Month: June 2024

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The end is nigh …

Pic of the week 23/6/24

One week to go …

One more week of school, one week to get organised before we vanish to Greece for the month of July. And after a busy week at school, that’s what I feel like doing: just vanishing for a month, away from cares, concerns and questions. Of course, living in the digital age as we do, we’ll keep in touch with the children, and up to date with the news (filled in my postal vote today – looking forward to learning of the destruction of the worst government of my lifetime whilst we are away) but I’m really looking forward to escaping for a month.

The weather hasn’t been stella this week, but it has been largely dry and with the long days I have enjoyed the evening light, like the pic of the week taken, I think, on the summer solstice.

Becky is away at the moment for a uni reunion in Ambleside; on Friday night into Saturday, at circa 4pm ish I was awoken by some noise in the back garden.  going downstairs to investigate, I saw the rear light was on, but nothing obvious. Then, looking out of the side kitchen door, on the wall I saw what I first thought was a cat, but then recognised it as a fox. I watched it for a bit – I think it was also watching me – as it calmly trotted along the wall, over the gate into the front and then across the road and away.  In the morning I discovered one of my bait boxes in the middle of the gravel, and found a dead mouse in it – I suspect this is what the fox was after, and the cause of the noise.

Went for a run today – my first for a few weeks – I was slow, but that’s not a bad thing. Other than the first k, they were all over 5 mins. In part I think this id use to not having run, and in part due to being “end of term tired” but I do think I need to be running a bit slower – better to run and enjoy it, than ran at speed be end up whacked.  Will be interesting to see how my speed changes over the summer.

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Fathers Day

Pic of the week

Today is Father’s Day. Sophie has been home (she came home on Wednesday evening, then she and Becky went to Cornwall on Thursday, returning late last night) and it has been nice to see her. I popped over to Wells in the morning to see my Dad – looking sprightly for an 85 year old – and of course I saw Sam last week. Sophie gave me the latest Thursday Murder Club book (book 4) and Sam gave me a choc/nut/pop corn snack mix, which I will tuck in to this evening as I watch England’s Euro ’24 opener v Serbia.

Still on a football theme, yesterday I refereed at the Ashcott FC charity festival – four hours of officiating (that is actual time either on the line or in the middle, not including breaks), it was a long afternoon, I did over 26K steps and my legs ached by the end, although not so bad today.

The weather continues to be poor – very wet and cold (although apparently it has been a very warm – possibly record breaking – Spring, but I think that is because the nights have been relatively warm.) Friday the heavens opened at lunchtime, fortunately only the occasional bit of drizzle yesterday afternoon, and today has turned out better than expected.

Things still seem really busy, hard to think that in two weeks time we’ll be heading off to Greece – whilst I feel a little unprepared, I also think that doesn’t really matter: it will be nice to vanish into the Aegean sea and let everyone else sort themselves out for a month whilst we just chill in obscurity!

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Take That!

Pic of the week 9/6/24

Last night, Becky and I went to see Take That at Ashton Gate. It was, not surprisingly, brilliant, we both really enjoyed the evening. The boys seemed comfortable with themselves and indulged in a bit of unembarrassed cheese and brief romp through their history before banging out all the favourites. They didn’t disappoint.

But before we headed off to Bristol, Sam had headed home for the weekend, to attend a party, and pick up the Civic. He’s now returned to Cardiff to start organising his house move, but it was lovely to see him, albeit briefly.

And the garden continues to flourish. We’ve not had much rain this week, and have enjoyed some sunshine, but its not been warm, even in the sun. But the days, and evenings, have been brightened by the blooming of the “Love in the Mist” flowers in the lawn, swathes of colour across a green backdrop, host to an increasing number of bees and other insects. Plus, we’ve had quite a bit of baby bird activity this week – we’ve definitely seen baby robins finding their wings flying around the garden, and salon sparrows and blue tits enjoying our little wildlife haven.

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A bity, busy, week

Pic of the week 2/6/24

So half term week comes to a close. We’ve done a lot – nothing major, but plenty of little things. Except for today – which has been glorious – the weather hasn’t been too good, with most days having some rain.

On Monday evening, Becky and I took a trip to the cinema in Wells to watch “Back in Black”, the biopic of Amy Winehouse. An enjoyable – if a little sad – film, I’m glad I went, a rare night out!

Tuesday and Wednesday saw me visit the dentist twice! Once for a scale and polish, and then the next day to have an old filling re-done. Boring but important stuff, a bit like the Ka going for its MOT on Wednesday – needed a new rear shock absorber, but other than that, its good for another year of motoring.

Still on the boring but important front, I do seem to have spent considerable time (and quite a bit of cash!) buying insurance: renewed the house and travel insurance, Becky’s car insurance, and also sourced insurance for Sam for the Civic. Not the most exciting of stuff, but that’s what half-terms are for, to get the life admin done!

A trip to Lidl on Thursday should have been uneventful, but when picking something up of the floor I “tweaked” my back. It hurt for 24 hours, and I am still “aware” of it now, lying on my back stretcher for 5 minutes really does do it the world of good.  Then, as we emerged into the car park, we saw (and heard – this was a definite bump, not kiss) a young lad bump into the back of the Ka whilst trying to park his car. A quick look showed some chips to the paintwork, but the bumper did its job, deforming to take the load, then springing back into position, so no major damage done. Fearful of his insurance rocketing, he was happy to bung me a few quid for me to repair the car myself, touch up paint ordered and applied (but I will be the first to admit, bodywork is not where my talents lie)

Yesterday we had another day out! It was an open day at Glastonbury Abbey and Becky and I took advantage of the opportunity to wander around the grounds without having to pay to enter. I’m glad I did, a lovely big space, the sun shone (but was not too hot) and its nice to know what is behind the walls in our neighbouring town.

After leaving, we wandered up the high street in Glastonbury to see the Delilah mural, which was impressive

And so half term comes to a close. Four weeks of work, then Kalimera to Greece!