Category: Family

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They think its all over …

Pic of the week 24/6/18

… for Sophie, it is.

She had her last exam on Friday (Sam had his last exam last week) and so the whole house breathes again and begins to relax, at least until mid-August when results start coming in.

I’ve got another week to go – feel I have finally broken the back of the year: still a busy week ahead, but the glistening prize can be glimpsed glittering in the distance …

In other news, its hot, hot, hot, and set to be all week (lets hope it last well into the hols and doesn’t breakdown at the end of the week.)

England beat Panama 6-1 today in the World Cup, two wins in the first two games, already qualified for the knock out stages, despite history, enough to make one begin to dream …

Ran 10K today in 47m 6 secs, reckon my knee is better!

‘Till next week, when the long summer holiday loom …

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Milestones

Pic of the week 17/6/18

The end of an era.

Sam had is final GCSE exam on Friday, his last day at the Blue School, the last time Sophie drove them both in to school, the last day they went to school together. Sophie has another couple of exams this week, then its all over for her too.

No pick of the week from last week as Becky & I went to “Pub in the Park”, mainly to see Scouting for Girls who were, as ever, excellent.  They originally topped the bill, but were bumped down the order to make way fro Squeeze, who were good, but not as good as Roy and his mates.  First up were The Rifles who were good, well worth watching and would, I reckon, be a great act in a small, intimate venue.

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Sunny weather

Pic of the week 20/5/18

The sun has been shining of late.

Not mega hot heat wave temperatures, but pleasant blue skies and bright sunshine. to set of the vivid greens of the new growth on trees and shrubs.

Sam’s GCSEs have started in earnest, he’s not feeling the pressure, Becky is.  Sophie started her A level season by doing Core 1 on Wednesday.  Both can now begin to see the finish line on the horizon.

I’ve managed to get in a couple of runs, but times are slow: the  bounce is still missing from my stride.  Hoping that half term in week or so gives me the chance to get some miles in and get back to old ways.

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Little white box of happiness

Pic of the week 6/5/18

Perhaps not the most artistic of photos but the little white box pictured above has bought unbridled joy this week. I have even caught myself giving it a loving caress on the odd occasion this week.

We had a new boiler fitted on Tuesday. A Logic + 30W, cost £16000 installed, and once again we have hot water on tap. Bliss.

Our wonderful plumber/heating engineer (Kes Tidball) will come back in a month or so and fit zone valves so that the kitchen underfloor heating and the rest of the house are in desperate zones, and can be controlled separately – that will be worth the extra cost to have that done, too.

A couple of bonus pics this week.

The week started cold and wet, but has ended hot and sunny. Wonderful.

Other news: the knee continues to improve, I can walk normally, am tempted to run, but a tentative plod left me in doubt, so no running yet, still just spinning and swimming.

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Stuff

Pic of the week 8/4/18

Not too much to report this week – weather has not been brill for the Easter holidays , and have spent much of the time pottering around. A few points of note:

  • Swum or spun everyday until yesterday (when I ref-ed)
  • Arranged my new (re)mortgage. Going for a 5 year fixed rate offset deal.
  • Mowed the lawn on Thursday (5th April) for first time this year. It looks pretty rubbish – largely just moss and barren patches. Hope it improves as spring arrives and blossoms into summer (when will that happen?)
  • Refereed yesterday – cup game: Bruton Res v Milborne Port A, went extra time – and today: Wessex U16 v Perry Street. Thoroughly enjoyed both games.
  • Right knee had been getting progressively better all week, but was a little stiff after yesterdays game, worse now after today’s.  However, few exercise free days coming up for it to get better.
  • Binge watched “Manhunt: The Unabomb story” on Netflix. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

… and tooth out tomorrow. Has been on the distant horizon for a while, is now hoving into clear view. Want the tooth out, and all sorted, but not looking forward to it.

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49!

Pic of the week 1/4/18

Turned 49 on Wednesday!

A big day, had a lovely cake, lots of presents and played football (staff v leavers 4 – 4), before staggering through to the start of the Easter holidays.

Age is taking its toll – hurt my right knee (twisted? swollen) playing football on Wednesday, was hobbling badly on Thursday.  Managed to go swimming today (Sunday) 48 lengths (on mile) first exercise for sum time (other than playing football). Still conscious of my tooth – not really hurting, but I think its a bit of fear that the pain could return.  Am having it out a week tomorrow, not looking forward to the procedure and pain, but am looking forward to it all being sorted.

Had a big family gathering last night at Ask, lovely to see everyone again.

Weather is rubbish – Friday was wet, wet, wet and tomorrow promises more rain. Its cold. A few green shoots on plants but we haven’t had any springlike weather. One begins to doubt that summer will ever come …

 

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Mother’s Day

Pic of the week 11/3/18

Mother’s Day.

I’m struggling for words, other than I have the best mum possible for my two wonderful children.

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Beast from the East

Pic of the week 4/3/18

Wednesday – the last day of February was cold, very cold, but it was not until after lunch on Thursday 1st March that the snow began to fall, heralding the arrival of the Beast from the East.

And that evening and night, it dumped a whole lot of snow.  The first significant snowfall for 5 years. Enough snowfall to result in a snow day (or two) but not for me, being but a five minute walk to school.  (For the first time in over two years I regretted moving from Shepton!)

Snow is dispruptingly exciting and fun, beautiful, and blessedly rare. A rather cool drift was sculptured in our back garden; it was quite interesting to see how the snow swirled and illuminated the eddies and gusts.

Two days on, the beast is now slain. Its cold, white, wet entrails still lie strewn across some patches of ground, but the thaw has been swift. The temperature has risen, the sun has shone, rain has fallen to wash it away. It’ll soon fade into a dim memory as the warm spring sun shines through, announcing the end of winter and the promise of hot days to come.

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Imagine Dragons

Pic of the week 25/2/18

On Saturday we went, en famile , to see Imagine Dragons at the Genting Arena, Birmingham.

Great show, both visually and musically, and we all had a great time

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Hols End

Pic of the week 7/1/18

And so the Christmas hols draw to a conclusion.

It seems a long time since we broke up in December (that’s a good thing!) and I’ve enjoyed four weeks of family time. Nothing major to write about – no trips up the Nile, no major milestones, but also no calamities or catastrophes, just plenty of time at home with the three most important people in my life.

A week ago – new year’s eve – we settled down for a game of monopoly, great fun and no (major) fallings out!

Back to school tomorrow and I’m quite looking forward to it.  Would quite happily have another week or seven of holiday, but knowing that I’ve got to go back to work holds no dread or fear for me – I shall embrace it and enjoy it, after all, in five weeks time it’ll be February half term …