Category: Family

Pic of the week 14/11/21

Today is Becky’s birthday, and we’ve spent a lovely day at home, the four of us.

Sophie came home on Thursday, feeling a little under the weather, but she had been due to meet Becky in Bristol to watch Heathers.  Sam (on Saturday) made his way to Bristol from Cardiff on the train and I drove to Bristol in the evening after my school commitments had finished.

We had a lovely meal in a Greek restaurant – the first time we had all been together since September – and then I drove us all home (dropping Sam off in Wells so he could met some friends, with me picking him up at midnight.)
Today has been a lazy family day (Becky had the day off work) and we enjoyed each others company over a lingering lunch, before I took Sophie to the station for her 4.25pm train back to Reading. Sam has decided to enjoy home comforts for a day longer, and is staying with us again tonight – the three of us enjoying a Chinese for tea – before getting the good old 376 back to Bristol, and then the train to Cardiff.

It has been lovely to have them back, and I hope Becky has had a wonderful weekend.

 

Pic of the week 17/10/21

With half term rapidly approaching, and a few days in Majorca on the horizon, my world was turned to turmoil on Thursday when I was “pinged” by NHS Track & Trace as a close contact.

This meant an evening trip to Shepton Mallet for a PCR test in the walk-through centre – all done in less than 10 mins – followed by a nervous 24 hours waiting for the result. I felt fine, no symptoms, and my lateral flow tests were showing negative, but a positive on the PCR would mean isolation for 10 days and no autumnal Majorcan sun.

Then, at 5.25pm on Friday came the text: negative, all clear! Majorca here we come.

And then on Saturday we had a fleeting visit from Sam. He had gone to Bristol on Friday as it was his friend “Smithy’s” birthday, so came home to us on Saturday evening, to enjoy a big roast, a hot shower and a long sleep. And then, this morning, I drove him back to Cardiff – was nice to see where he now calls home.  Was lovely to see him last night – albeit looking v v tired, but he seems v content with his new life.

Pic of the week 19/9/21

So Thursday saw Sophie return to Reading for her final year at uni.

She’s been at home for the last 18 months have dashed home from halls in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic and its good for her to be returning to some sort of normality for a 21 year old. How everything fitted into her Micra I don’t know, but it did, and the house suddenly seems bigger again!

In other, important news, my weight fell below 13 stone for the first time this year. December ’20 was bad for me (weight-wise) the inevitabikity of Christmas pounds was added to by a lack of mobility due to my bad back. The pounds crept on, and never came off, reaching a peak of 13 stone 7 in April. In the summer, I decided I had to do something, and I started missing breakfast on a few occasions – fasting, which had a positive impact, the weight coming off, but also training my mind again that I don’t have to always eat.  Thursday and this morning saw the scales tip out at (just!) below the 13 stone mark; I don’t think its fair to say I’ve re-established my weight at sub 13, but I’m on the way.

Pic of the week 22/8/21

It is with great sadness that I write of Granny Woodhouse’s passing, on Thursday 19 August 2021. She was 98.

A fiercely independent woman, she had continued to live at home, on her own, until a recent fall hospitalised her.  Following her discharge from hospital, she was in care home, awaiting a suitable “care package” to be put together to allow her to return home.  However, 10 (?) days or so ago, following an infection, she deteriorated, lapsing into a deep sleep from which she never recovered.

She was very much loved by Becky, and that love was reciprocated. She was tremendously proud of her grandchildren, Sam in particular (a boy thing!) and was delighted that he was (at last) off to university.

The world is a better place for her passage through it.

Pic of the week 8/8/21

Tuesday was our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

I am rather proud of that achievement, but from my perspective it has been easy – I just can’t imagine not being with Becky and loving her is the easiest thing in the world.

We went out to Ask in the evening, which was lovely, and our two weeks in Corfu were a bit a present to us both, but we certainly won’t wait another 25 years before returning!

^^This is now, this was then:

And, as always, hot on the heels of our anniversary comes Sam’s birthday. Can’t believe he’s 19. Always a “happy drunk”, last night he was declaring that he had had a great night (in ‘Spoons with his pals) – hard to believe it was only a year ago that he first discovered pubs.

Pic of the week 27/12/20

For many, this would have been a very different Christmas, Covid Christmas with strict limitations on how many families could mix (two) in one household. But for us, that was always the plan for this year, as it has been for the last few years.

And it was, once again, a great Christmas.

We rose at a sensible hour, settling down for breakfast at around 9 am, and opening the first gifts from our Christmas bags. Back in October, we all agreed to not spend (waste) lots of money buying gifts that the recipients may not want or like, so we created a few categories, drew lots and then you bought gifts for everyone from your two categories.  It was fun, probably a lot more targeted and, on the whole, everyone was happy with most of what they received. (The exception was Becky’s top/t-shirt. I was drawn to buy her this, and it quickly became apparent why, in 25 years of marriage, I have nvere bought her clothing. She wasn’t impressed, but hopefully we’ve created a memory that will be shared by the family long after the T-shirts have been worn for the final time.)

We ate like kings* and enjoyed each other’s company throughout the day. A good Christmas!

(*I do now need to take action – after three weeks** of inactivity due to my back injury, coupled with gorging like a gorgon over the festive period I am becoming “gordo” and need to start shedding some pounds – the boxing day scales had me tipping 13 stone 5 pounds.)
(** Yesterday I went for my first run since November. I did 5Km in a slow time, not sure if it was OK for my back: it was a bit sore at times during the day, but today has been fine. Went for a longish walk today, and did some yoga on my return and all is feeling good. Shan’t run tomorrow (tutoring) but aim to pound out a few miles on Tuesday.)

 

Pic of the week 6/12/20

On Tuesday, Becky was pootling around town in the MIcra when suddenly the brake pedal couldn’t be depressed. Using her driving skills and the handbrake she was able to limp safely home.  A quick bit of fault diagnosis and inspection soon revealed the problem to be the brake servo – it had rusted through on the front side, resulting in a 1cm (ish) hole (once I cleared away the flaking rust). This side is supposed to have a vacuum (from the engine), whilst the pedal side is at atmospheric pressure, thereby giving a pressure differential to allow you to push in the brake master cylinder via the foot pedal.

With the hole, the front side no longer has a vacuum, so no pressure differential, so you can’t depress the pedal.  I have fashioned a temporary repair by taping over the hole (it helps that the vacuum is inside: therefore atmospheric pressure helps to keep the tape in place) – it works and have taken the car for a short test drive. But my fear is is that the tape would fall off, putting you back to square one.  I have ordered (and received today) a replacement master servo from ebay for £35 (they are about £200 new) and will aim to fit it when I break up. Shouldn’t be too hard:  6 bolts, one pin and a hose connection …

My back hurts.

I think I tweaked it on Friday, and then yesterday I aggravated that tweak and yesterday and today it has hurt. With management – hot, cold, ibuprofen, yoga, goo posture – I am just about coping and it does seem to be getting better. But there are times when I feel stuck – transitioning from seated to standing, for example, often hurts – and times when my back “gives.” Will take it easy for a few days and hope it resolves itself soon.

On Saturday – Becky, Sophie and Sam went to Cornwall for the day, visiting, hence the pic of the week.

 

 

Pic of the week 29/11/20

So last Sunday, Sam returned home from work tearful and bandaged up. I’m still not sure exactly what happened, but a metal hose was winding back into a metal drum and Sam thought it was running away out of control, so he tried to grab it (this is the bit I’m less sure of: I think he grabbed the drum, but could have been the hose). Anyway it lacerated his hands quite badly. He did get up and go to work the next day, and the day after – but on that day the school nurse sent him home (via minor A&E) as his cuts weren’t healing. Anyway, he’s now had a few days off and has gone back into work today, but a nasty injury.

La mano de Dios.

Whilst we talk of hands, on Wednesday, Diego Maradonna passed away, famous for his footballing brilliance, infamous for his “hand of God”, or, more correctly, la mano de Dios because he would, of course, have said those words in Spanish.

Saturday was a “duvet day” at school – no lessons on Saturday so a day off, and it was wonderful. Certainly what I needed, and I’m sure all students and staff alike. An extra lie in, a chance to recharge after a busy and difficult four weeks, a chance to grab a quick breather before the final two weeks of term. After glorious cold, but frosty, days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, this weekend we have been shrouded in fog, so Becky & I curtailed our plans to ascend Dundon Beacon and went for a quick waltz along the Poldens.

And because its such a wonderful picture, I though I would include the above from Becky’s rambles earlier in the week.

Pick of the week 15/11/20

So yesterday was Becky’s big birthday – she turned 50!

We should have celebrated in Plymouth (!) watching Deacon Blue – we booked the tickets and made plans a long time ago – that fell victim to virus, along with pretty much all other plans (eg a day at the seaside today) when we entered into lockdown two a couple of weeks ago.

So it was a family affair, a lazy day.

The children (well, Sam, to make amends for being sick on his duvet in the night – el perro de booze strikes again) treated her to McDonald’s for lunch (I was working) and then, on my return, after opening her presents, we had a Chinese meal together, which was nice.

And it was all finished off with her wonderful cake baked by Sophie.

So not fireworks and fiesta for her birthday, but I hope (I think) she had a nice time as we celebrated another birthday under the constraints of Covid.