 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...