Category: Family

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Cars, bikes and pavements

Pic of the week

Well, what a full week this has been!

Monday saw the 205 complete (not pass, but not abandoned!) its MOT. It didn’t pass – I didn’t expect it too, but was surprised that it failed on a couple of brake lines being corroded and headlight alignment. After some initial disappointment, I have decided that these are not major jobs and I will do them myself, as a summer poject.

Tuesday saw me back in the saddle – spinning at Strode leisure centre for the first time since the pandemic. It was tough, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, I may be tempted to return …

On Wednesday we went to Cornwall in the rain (and returned in the rain – it pretty much rained all day) for a gathering of the Woodhouse clan.  A long way to go, but a nice afternoon.

Thursday – a big day: I ran again for the first time since my plantar fasciitis. It was not easy, partly because I was conscious of my foot, and partly because I haven’t run for 4 months. I ended up running 4Km, my foot was OK afterwards, but my left calf felt like a knotted ball. I ran again on Saturday, this time running nearly 6 Km (the 3km “Grange-High Street” loop twice) It felt good to be running again. I think I do need to manage my miles – my foot doesn’t hurt, but I’m “aware” of it – not sure its still 100% recovered. Have also swum a couple of times as well.

Friday was lovely day, weather wise, and spent much of it in the garden, doing some pruning, but also a lot of reading and soaking up the sun.  After much promise, though, sadly neither Saturday nor today lived up to the promise of more good weather, and now it seems the rain will be back tomorrow (good job we are off to Greece (Rhodes) on Wednesday).  Over Friday and today, I chopped back the “brown” tree and the buddleia, reducing both significantly in height, a job that needed doing.

In addition, on Tuesday, the cooker stopped working. It was the heating element – quick bit of fault diagnosis, part identified and ordered, arrived on Thursday and within 20 minutes I’d fixed it. On Monday, the Corsa threw a EML light – Sam thought it was like when the timing belt slipped 18 months ago, diagnostics showed a misfire on cylinder 4, and after initially finding no fault, I was able to replicate it – a low speed lack of power.  Whipped of the coil pack and found some moisture ingress around the no. 4 spark plug: cleaned it up, dried it off and the problem seems to have gone away. Pretty sure that this was the cause and correct solution.

So a busy week, a full week, but an enjoyable week.

 

 

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Return of the bambinoos

Pic of the week 26/3/28

Both bambinos came home yesterday – Sam as his term is over and Sophie just because; she’ll work from home for the next few weeks,

Other than that, though, not too much to report. My daffodils are looking good, both in the trough and the lawn, the clocks went forward today so its nice to welcome in the longer evenings, although we still haven’t had much spring like weather to enjoy.  Its been showery, grey and not warm, Still have one more week of term to get through, but light is definitely beginning to glimmer on the horizon.

My foot continues to improve  – still not sure I’d want to go running on it (although that day may need to come in the next weeks/months) most of the time I just don’t notice it; it doesn’t hurt but can still be “aware” of it at times.  Although when I think about it, its been a  term, or 3 months, that is quite a hefty length of time needed for recovery.

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Visit from Sam

Pic of the week 12/3/23

Sam came home on Saturday for a couple of nights and it was lovely to see him. (He had been to a party at Smithy’s in Bristol on Friday night) He pretty much slept for most of today, emerging at circa 12.30pm, is currently out at Idris’s and he heads home tomorrow, but it has been nice to have him home for a few days.

Its been a cold week and we had some snow on Wednesday.  Not a great deal, and it didn’t really settle down here, but the Tor turned briefly white:

but it was all gone by the end of the day as the snow just turned to rain.  Has stayed cold for most of the week – I got v cold at games yesterday: low temperature, wind, some stinging rain – although this morning was pleasant with some sunshine and it didn’t feel cold. Although by late afternoon, everything had gone grey and it started to rain. Tomorrow promises to be wet and very windy – I would still struggle to say we are anywhere close to spring, beautiful blue skies have been a rarity.

Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps it was because tickets came on sale, most probably a combination of both, but we bought tickets to Malaga for December.

The plan is to fly to Malaga in the morning, then get the train to Cordoba, spend a couple of nights there before returning to Malaga for a night or two, then home.  The initial cost of the flights was circa £50 each return, but carry on luggage etc added an extra £80. Still return flights for less than £150 aint bad (although it does say something when your bags are worth more than you!)

My foot: continues to improve, but is “still there” Did have a wonderful dream in the week where I dreamt I was running barefoot on grass – wonderful. Went swimming today, did 46 lengths, 1.5km. I am enjoying doing some exercise on a Sunday morning again.

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A Busy Week

Pic of the week 19/2/23

Its been a busy, but enjoyable, (half term) week.

On Wednesday, Becky & I went to Clevedon for the morning, It was a beautiful day (well, the morning was – we left at lunchtime under gathering grey skies) and we watched the swimmers emerge, very pink, from the marine lake. We ambled along the seafront enjoying the big blue sky and then sauntered up and down the pier. We sat outside for coffee and felt a million miles from home. A very pretty seaside town that hasn’t declined like so many have.

On Thursday we went to Cardiff to visit the children.  A cold, damp day (I had misjudged the weather and found myself shivering in my lightweight spring coat, wishing I’d worn my puffa) As always, lovely to see the bambinos, we went for lunch, and then ice cream (ice cream! in the cold!?) Both seem well, and Sam appears to be doing some work for his course. I spent a small fortune on footwear – I’ve entered the “Sketchers ” phase of my life where function triumphs form as a I battle with the pain that is plantar fasciitis. On the whole my foot is getting better, but its still “there”, and still a constant thought on my mind as well as pain in my foot.

The Corsa passed its MOT, the 205 neither passed nor failed its MOT – it was “abandoned” as they couldn’t open the boot. An annoying occasional problem that I have now (hopefully) permanently fixed.

And I’ve been back in the pool. Twice. Unable to run, I thought I’d try swimming again (although I shall leave the frigid waters of Clevedon marine lake to warm up considerably before dipping a toe in there!) and swam a couple of times at Strode. Was pleasantly surprised how quickly I got back in the groove, and on both occasions completed 40 lengths. As running is still very much off limits, I can see an increasing number of visits to the pool in my near future.

And Saturday (18 Feb) saw our first daffodil of the year in flower, one of the ones I planted in the lawn in September.  We’ve had a lovely day today, and one gets the sense that before too long we’ll have a whole load more in flower, although it does seem like everything is a bit late this year. Oh well, good things come to those that wait …

Back to school tomorrow, but with the days staying lighter longer, the first flowers of spring and (hopefully) the odd day of lovely weather one hopes that the worst of winter is behind us.

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It’s Christmas!

Pic of the week 26/12/22

Mea culpa! I am a day late in writing this post – Sunday is my normal blogging day, but it is Monday that I am penning this: Boxing Day.

We had a lovely family Christmas Day yesterday – just the four of us – so all very adult, good natured and starting at a sensible hour (Becky & I were roused by hour alarm clock at 8am, Sam was the last to emerge, when his presence was demanded, at 9.30 am) We continued with our “new” tradition of breakfast bags (this is the third year, so not sure how much longer we can call it new) meaning that enormous sums hadn’t been spent and yet we all got gifts that we can use and were pleased with. Lunch was a delicious affair – and I think it does need commenting as to how Sam will now eat nearly all items off the Christmas dinner plate (the exception being sprouts) – we certainly would never have thought that possible ten years ago.

Not too much telly was watched – nothing to write home about – Becky and Sophie enjoyed Strictly, whilst I enjoyed a snooze (and Sam enjoyed another beer …) We still hadn’t reached agreement as to what film to watch in the evening and somehow, I’m still not quite sure how, Sam persuaded us to watch Trainspotting (persuaded is probably not the right word. He spotted the absence of a united front and wore us down until we gave in to his demands.) It was (is) a good film, but probably not Christmas viewing.  Becky retired to the kitchen to “tidy up”, Sophie buried herself in a book, leaving Sam and I to enjoy the movie.

Today, Becky is at work, Sam has gone out for the day with a friend (Jack), I went for a 7K run this morning, but currently Sophie and I are just loafing around the house – quite a pleasant why to spend Boxing Day.

Earlier in the week, I went over to Dad’s and meet up with him & June; Rog, Lisa +  J,N & L,; Mark, Freya & Ollie. It had been planned to meet the following day, but Jane was ill, so we met at Dad’s a day earlier, although with Becky & Sam working, and Sophie feeling poorly, it was only I that travelled to Wells for the gathering of the clan.

We have been a bit poorly this week – Covid Mary Sam returned from uni with a cough/cold/sore/throat and has passed it on to all of us. Is quite a lingering, debilitating cold – sore throat making talking difficult probably the worst symptom. We’ve all soldiered on, but we could have done without it.

Anyway, 2022 draws to a close – have reached May in my read through of this blog, perhaps I’ll get round to doing a review of the year before it is done …

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Hola Malaga!

Pic of the week 18/12/22

Whilst the UK froze with night time temperatures falling to minus 9 degrees, Becky and I fled to Malaga for a few days of sun, culture and la idioma espanol. A few weeks ago weeks ago we booked some cheap (circa £80is return?) RyanAir flights to Malaga, leaving on Tuesday afternoon, and returning on Friday lunchtime.

Alas, there was little sol to be had on the Costa del Sol – carry an umbrella and dodging the daily showers was the order of the day – but it was warm, and it was wonderful to get away. The city is not huge – enough to do in the few days we were there, but not so bug we’ve come away thinking we missed out on anything – but was very pretty, especially when lit up with it Christmas lights at night. A city that felt safe, welcoming and fun, it was great to amble around its streets, drink its coffee and eat its food. We visited the Pablo Picasso museum which was interesting and I enjoyed reading about the exhibits in Spanish – on the trip I came to the conclusion that my “reading Spanish” is pretty good, but my listening and speaking Spanish still needs a lot of work, although I did enjoy the opportunity to practise these skills. When I initiated a conversation – so knew what it was about – I could make myself understood and understand the replies, but tuning in to general spoken Spanish is very difficult.  However, I did find my eye being caught by Spanish TV, ads on hoardings and on the bus – I think a bit of “total immersion” for a month of just living in Spain is what I need …!

Becky’s blog give a good account of what we did, and includes plenty of photos. I have tried to think what was my favourite part of the holiday, but can’t really nail it down to one thing – I think it was just being away in a foreign country, (being a little warmer), listening to different languages, and just doing stuff: wandering the streets, eating out etc, whereas had I been at home I wonder if I would have done much. I really, really enjoyed the few days; I think going away really puts in a firebreak between work and holidays.

The flight out was bumpy and, for about 5 minutes as we descended towards Malaga, was very, very bumpy. I think we basically had to fly down through a weather front/thunderstorm that was over the region. Probably my worst flight for a long, long time! Other than that, RyanAir, the flying bus, was fine – got us there and back efficiently and cheaply.  And on our  return it was chuffing cold. It was cold before we left and the cold snap deepened while we were away.  Today the weather has begun to change, with rain and wind sweeping in, and temperatures rising to 11 degrees (it had been circa 17 – 20 in Malaga)

Sophie and Sam also came home on Friday, so we now have a full house for Christmas, with Sophie working from home for the next couple of days, and Sam working at Sainsburys for the week to earn some cash – his current sore throat permitting.

This afternoon was the World Cup Final – a great game. Argentina were the only team in town for the first 80 minutes, leading two nil, before two quick goals from France drew the game level and led to a pulsating last 10 minutes in which both sides tried to grab the glory. The second period of extra time saw Argentina edge ahead, before France drew level again and the tournament was ultimately decided on a penalty shoot-out, with the Latin American side triumphing. Was a great game to end what has proven to be an enjoyable competition.

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Preparation

Pic of the week 16/10/22

We had a fleeting visit from Sam last night – he’d been in Bristol for Smithy’s birthday on Friday, and came home yesterday evening for a roast dinner, shower and sleep in his own bed.  Today he got the bus back to Bristol and then train to Cardiff.  It was nice to see him, he’s looking well and seeming to be enjoying and engaging with his new course of History and Economics.

For me, the half term holidays have begun.  I must admit, the first half of term whizzed by and I still can’t quite believe its mid-October and on Wednesday we are off to Dubrovnik.

Today was sunny and warm (although it is now wet and dark) and I took the opportunity to plant all the bulbs I saved from the planter into the lawn. It was hard work digging up sections of turf, and then I pretty much just dropped the bulbs in and popped the turf back on top.  The lawn does now look a bit off a mess with soil everywhere, but hopefully come next spring the bulbs will all pop up and flower and it will have been a job well done.  Tomorrow (weather permitting) I’ll remove the sunflowers from the front planter – one or two are still gamely flowering, but most are now looking past it (dead!) and they need to come out to make space for the next load of bulbs.

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Cardiff

Pic of the week 25/9/22

Its been exeat weekend, so yesterday Becky & I headed up to Cardiff to see the bambinos. (Its handy having them both in the same city)

First stop was Sophie’s flat which was clean, tidy, neat and compact: a lovely place to live. Then we hoped on a train (you can see the line from her balcony) for a short train ride, and then we walked to Sam’s house.  A different vibe to the streets as we approached his new home: litter strewn streets and front “gardens” full of burst open bin bags. And then we arrived at his new home – certainly not clean, tidy, neat and compact! A different way of living, but its a right of passage to live in a student hovel house. He will, I’m sure, survive …

We went out for lunch together at Zi Zis, then Sam headed home (to return to bed, apparently he had only got in at 6am, which made him somewhat tired and grumpy), we wandered the streets of Cardiff for a while, before getting the train back to Sophie’s and driving home.

A good day out!

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It’s all gone quiet …

Pic of the week 18/9/22

All of a sudden the house is quiet and feels empty.

On Tuesday Sophie moved up to Cardiff, and on Thursday Sam returned to Cardiff to (re) start his first year at uni.  Their return does see to really mark the end of summer – whilst we still have dry days (although Tuesday, when Sophie moved pretty much rained all day, although fortunately not until she had got all packed up) and brightness and sunshine, it is now noticeably colder, almost surprisingly so. After such a long hot summer it doesn’t feel right to be cold!

Anyway, both Bambinos seem happy to be in Cardiff, embarking on the next stages of their life.  I think they were enjoying the comforts of living in “Hotel Home”, but now they are both moved in I think they are looking forward to the coming months.

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The Queen is dead

Pic of the week 11/9/22

On Thursday, the Queen died.

It all happened quite swiftly.  During the day, news kept breaking that various royals were travelling to Balmoral, so it was pretty evident that we were in her final days, but then, at circa 6.30 pm, her passing was officially announced.

I was a little surprised at how sombre I felt.  I suppose it was because it was a moment in history, a constant has gone. And, as with any high profile death, it makes you think of those close to you that you have lost.

We are in a slightly strange state of affairs, but I get the sense that most of the country want to remain respectful, but now get on with our lives. The muted TV and radio broadcasts are beginning to bore a little. She was a good women, and history will look back kindly upon her life and reign, but life goes on.

On Friday, Sophie collected the keys to her new flat.  She hasn’t moved in yet, that will happen on Tuesday, but it is a significant moment in her life.