Sophie has returned to uni, Sam is at work (& when he’s not, he’s out with his pals or hidden away in his room.)
As a family, we have transitioned into a new normal, a new phase of all of our lives.
Not necessarily good, not necessarily bad, just different – one has the definite sense that a milestone, a marker, has been passed.
Perhaps symbolic of this new phase, I spent 20 mins outside today, tidying away the geraniums that have finally succumbed to the frosts of late, and getting the daff pots from the bottom of the garden and back into prominence ready for the Spring that is, hopefully, not now too far away.
Green shoots – the knowledge that warmer, brighter times are ahead, both in the garden and metaphorically.
So, I had an abscess on my tooth that hurt like hell, I knackered my knee and began to doubt I would ever walk properly again, and the boiler gave up the ghost, necessitating an expensive replacement, but other than that its been a pretty good year, and, as ever, Becky has captured many moments on camera.
We endured the Beast from the East, and then basked in the best summer since ’76.
We saw the Imagine Dragons, Scouting for Girls, The Rifles, Squeeze and the excellent Deacon Blue.
Sophie & Sam both did well in their summer exams (A levels & GCSEs) and Sophie is now thriving reading Economics at Reading University.
A fantastic week in Majorca was, perhaps, the highlight of the year.
We suffered jellyfish stings, World Cup fever and the sad demise of our baby robins.
And every morning I throw open the shutters and am met by a magnificent view of the Tor, in all its hues and variations.
Today is Sophie’s (19th) birthday, her first away from home. But the wonders of FaceTime (still a pipe dream when she was born a mere nineteen years ago) meant that we were able to join her as she opened her pressies at uni.
In other news, half term has drawn to its inevitable conclusion. Its been a good week and half; seems a long time since we went to visit Sophie last week, and not done too much since then, but that’s always nice. Have slept a lot, read, ref-ed a couple of times, run, swum … so perhaps I did do quite a bit!
Friday morning was sunny and warm (up till then it had been sunny but cold, since then its been grey & damp, but warm) so spent some time in the garden, putting it to bed for the winter. Pulled up the runner beans and self seeded tomatoes, the sweet peas had definetly flowered their last, so they came out too, all going on the “new” compost heap – have decided that the time is right to leave the other one to cook over winter ready for the new season. The geraniums (or more correctly, perlagoniums ) survived the light frosts of last week and are still flowering, so left them untouched.
Back to work tomorrow – it seems like a dangerously short five weeks, but I’m sure in a couple of weeks time the half term just gone will seem a distant memory yet the Christmas holidays still a long way away!
Yesterday we went to visit Sophie at uni in Reading.
It was lovely to see her again, and a lovely family day. An easy two hours in the car to Reading, met her at her Halls, before we all went “into town.”
It turns out Reading is a nice town – modern, vibrant, etc. etc.
But even better was the discovery that Sophie is thriving at uni – she seemed so happy, so organised, enjoying her subject: thriving. A great day.
Today I went for a run. Fortunately I had had the foresight to hunt out my running gloves a couple of days ago as it was cold, very cold. After such a fantastic summer that never seemed to end, and a benign, beautiful autumn, the cold snap that has snapped over the last couple of days has come as a real shock.
Running wasn’t easy today, I seem to have lost my “easy, lolloping bounce” – I was aware of every impact of foot on ground with every stride. As soon as I encountered the slightest incline or headwind my split time crept above 5 mins per K. Still did 7 K in a respectable time, but a good minute slower than my summer pace. With half term now upon us, perhaps I can get some miles in and get back to running ways.
I like this “grabbed” snap of the three of us on our way to Yoga (Sam was going for a walk around the block.) Tuesday and Wednesday were glorious days with wall to wall sunshine – very different from the last few days when Storm Callum has lashed us with wind and rain.
I’ve been doing a lot of referee-ing of late – and really enjoying it, although it hasn’t mean I’ve done much running of late.
And for much you can substitute any.
Due to a late cancellation, I found myself at a loose end this afternoon so I went for a run – my first since August 26th!
Not the ideal time to run (2.30 ish, rather than in the morning), it was windy (the lingering wake of storm Callum) and I was overdressed in two layers, but I didn’t find it easy. Ran my Upper 6K route, the time wasn’t too far off normal, all splits sub 5 mins, except for the hill which was 5.12 but it did strike my how I’ve lost my easy running rhythm.
I’d still describe myself as fit – possibly fitter than I have been for some time, cruising my way around the pitch as referee, but it just shows how fitness can be task specific.
Anyway, with half term beginning to appear on the horizon, the opportunity to once again pound the streets of Street will soon be here and I can eat up those miles.
A major milestone today, as we took Sophie to University of Reading to start a whole new chapter in her life.
It has been a long time coming – it seems an age since she got her results in the summer, but despite the anticipation, its still hard to believe that the day has finally arrived and she has “left home” (of course she hasn’t, but she’s not here full time any more)
The mechanics of the day were memorable for the wrong reasons – up early for a 6.30 am departure in the pouring rain, rain that did not stop until after I had made umpteen trips transporting her stuff (and there was a lot of it!) from the car to her new room. I was soaked. But what father wouldn’t do that for his daughter.
By the time Becky & I left, the sun was shining, probably a metaphor for the fantastic sunny future Sophie can look forward to.
Its been the best I can remember, so much done, so much to enjoy.
Its been hot, perhaps the hottest and driest since ’76. Whilst the lawn and plants may have suffered, the weather has been brilliant.
Parched lawn
The hols began on a high note with the World Cup …
… England making it to the semi-finals and making us believe again,
… and a day out with Sam to Yeovilton Air show (but coming back in the afternoon to watch England beat Sweeden 2-0 in the World Cup Quarter final)
Yeovilton Airshow
We had a few days in Cornwall, and the sun continued to shine …
Cornwall July ’18
… and then of to Majorca for the main event. A fantastic week in Pouerto Pollensa …
Majorca July ’18
Each and every day was brilliant, it would be hard to pick out a highlight. Me and Sam climbing Puig de Maria was great, Formentor was stunningly beautiful (although overcrowded), pool time, evening meals, catching up with “Tappers” (for 10 years we lived less than 10 miles from each other but never met up, but put us on an island in the med and we’ll make the effort!), but perhaps the highlight was …
Cala Boquer
We come home to rain, but only for a day or so, and then the sun came back out.
Sam turned 16 …
Sam’s 16th
… and they both got the grades they needed and deserved in GCSE and A level …
I did plenty of exercise, regularly running 10K (as well as spinning, swimming and refereeing) …
See front run, Puerto Pollensa, July ’18
… and amongst all that, I also found time to tidy up the front drive, and add a bit of gravel …
And so tomorrow, its back to school and work. It really has been a great summer holiday. Thanks for the memories!
So this week it was Sam’s turn to collect his exam results and because of (his view) or despite (his mother’s view) his efforts he did well securing 8’s in Maths & Physics, 7’s in Chemistry & Biology, 6’s in English Lang, History & Computer Science (and being just 1 mark of a 7 in Comp Sci) and 5’s in English Lit & French.
He was pleased with that haul, as were we and he will stay at The Blue School to do Maths, Physics & Chemistry as his A levels.
Thursday was A level results day, a day that we would discover Sophie’s destiny.
She didn’t disappoint, achieving (drum roll, please):
Maths A
Economics B
Geography B
And she got an A in her EPQ, and we mustn’t forget her B in AS Physics from last year. An excellent, and well deserved haul.
She’s off to Reading University to read Economics in late September, and already the excitement is building. She’s got a place in her first choice Hall of Residence (Bridges)
