About Stuff

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.

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!

Pic of the week 31/10/21

On Wednesday we went to Cardiff, travelling up mid-morning, staying overnight and returning on Thursday afternoon. It was lovely to see Sam – he is clearly thriving at uni, although I do worry that the only chemistry he is doing is turning beer into urine – and to also explore the city.

We (Becky & I) spent much of the afternoon wandering along the banks of the River Taff, it felt amazingly wild and rural yet in the heart of a major metropolis. The weather was still warm and the fast flowing water of the the river contrasted with the calm serenity of the trees, whose leaves were aflame with the colours of autumn. I was delighted to see a few Jays and a Cormorant with its wings spread for drying. Becky was delighted to spot a Kingfisher, but then became increasingly despondent as she was unable to get close enough to take a good picture.  Even a few years ago, I would have been surprised to hear that we headed off first thing (after we woke at 8!) to stalk the elusive bird, but with no success, but now it is the norm to seek out mother nature for a photo shoot at any time of the day.

After abandoning our birding, we had a bite of breakfast and headed into town for some shopping. If I do have to go shopping (and I accept that, on occasion, I will have to) Cardiff is not a bad place to do it.

We met Sam for lunch, then dropped him back at his halls and headed for home for an uneventful last few days of a very full half term holiday. Back to school tomorrow.

Pic of the week.

Its been a strange week in which Becky & I seem to have been like ships in the night, and have barely seen each other.

She works Monday nights, so I now have my little routine of Spanish with Daniel, followed by a swim (did 40 lengths this week) and then a jacket spud for my tea, with Becky returning gone 10pm, for a quick chat before bed.

On Tuesday she went to Cornwall to help her Dad sort her Grannie’s belongings, returning on Wednesday evening with a few bits and bobs. Thursday she was out (to Bristol, to see Edie Reader) before I got home (and I then went straight out to Somerton, to Dave Trevis’ 60th birthday)

So on Friday evening we got to see each other (and on Saturday evening I fell asleep in my chair) and then today she was at work!

What busy lives we lead.

(It is worth mentioning the wonderful weather we have had this week – warmth and sunshine, which has just made me look forward to our few days in Majorca all the more.)

Pic of the week 26/9/21

So we are now  officially empty nesters!

Sophie went back to Reading a week and a half ago, and on Wednesday, Becky took Sam to Cardiff University.

Most importantly, they both seem to be happy, enjoying university life in their different ways and it is good that they are amongst youngsters of their own age.

So now it is just Becky & I rattling around at home together!

Yesterday (it being exeat) we went for a walk together in the morning, and in the afternoon I planted up a number (but not all!) of bulbs. The weather yesterday wasn’t as good as we’d hoped, although warm it was quite damp  and we even had some drizzle in the afternoon. Today has been a glourious day, full of sunshine and blue skies. I’ve spent most of it outside cutting back the brown tree, mowing the lawn and cutting back the sunflower heads (dry as a crisp – a job to be done today, as tomorrow the rains (and cold) come). Becky seems to have spent most of the day cleaning (I now have no-one else to blame any mess on!)

It does feel a little odd, it seems almost artificially quiet, but we’ll get used to it!