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!

What I’ve been reading in September

 

I enjoyed reading this book, it was easy to read and I warmed to all the characters. After breaking up with her boyfriend Jo travels to London to look after her uncle’s stationery shop while he recovers from illness.  Intrigued by the snippets of life that her customers share with her,, she finds that she is enjoying her time there more than she expected. She expands the selection of fountain pens and enjoys collecting the short notes that her customers scribble whilst testing the pens.

An unlikely friendship evolves between Jo and two of her customers, Ruth (the Runaway Vicar) and Malcolm. They unite through their quest to help Malcolm research a book that he is writing, which results in them imagining the unlikely relationships that may spring up between the ghosts of the people buried in Highgate Cemetery.

I would recommend this book, I enjoyed the relationships that grows between the characters and looked forward to reading at least one more chapter each evening.

For the first time in a while, I have only managed to read one book this month!  I have started this one, and am enjoying it but still have a quarter to read.

If you have read any Marian Keyes books before, you will already know the Walsh family but you don't need to have read the earlier books to enjoy this story.  

Anna Walsh has returned to Dublin from America and is recovering from the car crash which killed her husband and left her scarred.  Despite living a highly successful life as a PR in the beauty industry in Manhattan she has tired of her time there and to the surprise of her family - I mean, who on earth would walk away from a job which offered so many high end cosmetic freebies - she hopes to find a new beginning back in Ireland.

With no job and no home of her own she agrees to help out her friends who are finding much local opposition to their plans to open a luxury coastal resort.  They ask her to use her PR experience to defuse the anger and vandalism being caused by the locals of the small town.  However, the other person who has been asked to assist her is an old flame, Joey Armstrong. 

There's always a lighthearted storyline behind the main situation and with Anna, it is finding herself in the middle of menopause without easy access to HRT.  Something that was freely available without question in Manhattan is surprisingly difficult to have prescribed by the Irish doctors she approaches.  Needless to say this has an effect on Anna's hormones and they way she feels she is seen as a woman in her 40s.  

Marian Keyes has such a turn of phrase, and such a down to earth humour that she manages to mix the amusing with the serious in a very clever way.  The family drama that accompanies the Walsh family is cleverly done and I'm looking forward to finishing the book to see how Anna's story concludes.

So that's it from me this Monday, I have to crack on with tidying the house and preparing food as we have friends coming for lunch in a couple of hours!

Have a good week!

#WBOYC in September

 

Once again I am joining in with the What's Been on Your Calendar theme, hosted by Deb (normally in Australia, but currently in the UK!)

S

Southwold, one of my favourite places and a lovely location for a long weekend away with Coco. 

E

Enjoying more normal routines after the six weeks school holidays - ah the bliss of four mornings to ourselves! There's still two school pick ups and a day of looking after Olive but that is much more relaxing than the holiday schedule.

P

Putting summer clothes away and returning winter outfits to the front of the wardrobe.  Also time for warmer pyjamas!

T

Thinking about what I can wear to a Masquerade party in December. Suggestions will be very welcome.  I'm thinking some wide leg silky trousers with a gold sequin top and a very fancy mask with feathers but that could all change!

E

Emptying out the freezer to defrost it ready for the Christmas goodies. Not a fun job but boy does it feel good when it is done and any suspect out of date bits have been cleared away.

M

My wedding anniversary!  Forty four years - doesn't that sound a long time? We went to Maldon for a picnic on the green there and went to friends in the evening for drinks. Our proper treat to ourselves was our long weekend in Southwold the following weekend.   

B

Blood tests done as part of our annual health check. There's always something slightly out of range that gets shown up. There’s a bit of a question mark over my cholesterol levels 😬

E

Enjoying joining in a Knit & Natter group. Through spending two or three hours in a creative atmosphere means I have finished Rachel’s jumper and started knitting a baby cardigan to send to Ukraine via a local charity drive.

R

Replacing the shower unit in our ensuite.  The existing one was 20 years old so we've had our monies worth!  It isn't until you replace old with new that we realised how discoloured the shower tray has become.

Reopening of our town park, there has been a lot of tidying up, renovation of the coffee shop, planting of wildflowers,archaeological digs, building of skate parks and extra play equipment. It’s a lovely place to visit and walk along the River Stort and it was a lovely sunny afternoon at the beginning of the month for the ‘ribbon cutting’ ceremony.

So all that is left to share is my month so far in pictures, 1 Second Everyday

Me on Monday

Slightly later with my post this week and I am typing with slightly frozen fingertips!  I found myself with a free morning and decided that now would be a good time to defrost the freezer in our kitchen.  It isn't overfull at the moment and it gave me the opportunity to clear out any slightly suspect packages that may have been in there a little too long, make room for Christmas goodies and do a stocktake of all the things I had forgotten we had put in there!  I'm feeling very virtuous 👼

Now we need to have a quick drum roll ... I have finished my daughter's jumper!  

I'm not wearing the ideal clothes to show it off but you can get the idea.  She seems very pleased with it and I did enjoy making it but I am pleased to have it off my hook. 

It was my turn to host the Knit and Natter group on Friday and one of the group is collecting hand knitted garments to send to Ukraine.  So I decided to start a baby's cardigan.  It's been a while since I did any knitting, it took a while to get back into the swing of things.  It's nice to work on something small for a change.

So this week holds a haircut, a day with Olive, two school pickups, a Zumba class and lunch out with a friend.  Before we know it the weekend will be here!

Have a good week x

Sunny Southwold

 I missed posting yesterday as we were travelling home from a glorious long weekend in Southwold. It’s one of our favourite places and a great place to unwind, relax and enjoy a wonderful stretch of the English coastline. Why do we like it?

Let me show you around …

There’s a quirky pier jutting out to sea

There’s some of the best chocolate and gelato shops

The town is watched over by a historic lighthouse

There’s a beautiful beach for early morning dog walks

And sand dunes 

It’s extremely dog friendly

Beach huts, I love a colourful beach hut, usually I take a picture of the front of them but this day I sneaked a photo of the roofs peeking out over the sand dunes. 

Did I mention the gelato?

And the quirky water feature on the pier, when the clock strikes the figures drop their shorts and squirt water

There’s some fascinating buildings 

And the best fish and chip shop

Just look at that intricate brick work.

Have I convinced you that you need to visit as well?  I am available for guided tours 😊