#WBOYC

 

The end of the year is speeding towards us, let’s see how October panned out as I join in with Australian Deb for What’s Been On Your Calendar

O

Olive had a birthday! She’s been bringing happiness to our family for three years now.  Presents were very much themed around Bluey and Frozen.

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Christmas plans have been made! My son is hosting the celebrations this year. It is lovely to be the guests rather than the hosts nowadays.

Covid and flu vaccinations - trying to do all we can to keep safe this winter.

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Tidying up the house. In an effort to speed up the decorating we decided to pay someone to come in and do it for us. Money well spent!  There has been a lot of decluttering and visits to the charity shops to donate things we really don't need to hold onto anymore.

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Olive and I went to see The Tiger Who Came to Tea at our local theatre. She really enjoyed it.  It was a really good performance, sticking to the original book very authentically.

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Bidding farewell to one of our Zumba teachers.  Her husband's job move means that her family are moving to Dubai.  A great opportunity for them and the start of an exciting new chapter.  We will miss her, she made classes so much fun but I know we will equally enjoy the return of our previous teacher.  The one who went to South America for six months at the end of last year - do we see a pattern emerging?

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Entertaining, we had several groups of people over for various meals, but I need to learn to spread it out over the month rather than all in one week.  Three different meals in the space of six days was quite tiring!

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Renewed our passports and found that the instructions for getting a suitable photo do not give the most flattering picture! I don’t think I ever go through passport control without a smile and not wearing my glasses 😆

Really thrilled to see the Northern Lights in the sky - so very pretty. I'm so pleased we got to see them.

So that was October - fancy seeing a 1 Second Everyday compilation?  Here it is!

See you next month!

What I've been reading in October

 I've definitely slowed down with my reading since the summer - my only book this month was Swimming To Lundy by Amanda Prowse.  This was one of the choices from the online book club run by Leslie.

The main character in this book is Tawrie Gunn who is feeling that life is passing her by.  Still living in the same house in the same seaside town where she was born but tethered to the family home following the tragedy of her father being lost at sea when she was small.  Her mother's grief has resulted in her becoming an alcoholic and Tawrie feels that she has to stay home to help her grandmother to look after her.

As time moves on she feels that there has to be more to life than working in her cousin's cafe, and Tawrie dreams of training to becoming a nurse and then midwife which would be more fulfilling.  Feeling desperate for some kind of change, no matter how small, Tawrie joins the Peacock Swimmers who take a daily swim in the sea.  Unbeknown to Tawrie, there are only two other swimmers but nonetheless she joins the group, swimming in the sea which separates the coastline from Lundy Island which is where her dad drowned.  Being in that area of sea makes Tawrie feel closer to her dad and she finds comfort in talking to him whilst in the water which took his life.

An unexpected encounter with a man named Ed who is visiting the area leads to romance.  Little does Tawrie know that this was not the first time that they met and they aren't the strangers she thought they were.  Furthermore, Ed has a past which he is not in a hurry to reveal.

This is a book which is a bit of a slow burner!  I did enjoy it but it seemed to take a long time to come together.  I felt that Tawrie really needed to have a bit more 'get up and go' but it was clever how the stories of Tawrie and Harriet are intertwined and I enjoyed the description of the location of the story which brought back happy memories of holidays on that part of the English coastline.  If you are looking for an easy read this is a good book to try!

Me on Monday

 Monday finds us in decorating mode again, lounge and dining room this time.  It looks so empty down there with all the picture off the walls and books and glasses out of the display unit.  It's also a time of not knowing where to go or what to do in your own home!  

I'm happy to report that my theatre trip with Olive was a great success.  The actors followed the book word for word and the costumes and set were exactly the same as in the book.  Olive particularly liked the part where the Tiger ate all the food and then danced around the kitchen!  

Rosie and I completed the crystal picture that we’ve been working on, I think I enjoyed it as much as she did! It’s very relaxing ☺️ 

So what else does this week bring?  Well tomorrow is already causing me some anxiety as it starts with a check up at the dentist (I am as bemused as anyone else as to why I should get in a state over a ten minute examination) and ends with a doctor's appointment to discuss the results of my recent blood test. My cholesterol has been raised for the last 4 years but each time they say that my ratio of good to bad is good so I don't need statins.  I'm wondering if now that I am over 65 they may change their mind?

The end of the week see mega childcare - not to mention puppy minding!  Our son and daughter in law are going to a wedding in the Czech Republic so we have Olive and Max here - and Mario the puppy - overnight Friday.  Handing them over to Sophie's sister on Saturday for her turn of looking after them for a night but that evening we have Leo and Rosie staying over (without Daisy) while our daughter and son in law are out at a birthday party.  I predict a very tired Nanny and Grandad on Sunday!

Before we know it, it will be the end of another busy week!

Me on Monday

 I'm typing this whilst admiring the hard work of the decorator who painted our hall, landing and stairs last week.  We didn't realise how tatty the woodwork had become until he started painting over it - what we had thought of as white had actually dulled to a pale cream.  Not any more!  So we have a week's break now and then he'll return to do the lounge and dining room.  

So the big thing to happen unexpectedly last week was the Northern Lights being seen in our skies.

I honestly never thought I would see them so what a lovely surprise.

I'm pleased to report that we had no reactions to our flu vaccination other than an ache in the arm for a couple of days.  I'm relieved that we were feeling well as we unexpected had L & R sleeping over here on Wednesday night - after a day of looking after our other granddaughter, it would not have been good if I'd been feeling under par.

Other unexpected (by us) news is that our son has a new family member.  A springer spaniel who has been named Mario - yes the children were allowed to choose his name!  Boy are they going to be kept busy by that.  

So this week sees me taking Olive to the theatre.  Nothing too highbrow for her first theatre experience - The Tiger Who Came to Tea.  I'm hoping she will enjoy it!  I'll let you know how it goes next week.

As for today, I'm hoping that the rain will stop soon and it will be more pleasant walking around town picking up Olive's birthday present and card.  Have a good week!

Me on Monday

 At the grand age of 66, I’m here to tell you that time does indeed pass more quickly the older you get!

Last week went past in the blink of an eye. I think I was a bit ambitious in planning to have three different groups of people here for food and drink within the space of a week! I am socialised out 😆 It was lovely to see everyone but I seemed to spend most of my time between visits either cooking or tidying up the house.

Let me tell you how many people we have coming over this week (not counting grandchildren!) None. Zero. No one. Well we do have one person, but he is the decorator and the only catering needed is hot drink making!

So a nice relaxing week is on the cards.  I am popping into town on Wednesday with my daughter as she has to have hearing aids fitted and they suggested she brought someone along with her, I’m not sure why! She was diagnosed with Ménière’s disease last year and it has damaged her hearing and prompted the onset of tinnitus. She went for a trial appointment last week to see what type will suit her best and said the difference was amazing. 

My mask for the masquerade ball has arrived! It’ll need a few more feathers added to it but I think it will be perfect for my outfit.

Then on Friday it is Knit and Natter time again but someone else’s turn to host 😊 I have finished the little cardigan that I was making so will be handing that over to be sent to Ukraine. Time to turn my attention to the blanket I was making, now I have to hope that I can pick up where I left off! 

Have a good week!

Photo scavenger hunt - the final check in

 Well that’s it, summer is officially over as it’s time to publish the remaining photos! Earlier finds cane be found here and here.

All that were left were the following

4 What's on your feet

These flip flops have definitely been worn for the last time this year!

7 Favourite summer reading nook/space

11 A kitchen utensil you hardly use

I used to use this bread maker a lot, several times a week in fact but then we got out of the habit and a couple of loaves didn't come out so well and now the machine has been relegated to the utility room, unused and unloved.

13 Mark the passage of time

It's hard to see in the photo but this is the doorframe in our kitchen with pencil marks to show the heights of the grandchildren.

Aternate B in place of 15 Something you've repurposed I've chosen stamping.

I don't send so many pieces of post nowadays but like to send birthday cards.

Another fun summer of finding examples to fit the criteria - huge thanks to Ruth for hosting this year!