Category: Pic of the week

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Mid-Jan malaise

Pick of the week 16/1/22

Tomorrow is “Blue Monday” – the supposed most depressing day of the year. To be fair, I get it. This last week has been a bit of slog – I’ve been very busy (curriculum days, A level mock marking, L6 parents consultations), Becky has been recuperating from the illness (not Covid!) that knocked her for six – I did have to spend a lot of last week looking forward to today, a day that I knew would come, a day that would afford me a little bit of a rest and mark the end of a tough week.

And it dose seem surprising that we are now mid-way through January, the evenings are getting a little lighter, bulbs are popping up with the promise of better days to come.  And even better, yesterday we booked our accommodation for Naples which, although still many (12?) weeks away, is now something to look forward to.

I have enjoyed watching the Hyacinth bulbs begin to grow and flower (particularly the few that I rescued from abandoned pots outside) and to see the bulbs beginning to burst through in the lawn is great to see ( although I don’t think we’ll be getting as many as I had hopped for.  Must plant more for next year, including crocuses) And for weeks I’ve been looking, and getting increasingly despondent as I could see no sign of them, for any signs of the snowdrops I planted last year – 100 of them. I’ve spotted the first few poking their heads up – two small and distinct clumps and nowhere near the 100 I planted, but the first signs are there. The pic above is of my gardeners garters, with some alliums starting to grow through them, green shoots bringing hope in a bleak month!

I ran today – 10K, was tough (ish) but I felt strong and quite quick, tomorrow I swim.

PMA – positive mental attitude: that’s what will get me safely through blue Monday and the rest of January. Little victories: look for them, and embrace them.

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Goals, aims and targets 2022

Pic of the week 9/1/22

First up, an apology!

I’ve gotten a little out of the habit of blogging every Sunday,  I didn’t blog last week and this is my first post of the new year, 2022.

One has to hope that it will be a better year than 2021 and 2020 and we begin to see the pandemic wane to an “epidemic”. The country is currently in the throws of the omicron wave which seems to be more infectious – the number of daily cases is staggering, regularly well north of 100 thousand new cases a day – but seems to be milder, with a smaller percentage being hospitalised, needing ICU, and dying. But the sheer number of cases means that hospitalisations are high. We are back in school – I think things will have to get very bad for us to have to return to remote teaching – but we all must wear masks in lessons. Becky has been poorly the past few days, but regularl lateral flow tests have shown its now covid, it seems to be stomach related.

So what are my aspirations for the year?

The first is to get my weight under control – this is a must do. Last year I slacked off on this and was only sub 113 stone for 3 weeks of the year. Inevitably Christmas has seen me pile on the pounds and I am declaring a starting weight of 13 stone 7 ounces. I want to be sub 13 by February half term, and then maintain sub 13 (allowing the odd blip for holidays etc.)

Running: I’ve set myself the goal of running 700 km this year. Injuries permitting, that should be an achievable task, particularly as I am refereeing less now, leaving more time for running.  Did my first run of the year today (a niggling groin strain prevented me running since shortly after Christmas) 10K in sub 50 mins. I will get quicker, the important thing is that I can comfortably run 10k.

Swimming: I returned to the pool in 2021 and – disputes with lifeguards and timetabling notwithstanding – I would like to swim 100 km this year.

Other goals? Not really sure I have any. Keep learning my Spanish, travel (have three foreign trips booked: Naples, Kefalonia & Dubrovnik), keep blogging here regularly and revisit my Maths teacher blog, which I have neglected for a while.

I think I need to use 2022 to shape my new normal – hopefully the pandemic will recede, the children are both away at uni,  after a groundhog couple of years, this year opens a new chapter in my (our, Becky & I) life and this is the year to begin to design and define how we live our next 10 years.

Happy New Year!

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Christmas ’21

Pic of the week 26/12/21

So Christmas has been and gone (and I am a little late blogging about it – oops!)

We had a lovely day, the four of us at home together, our “new tradition” of “breakfast bags” continues to take hold, with us each buying everyone else a gift from a randomly picked category (Becky, inevitably, bought many extra rounds, I bought a few extras), giving enough fun and surprises to open on the day, but minimising the unwanted and unnecessary tat that would have otherwise been bought and gifted. Now major dramas or calamities on the day, just some really nice family time together. In the evening we watched Bohemian Rhapsody together – a really good film and far better than anything served up by the broadcasters.

On the previous Thursday ( 23 Dec) we’d been over to Jane’s, the first gathering of my side of the clan since Covid. Really nice to see everyone.

Today, (Thursday 30 Dec) it was the turn of Becky’s side of the family to visit us and we had a very pleasant lunch and afternoon together.

The Omicron variant is running rampant throughout the country, but these family meet-ups do give a sense that we may be emerging into the new normal and finding a new way to live with the disease.

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Staggering!

Pic of the week 19/12/21

Both bambinos are now home – Sophie came home last week, Sam returned temporarily on Sunday evening, staying with us until Thursday when he returned to Cardiff for two days, for a practical and tutorial (he had been to Weymouth at the weekend)

On Wednesday we went, en-famile – to the Newt, a very pleasant afternoon roaming the grounds together. Becky took this picture of a stag, which I think is magnificent.

I’ve not been running this week as on Monday I tweaked my groin whilst on a run, but I’ve swum a lot instead, including 60 lengths – 2K – this morning.

Omicron is now running rampant through the country, and I begin to wonder if we will have to go into a new lockdown, or at least endure some new restrictions. Time will tell. Sophie had her booster done yesterday so she’s pleased about that.

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Happy holidays!

Pic of the week 12/12/21

And so my holidays have finally arrived. It has been a long, at times challenging, but ultimately rewarding term, but I am glad I am now on holiday for three weeks.

I’ve already settled into a more relaxed rhythm of life, sleeping a little longer in the morning, pottering without wondering how I’m going to get all my pottering done, eating a few too many Christmas treats, re-engaging with my Spanish, watching more TV (am looking forward to watching the last episode of the BBC drama “Outlaws” this evening, then need to find something else to watch). Good times.

Sophie came home on Thursday, the tree has gone up in the kitchen and Sam comes home this evening, although he does return to Cardiff on Thursday for a practical and lecture on Thursday and Friday.

The only cloud on the horizon is the rapid spread of the Omicron variant – (our worst ever prime minister) Boris Johnson is addressing the nation this evening, I fear we will be going under some new restrictions. At least I had my booster last week (arm hurt for two days afterwards) and Becky had her booster on Wednesday (felt poorly and sore arm on Thursday). Que sera, sera.  (and I know what that means!)

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All wrapped up

Pic of the week 5/12/21

So, on Wednesday Spotify All Wrapped Up for 2021 dropped.  Always good to look back at what I listened to over the last year.

 

oh, and I had my booster jab today as well (Moderna) Had it in a drop in centre at Strode Sports Centre. Arm a little sore, but otherwise all good.

 

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Proper cold

Pic of the week 28/11/21

After a very dry and warm autumn – which has seen pavements carpeted with crisp crunchy brown leaves – this week the temperature has plummeted and this weekend in particular has been proper cold.  Friday night we had gale force winds – which meant a poor nights sleep as I lay in bed wondering what that noise was and if the roof would still be there in the morning. (That noise was the shed doors banging – they blew open and at 3am in the morning I found myself outside in my pants securing them shut.) By Saturday afternoon the winds had abated a little, and it was clear day cold – almost cleansing cold, but cleansing in a scourging sort of way, as the cold whipped and flailed you clean. By this morning the wind was gone, but it was still cold on my run as I passed puddles of frozen water. The temperature has crept up a little as some cloud has come to act as a celestial duvet, but I think its set to be a cold week ahead.

(Sophie has just reported that its snowing in Reading. The north and east have had a fairly heavy dumping of snow. We’ve had none.)

On Friday Becky & Sophie went to London, meeting on the train and both wearing a mask voluntarily. Friday also saw the first reports of the new Omicron variant of the virus – said to be more transmissible than previous strains and, as of Tuesday it will be back to mandatory mask wearing on public transport and in shops. In school we will be back to mask wearing in communal spaces. Not sure how this will play out over the coming weeks.

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Injury!

Pic of the week 21/11/21

On Wednesday I pinged a muscle.

I was doing the line for the U15 ISFA cup game and, about 5 mins in, set off at a sprint to follow play. I felt something “go” at the top of my left calf. I hobbled on and it seemed to get better, by then another quick turn of pace, and another stabbing pain. By the end of the game I could walk with a heavy limp, but I couldn’t run. It hurt.

Wednesday night is yoga night and I wasn’t sure if I should go or not, but I did go and I’m glad I did. You can tell when a stretch is  a good stretch or a bad stretch, and I pushed the former hard, and relaxed when I felt the latter. By the next day, my leg was much better (although it may just have been all my other muscles aching, post yoga, and masking the pain of my pulled muscle.)

On Saturday I refereed our U18 girls – I couldn’t run quickly, but ambled my way through 80 minutes, but it did tell me I shouldn’t run today, so I didn’t. Instead I swam, swimming 50 lengths. Wasn’t really looking forward to it as I walked down to the pool, but really enjoyed it once I was in. Come the Christmas holidays I must look to increase my swimming.  (I hope to be back running again next week)

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Birthday Girl

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.

 

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22 in 21

Pic of the week 7/11/21

Thursday was Sophie’s 22nd birthday and she had come home on Tuesday (reading week) so we were able to celebrate it with her. It was lovely to have her home for a few days and I think she enjoyed the luxury of home comforts (heating, good food, comfy bed, two domestic staff to wait on her every whim)

And Sam joined us via FaceTime;

I think he ended up a little jealous that he wasn’t home too, feasting on birthday cake and cream!

They do both seem to be enjoying their lives away from home, but it is nice that they do both still see home as home.  Sam looks tired – clearly enjoying student life, but probably in need of a good, long sleep!