Malawi & More

  I spent Saturday early afternoon and evening with one of the most wonderful people. We saw The Roses, which had some good laugh out loud bits and some, oh man bits. I feel though that there was a running joke of a woman being inappropriate with a man, overly sexual and I just don't find any kind of non-consensual stuff funny. I think it is a cheap laugh at best, and just abuse at worst. I have heard a few interviewers referring to it as 'so funny'. I bet in a few years we will see it for what it is. Anyway - overall it was good.  On Sunday we had Edgar over for brunch and BigA made a really lush shakshuka, we ate in the garden, the sun making it just warm enough with jumpers on. Then we sat at the back of the garden and I fell asleep, relaxed and feeling content. I did the ironing and watched a bit of TV, and read more of my book. I looked over the school week ahead, happy that it seemed to be a week I could handle.  We had booked the car in for service and MOT the Frid...

I woke up early on Saturday too nervous/excited to sleep in. Then after we had loaded the car we set off for Liverpool and As new chapter. The traffic was frustrating and we were pleased to have set off a bit earlier than felt necessary - we were still a little late but it didn't seem to matter. A's small new home had two of its residents there, they had moved in that day. They are second years and don't go to LIPA, both blonde, I casually wondered if the fourth house mate would also be blonde and the house would get a reputation for hair colour, although A has pink and brown in hers. We got the stuff in, I made myself a cup of tea and then we unpacked what we could, realizing what small things we didn't have.  We then headed to the big Tesco and got her a few more bits and a starter shop. I think this bit felt the strangest, I was trying to think of what she would actually want and cook, and mindful of the lack of space in the kitchen. I still can't remember how I ...

This week I have once again been taking it relatively easy. Although I did go out with BigA and D on Saturday to be in the audience for a live podcast recording of No Such Thing As A Fish. If you download it you might be able to hear BigA chuckling away and laughing loudly. We went to a couple of pubs after and had a very pleasant evening together. I haven't done much else though... I did almost nothing on Sunday, I had intended to do so many things, my main achievement was to finish a book I was given for my birthday. It is a great book, full of characters that made me want for them and laugh with them and a fair amount of crying because of them. 'Sorrow and Bliss'. I also made an ok risotto.  I'd been feeling anxious about work, partly worried about teaching classes I know and struggled a bit with and some feelings of the fact the contract finishes in April. In the fast moving world of teaching, I'll have to start seriously looking in January. Right now I just wan...

I didn't sleep brilliantly and woke up too early, perhaps excited to be heading off to see R and M. I packed and did a little bit of general stuff before we set off. I was pleased I'd thought about using one of those shoulder pillows that people have on planes. It really helped. Once there, I was delighted to see R and M, we helped get the hall ready and then we headed to theirs for lunch and meeting new people. They have great friends and although I'm sure I talked far too much it was a lovely evening overall. I was a bit sad I couldn't risk the dancing but did love taking pictures and chatting away. Rosie did a great speech, a lovely level of funny and meaningful. Her youngest did a spontaneous one too, and I was delightful to see that he has matured so much and I felt very proud of him.   We had a nice breakfast the next day having stayed in a local hotel and then we went back to the Wagner's for a morning and afternoon of more chats and lots of tea. I was sad to...

  It was, for me, an uneventful weekend made up mostly of TV, reading and doing a couple of simple online courses that are free with my school account. The others were much busier than me. No rain but not a huge amount of sun either, still lovely to sit and read in the garden while listening to house martins making some cheerful noise.  BigA cooked up a lovely breakfast for us on the bank holiday morning which we ate in the garden before the sun was too strong. I ventured further afield on Monday to the shops and despite the lingering and slight pain in my neck and shoulder I felt almost normal. I continued with the book 'Butter' it has taken a bit of perseverance but now I'm over half way through and it is making me hungry and excited for our trip to Japan in Easter next year. I am minded to write down the dishes the characters seem to enjoy the most and see if I too can taste what the serial killer has enjoyed! We were lucky that M popped in following her epic trip to Per...

 Some positive news to start. BigAwas awarded the contract he'd been waiting on and, despite them being typically late with letting him know, now gives us a little more security for a few years. He is now very busy.   I hope my husband knows (I do tell him) just how much I appreciate it when he brings me a morning cup of tea in bed. He doesn't even drink tea and as I have no clue how to make coffee to his standard in his machine, I never return the favour.  I wasn't hung over but I was worn out from a busy birthday and found it hard to get out of bed. I did eventually and as we said goodbye to one lot of guests our next arrived. I was so pleased to have M tackle the garden, getting it ready for late summer. I was only able to watch but I know soon I'll have reached the time I'm allowed to garden again. The weeds never stop. We had a lovely couple of days culminating in a BBQ where, as always I made far too much food. BigA cooked away and I was still feasting on left...

The week began with us heading off to see mates over from Malawi and then later on that day seeing another pal, T, who is over for the long break. It was lovely to chat and find out about things that have happened, stayed the same and changed. It made me feel a little sad to not be going back at the end of August. There's a lot to miss. But things sound tougher for many people.  We also saw another Malawi connection this week, K and her son who came over and we got the chance to swap stories. She really helped A through her English GCSE and we used to play a lot of poker together, so it was a lovely but all too short catch up.  On Monday morning I found A up and eating breakfast downstairs - very unlike her this holiday. Turns out Scruffy had brought her a frog at 5am. So she was very awake. We must ensure our bedroom door stays firmly shut at night. I do not want these gifts.  I went for a decent medium sized walk with U this week and she treated me to a very nice coffee...