… my musings on, er, "stuff"
Pic of the week 8/1/17
OK – so a bit of a cop out for pic of the week, 2017 is now fully up and running, yet I’m posting a pic of 2016 pics. That’s because I couldn’t find a good pic to summarise the week just gone – S & S have gone back to school, Becky’s been madly fulfilling sales orders, I’ve run, swum, spun, ref-ed and endured a day’s INSET. Back to school for me too tomorrow, a short five week sprint ’till half term and the weather starts to improve …!
With 2017 up and running, its time to write down (and commit to) my goals, aims and targets for the year ahead. Looks like its going to be a physical year!
So how did I do?
At the start of the year, here, I listed my goals, aims and targets for the year. 2016 now draws to a close – time to review how I did …
On the whole, a successful year. Now time to start pondering the goals, aims and targets for next (2017) year.
The year began with us living on a building site – although the main structure was up at the start of the year, there was still much to be done:
I would say it was the start of the Easter holidays that the build was finished – although there was still much to do. If 2015 was characterised by the build, 2016 will be remembered for re-structuring the garden. I built the deck:
I removed the side panel, took out a lot of bushes and built a shed:
I tackled the front hedge (in several goes!)
… and took down the old summerhouse:
Sophie took, and passed (and excelled) in her GCSEs
I did, and passed, my referee’s course, and “caught the bug”
Sam continued to grow. And grow. And grow.
We “did” the sitting room – I laid the floor, Becky painted & styled everything:
I swam a lot, I ran a lot and I took up spinning. All this led to me being the fittest I’ve been for years, and also the leanest I’ve been for years:
And Christmas came around – fun family time, gathering of the clans before Christmas, just the four of us on the big day itself:
Despite all the turmoil in the wider world (Brexit, Trump, seemingly endless celebrate deaths) 2016 was a good year in Peabody Towers, who knows what 2017 will bring?
Pic of the week 25/12/16
It’s Christmas …!
Pic of the week 18/12/16
Last night, Saturday 17 December 16, we descended, en masse, to Ask in Wells to gather together and celebrate Christmas.
It was a lovely evening of great food, fine wine (or so I’m told – my Diet Coke certainly passed the taste test) and fab company.
Sam was delighted to get confirmation that he is now officially the second tallest in the family and he is eagerly eyeing up my crown – still a couple of centimeters to go, but maybe this time next year …
Pic of the week 11/12/16
Christmas is coming! Still seems some time away to me, but is a mere two weeks away.
The house is in a very different state from this time last year, looking forward to our first proper Christmas in #79.
Pic of the week 27/11/16
Its busy, busy, busy at Peabody Towers at the moment – me with reports, Becky with black Friday orders, and two days supply at WCJS on Thursday & Friday, Sophie working at Hallmark cards in Clarks Village and Sam all loved up and spending his time with his girlfriend, so not much time to think about this post, just whap up a photo of me on the sofa watching Narcos. (Note the co-ordinating socks & headphones!)
Oh, and to add to the rich mix that is the variety of life, on Tuesday morning the boiler packed in and stopped giving us hot water. Three smelly days, one diverter valve and £300 later its working again.
Two weeks to the end of term – light has been glimpsed at the end of the tunnel.
Pic of the week 20/11/16
So Friday saw, at long last, exeat arrive. The opportunity to have two – yes, two – full days off was seized eagerly by all. And I have been disciplined enough to take those two days off as days off and not fill them with school work. ‘Tis now a manageable 3 week chunk until the Christmas holidays (although the wearisome prospect of reports – again – rear their ugly head.)
Bit of a calamity on Saturday – the clothes came out of the washing machine soaking wet. Re-spun them, still soaking wet. Opened the filter and loads of water drained out. However, couldn’t clean the filter and, more importantly, couldn’t re-seat the filter without getting a leak, so a new machine was needed.
I was due to ref in Ilchester that afternoon, so reserved a machine from Curry’s in Yeovil and went straight their to collect it after the game (Huish AFC v Oddcombe Reserves 1-0 to the visitors. Match report video below.) Car park was heaving, had to double park. Came out 15 mins later to find a parking ticket. Bu&&er. And the machine wasn’t as simple to fit as I’d hoped (hole for plug in work surface not big enough)
Oh well, all’s well that ends well. Machine now in and working properly, old machine disposed of at the tip.
And with a bit of extra time this weekend, a wrote a (short) post on my maths blog. I really do need to start doing so more often. I enjoyed doing it when I did, and its (the blog) is a great resource/record – would be a shame to let it fall into disuse.
Last night we got battered by Storm Angus – very windy & noisy in the night, but no damage done.
After lunch today, I spent 30 mins with Sophie helping her with her maths – Core 1 circles, and Core 2 Trigonometry. And now its time to go swimming with Sam. I could get used to these two day weekends!
Pics of the week 6/11/16
Last week the clocks went back and the second half of term began, always a significant milepost in any year, marking the shift into the dark, dreary days of late autumn and winter.
But its been a busy week, hence a gallery of the week rather than just one pic. Sophie’s 17th birthday, so the L Plates are out and she’s learning to drive.
My refereeing certificate and badge from the FA arrived through the post, confirming my appointment as a fully qualified level 7 ref. I am rather proud of this achievement. (Ref-ed today: Somerton Utd U13s v Stoke Wolves. The wolves ran out as 5-2 victors)
The tree in the back garden has turned the most vibrant shade of flame red – really rather striking. To be fair, the weather has been pretty good (read: dry) although in the last few days it has turned cold – and not just a little chilly, proper, sub 10 degrees, with wind to go with it, cold.
And so as the weather turns and the nights lengthen, it’ll mean more time spent indoors, so its a good job the sitting room is finished, to await the arrival of the sofas on Friday.
And it was this week last year that it all began – the builders arrived and knocked the garage down. It was exciting, and I’m pleased we did it, but I’m glad its finished!