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Anniversary!

Today is our 29th Wedding Anniversary – we don’t do gifts, although I did get Becky these sunflowers, and she bought me a bar of chocolate – half of which has already been eaten, I fear it will not last the night!

Despite an hour or so of drizzle today, and similar on Tuesday, it continues to be warm/hot and very, very dry. Since we’ve been here in Street, I can’t recall such a prolonged period of dry weather, I suspect we are into 1976 drought territory, and I am suprised that we haven’t (yet) been subject to a hose pipe ban. (Other regions in the country have)

It’s been good weather for figs, with Becky collecting a harvest on a daily basis. And whilst the lawn is baked brown and solid, with regular watering my plants have done well.

The sunflowers are blooming, and the insects are enjoying a daily feast of pollen. I have my first confirmed pumpkin that has set – surprisingly out the front where I threw in a couple of pumpkin plants along with some sunflowers, where the box bush had been, and yesterday I spotted the first in the back – the jury is still out, but I am hopeful that it has set and will start to swell in the next day or so.

The geraniums that seemed so small when I first planted them as plug plants have all grown and are flowering profusely, offset by the dainty lobelia. I’m glad I bought these and that they have survived the dry summer – probably only because Sophie, and then Sam, have been home for much of the time we have been away to keep them watered.

I’ve run a few times this week (and refereed once) and whilst my legs do ache after exercise, I do think that I am working my way back to some semblance of fitness. Need to keep it up, and keep getting the miles under my belt.

On Friday I went to a Spanish coffee morning in Street – it was good to use the language again, this is something I must keep up.

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Nice Nice

In the early hours of this morning we made it home from a wonderful week in Nice. We flew out last Saturday evening, and spent the week based in a small resort: Cros de Cagnes about 15 minutes from the centre of Nice. The “town” we stayed in was lovely, 5 minutes from the train station giving us access up and down the coastline and we had a wonderful view from our apartment: across the road to the sea.

Breakfast everyday was a real treat: we found a boulangerie on the sea front 50 metres from our apartment and we soon settled into a routine with everyday beginning with a two coffees (each) and sharing three pastries, all for just a little over 10 euros.

I took the opportunity to swim daily, the water quickly deepening of a pebble beach. It was rarely flat calm, and on a few occasions, when the wind strengthened, the waves would crash against the shore, enough to deter Becky from swimming much. Both this week, and our fortnight in Greece, have reminded me just how much I just enjoy being in the (warm) sea. My happy place!

We hunted for heart shaped stones

and used the train to explore the coastline, visiting Nice (very Nice), Menton, Antibes, and even a day trip to Italy: Ventimiglia.

It was hot, perhaps at time too hot for exploring the towns and cities we did. We both loved the holiday – an extra, or add on, to our two weeks in Greece, and Becky, in particular, enjoyed trying to recall and use her schoolgirl French from 39 years ago (I struggled with the language – defaulting to Spanish, the realising this was wrong. Once I even found myself using Italian (arrivaderci) – no idea where that came from (this was before we had been to Italy for the day)) But, despite the wonderful art, clean streets and “typically French” architecture, I don’t think it did enough to knock Greece off our number one summer holiday spot.

Whilst we were away, Sam (& Poppy) had stayed at home, so my plants are well watered and the flowers beginning to bloom. After four very different weeks (2 in Greece, Sam’s graduation “week”, and a week in Nice) we are now home know for the rest of the summer, what feels like phase 2 of the summer holidays.

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The Graduate!

On Thursday we went to Cardiff for Sam’s graduation – a 2:1 in History and Economics from Cardiff University. If truth be told, there were times when we thought this day would never come, so particularly proud of his achievement.

Joining us for the day of celebration was Sophie, Poppy and Smithy,

It was a great day – a “fun day” rather than a day of pomp and ceremony.

We’re very proud of him.

I’m posting a bit of synch, on a Saturday, as we’ve been away for two weeks to the Sporades (Alonnissos, Skopelos, and Skiathos) and had a wonderful time, and later today we head to Nice for a week.

We enjoyed lovely weather whilst away, it was also hot and dry here. Sophie came home to escape the heat, and helped keep the garden watered – its looking good.

Not sure how it will fare with another week of neglect, time will tell.

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School’s out !

And holidays beckon

On Friday school finished for the (academic ) year. To be fair, as Head of Year 11 all of “my students” had finished and gone home in the previous week, so if I’m honest I had pretty much checked out myself for the last week or so. But I don’t feel guilty about that – its been a tough year and I have, at times, questioned why I do it. The almost complete lack of emails in the last 10 days or so has been a real treat, and a reminder that there is life beyond school. But the money is good – I am conscious that I am at the peak of my earning power and I will never earn as much again, so its a bit of a balancing act to fill the cofers in readiness for slowing down and, ultimately, retiring. Something had to change, and that change is my year group – I pick up a new cohort in September, I hope that they will be better than the group I have just waved goodbye to. One more cycle – ie year 10 and then into year 11 – as Head of Year is the plan, but plans can always change …

Sam (and Poppy) came home on Thursday, having finally vacated his Cardiff house, and today they have travelled up to London. Early doors tomorrow, Becky & I head of to Greece – flying to Skiathos, then on to Alonnisos followed by six days in Skopelos, so my blog will continue for the next couple of weeks on https://hap-pea-travels.co.uk/ Am looking forward to submersing myself in the Greek sea, and having it wash away all my cares and troubles. Yamas!

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Plants, cinema, hedgehogs, and more!

This morning, whilst putting out the washing, I spotted a new flower in our wildflower lawn. For a week or two, I’ve noticed a tall plant growing in the lawn near the shed. I nearly pulled it out, think it was just a giant dandelion, but this morning it was sporting a few blue flowers, with many more set to bloom on its stems. Using the magic of Google Lens I have been able to identify it as Common Chicory. I like it, and would be happy for it to spread.

Its been a (very) hot few days and everything is growing well. My pumpkin plants are getting big and my sunflowers are beginning to reach for the skies – I erected the support pole in the week and already the first few are just reaching the second level. They all still look a long way from flowering, but that’s no problem – happy for that to be delayed until after we return from our hols.

On Tuesday evening Sophie came home, and then on Wednesday afternoon I collected Sam from Yeovil Junction station. On Thursday they both, along with Becky, went to Devon to meet her Mum and Dad for brunch.

On Thursday evening, Sam drove to Cardiff, returning on Friday with more of his stuff. After another scorchio day, they both travelled back to Cardiff on Friday evening. Sam is due to return (with the Micra!) on Thursday having vacated his house and left Cardiff and his student days behind him.

On Monday evening, at circa 10pm, whilst sat watching TV, I saw the daisy’s in the garden move – our hedgehog was back. We were able to watch it for some time, it went all along the back of the house, and then from the side of the house came a second ‘hog.

Last night, Becky and I went to see “The Salt Path” at the cinema (Strode) It was a little slow, but an enjoyable enough film. Have been thinking about it on and off since – probably more of a “long term” film than an in the moment film – not because I want to walk the south west coast path (I don’t) but more because it added fertiliser to the seed in my mind that germinated over the last six months: I won’t carry on working as I am/in my current role forever and I find myself, not regularly, but also not infrequently, thinking about what comes next and how do I manage that change.

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Sophie Ellis Bextor, and Father’s day

Possibly should have been included in last week’s blog, as last Sunday Becky and I went to Bristol (again!) to see Sophie Ellis Bextor at the Bristol Beacon. It was an excellent show, both of us have seen her before (although not together) and we weren’t disappointed with her show of poppy disco, glitter and razzmatazz.

Fast forward a week, and today is Father’s Day. This morning I went over to see my dad, he was looking well for his 86 years, although he’s not as spritely as I remember him from my childhood (this is, of course, to be expected!) And this afternoon I’ve enjoyed video calls first with Sam, and then with Sophie (who also gifted me a couple of books and a snack mix.) I’ll be seeing them in person on Wednesday when the come home for a brief stay en route to see Becky’s mum and Dad (with Becky) on Thursday.

I ran 7K today, and I ran a new, 5.5/6K ish route on Wednesday: I ran through the fields to the weir, then along the canal path to the road and, initially, I crossed the road and ran back on the other side, through some very long swish-swashy grass, but then, at the first gate into the next field, I saw a lot of calves and one or two concerned looking mother cows. I decided not to chance it, and just doubled back on myself. It was, however, good to get a mid-week run in, and running cross country was a nice change and also forced me to slow down as you have to keep an eye on your foot placement. I do think I need to get away from thinking about times, and just run; I am starting to enjoy it again, and starting to get re-energised by running. My aim is that, over the summer holidays, I’ll run at least one 10K, just so that I know I can still do it.

The weather has been a bit changeable this week, with some rain at times, but today has been warm and windy, and next week the temperatures are set to soar – after a brief interlude, summer is following on nicely from Spring.

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Sam’s finished!

So after 4 years, a course change, and two different houses, Sam has finished university! He had his final exam on Friday, he think it went well, we now just have to wait until 2nd July to find out his grade. There were times (ie the first year) when we thought he wouldn’t complete university, swapping from Chemistry to History & Economics was the making of his degree and he does seem to have been engaged and interested in his studies, although he admits he is glad to have finished, and won’t be racing back into education anytime soon. What next? Who knows – like a modern day Dick Whittington, he’s going to head to London where the streets are paved with gold to seek his fortune.

Back here in sleepy Somerset the garden continues to look good. The Love in the Mist are beginning to go to seed, but the ox-eye daisies have bloomed to keep the interest going. It still takes a leap of imagination to see my sunflower seedlings go from the spindly things they are now into the big, bold, strong sunflowers I hope they become, but they do seem to be heading skyward. And the pumpkin seedlings have had a growth spurt and are looking strong and healthy, ready to swamp anything in their path.

Last Sunday was the first day of Summer – after the driest Spring on record, summer has not lived up to its billing, being mainly grey, often wet (big rain yesterday) and a little chilly.

On Thursday evening, circa 9.30pm, whilst sat watching telly I spotted a hedgehog that appeared near the shed and rooted around for a good twenty minutes or so. Last night we saw it again, it came from the far end of the shed, and ultimately returned to the compost bin area. A welcome visitor!

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A Busy Week

Its been a busy, but ultimately, fulfilling week as half term draws to a close. Becky’s return from Scotland was delayed by a few hours, meaning it was about 1am on Thursday, her return coincided with an improvement in the weather so it was worth the wait – everything is better with her at home.

My Love in The Mist has burst forth in flower and is looking magnificent

I include the picture below for reference for next year – before it all flowers – to see where there are still patches to be planted.

On Friday I took delivery of the 60 (!) geraniums and 30 lobelia that I had ordered earlier in the year from Thompson & Morgan and have planted them up. Although small, they seem healthy and appear to have settled in well. I also planted the last of my sunflower and pumpkin seedlings out into the big, bad world – so far, so good.

Yesterday I nearly trod on a slow-worm whilst hanging out the washing: a pleasing addition to the garden

and then later on, a baby blackbird thudded into the kitchen window and lay stunned below the outside tap. Later in the day, it seemed to have perked off and we witnessed it flying away

Earlier in the week the Ka had its MOT – it initially failed on one rear tyre, but I’ve had all the tyres replaced (the other rear was also very worn, there was a nail in the front left causing a slow puncture) and on Wednesday I took the Micra to Cardiff for a fleeting visit to collect a load of Sam’s stuff. Its hard to think he is now in the last month of his student days (he has his final exam on Friday) and then the next chapter of his life will open – whatever that may hold.

For info purposes, yesterday we signed up for EasyJet Plus.

Today I ran 7K – having run 6K on Monday and Friday – I get the sense that my running mojo may be returning, something to nurture this summer (although annoyingly for the last two runs, Map My Run didn’t work, so I’ve got no splits data)

Back to work tomorrow – 4 short weeks, and then we’re off to Greece!

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Chicago, Box and Seedlings

At last, half term has arrived, and last night Becky and I went to see Chicago in Bristol. I enjoyed the show, and I enjoyed the Italian meal we had beforehand at Moltobuono 59. What I didn’t enjoy was having to get up at 5am this morning to take Becky to Bristol airport – she has flown to Edinburgh to visit an old school friend, and returns on Wednesday. I have felt tired all day, and my afternoon nap hasn’t completely refilled my batteries. I’m sure an early night tonight, though, will do the trick.

And having enjoyed a wonderful May so far, it is typical that the weather has changed in time for the holidays. It rained last night, has been dry today, and windy, but the forecast for the next few days is for rain. Which did mean I’ve tried to make the most of the outdoor weather today – changed the oil in Becky’s Ka, took down the Box hedge/tree in the front garden – it has been demolished by a caterpillar, a shame to lose it but it was just a skeleton of twigs.

On Wednesday I got my first sunflower seedlings planted outside in the big trug and, fingers crossed, they seem to have taken hold. The alliums look great, but are just beginning to turn

But not to worry as all the Love in a Mist are beginning to flower to give a burst of blue and white across the lawn.

On Monday evening I took Sam to Bridgwater station to return to Cardiff – I head up there later this week to bring back a car load of stuff – his time there is nearly done.

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Sam, sun, and Tony Ann

On Monday, Becky and I went to Bristol to see Tony Ann, a young pianist and it was a wonderful evening of culture, a rare outing on a school night!

Having parked up, we ambled across College Green in the warm evening sun, before sitting for a drink, al-fresco, at an Italian on Park Street. It did feel a million miles away from home, and was a lovely evening.

It helped that the glorious weather continuous. We’ve been treated to blue skies, sunshine and (almost) uninterrupted dry weather all week, culminating in another lovely Sunday, spent outside, pottering, reading and snoozing.

I say “almost” because on Tuesday evening the sky darkened, thunder rumbled and then the sky was rent asunder with lightening.

For about 30 minutes, it was quite some storm

but the water was welcome. I suspect we may end up in a drought this summer – a price I’d happily pay for the wonderful weather to continue. Its only mid-May, so everything still looks fresh and green, and my sunflower seeds sown a couple of weeks ago show great promise.

And we’ve been blessed with a visit from Sam. He came home on Friday afternoon, and returns to Cardiff tomorrow evening, but its been lovely to have him home for a short while. He has completed all his assignments, he just has one exam to do on the 6th June, and then that’s his university days done. I think he is looking forward to finishing, there are times when it looked like he’d never be a university graduate. but now that’s a racing certainty. He’s not sure what the next steps of his life will be, but I’m sure he’ll work it out.