SOL (Slice of Life) – Refresh

I have enjoyed slicing for the past year or so, although I admit I don’t post a weekly slice, just dip in from time to time (usually when another blogger’s slice has caught my eye)… but as I came home from my appointment this morning, I got to feeling excited about the day I have planned and I realised (to my horror) that one of the reasons it feels so good is because it has been so long coming!

A few years ago I changed my life, gave up a regular full time career with a good salary (and 80 hour weeks) for a life! I have until recent months balanced my teaching and writing lives quite well, I need one to pay the mortgage and the other to feed my soul, I hope that in years to come the writing life will have the bigger portion of pie, but I doubt it will come with a golden wage…. although it might. I realised when my health suffered that there is more to life than money and a career and emotional wellbeing plays an immense role in our physical and mental health. I would rather be alive and get by, than sit on piles of cash, exist on 4 hour sleeps, exhaust myself to the point of collapsing, take the brunt of negativity in the workplace, wake up hating everyday before it begins and not have any time or pleasure cells left to enjoy spending my HARD earned extra cash.

Today I have a LOVELY day off! I was looking at the work in my diary so far this month and due to numerous cancellations by rights I should have managed a writing day before now. The universe threw broken cars, broken phones, sleepless nights, masses of chores, a few poetry events and weekends with Mr G (as he is currently working away I like to keep the weekends free as best I can to plan stuff together). I also pretty much took the Christmas Holiday off too (from writing/ internet) which means that it has been about 5 weeks since my last day of great creativity and action. No wonder I feel rusty!

Today in between appointments I am working on submissions for this month and listing new inspiration and ideas in my notebook (yes, you should always carry one around). I also have tomorrow morning off and hope to get productive on the laptop before going to work.

I called this post ‘Refresh’ because we live in a world of tech – we refresh pages all the time online, we sometimes forget to refresh ourselves. You know how the computer struggles when you have 11+ windows open and you’re waiting for it to load, well life can get like that too.

Think about yourself this – what do you need to do to REFRESH?

As far as the past week – you can read the relevant parts here:

https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2015/01/19/a-weekend-of-writing-words-poetry/

https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/mouth-music-3rd-birthday-spark-off-special/

the rest of my week has just been work (although I did work in an interestingly named location – ‘World’s End’ … it was a bit of a tough day too) and box sets – Mr G and I finally finished watching Dexter.

Join in with the SOLC here:

https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/challenges/

SOLC – March – Slice of Life Challenge – The Initial 3 Day Catch Up Post!

I had completely forgotten MARCH is the Slice of Life Challenge Month – where bloggers post a daily slice as opposed to a weekly one…
I think the 3 Day Catch Up post may heavily feature on mine – we will see.

Come join in the fun!

Day 1 – 1st March Saturday

No pinching or punching today – which is good, just sleeping mainly!

Spent the afternoon and evening with friends, our first house guests. Very impressed with my friend’s daughter who taught herself to play chess in the time it took me to collect a Take Away!

 

Day 2 – 2nd March Sunday

Nothing was planned for a super lazy Sunday, good job too because after I let friends out of the house I went back to bed and fell asleep… until the next one left (to go and have Sunday dinner!) I struggled to stay awake but attempted it and despite having a paperwork mountain to climb, decided that I needed a rest and spent the evening chilling out with Mr G.

 

Day 3 – 3rd March Monday

My Writing Day – turned into a Wacky Races version of paperwork gathering as I called, emailed and tantrum-ed over missing paperwork, made visits to town branches of banks and by teatime had NEARLY found all the missing documents. Spent what seemed like the whole day completing forms for the solicitors (selling my apartment)…. unfortunately as I was in town I couldn’t by pass the shops without a quick look, it started with the essential toiletries (to make me feel like I had been shopping, whilst at the same time being grown up, thrifty and sensible!) and then I looked for a dress in the SALES for a party this weekend. Then I saw a few bargains and snapped a few up… and so the story goes on and on up the High Street – I must have spent a third of my weekly wages!

I have the party-wear and accessories sorted (masked ball) – I have all the essential bathroom bits – I have some new weekend wear and a new poetry dress. (No one item cost more than £14 and many were a few pounds…) I used to shop weekly and now I cannot remember the last time I did… anyway it is done and I don’t wish for store credit and as all items were SALE price that’s all I would get!

It was fun and a good arm workout for the walk home.

In the evening we went to visit a very excited 7 year old – Mr G’s Godson, who was full of Birthday beans – we spent an hour or so with the family and then came home to collapse in heaps! I was asleep by 10pm and had an early night ready for work today.

Day 4 – 4th March Tuesday

Before work at 7 am – I was up, showered and already sending emails to estate agents, housing associations, solicitors and authors.

I went to work (first frozen morning in a while) – I love Tuesdays as I get to work 1 to 1 and whole class and work with 4 up to 9 year olds. A great mix day. Most of it is Music too- creative and fun. I spent every minute of my break chasing calls from emails and half of my dinner time in my inbox and most of the rest of it on the phone.
By this evening I had all the necessary gaps filled in the solicitors forms which are now ready to take in along with my evidence tomorrow.

We had pancakes for Shrove Tuesday – the first one in this house! I cooked dinner did a ton of chores and ran out of time to exercise (or write) – there is always tomorrow…. it is going to feel SO GOOD dropping this paperwork off!

association

 

First Week Off – well 6 days! SOLC Slice of Life Challenge

SLICE OF LIFE CHALLENGE – it is ages since I submitted a SOLC, I am attempting to get back to the Blog challenges I haven’t had time for over the next Month or so, I miss them and all the bloggers involved in them.

It has been so long they have this new and juicy logo! It’s active, so click away if you want to find out about this weekly challenge from TwoWritingTeachers.

 Last week I finished work for a week, celebrated Mr G’s birthday and Valentine’s (kind of) and I had an unscheduled break from the world of writing, 6 whole days, 4 of which with no internet/laptop usage at all!

Detoxed, well read and well slept, I am ready for the world again and just as well, after looking in my writing diary this morning I am reminded of the busy week ahead. This is half term week, so at least I can balance life/writing without having to factor in work as well!

Thursday Night, Mr G’s birthday – we went to my brother’s bar in Birmingham for a Comedy Night – it was fantastic, lots of spots, lots of side splitting material and abundant talent – by the end of the night I wanted to change career path (again) and go into Stand Up…. I have funny yarns to weave! It was great chatting to the performers and it is fair to say Mr G enjoyed his night tremendously!

He has the wisdom (of age 😉 ) to book the next day off. On very little sleep I got up and worked a whole day!

I managed to get home in good time to start celebrating Valentine’s Day  I came home to a dozen red roses – deep, deep red – almost blood purple (a colour I just made up) and some Thorton’s treats – personalised chocolate cupcakes & a chocolate heart, as well as a bouquet of lollies, a magazine and a little bit more! SPOILT!

Now, much as we love a Hallmark occasion- and we do, we have long since wised up to restaurants charging double and gave up eating out for V-day years ago. Instead we treat ourselves to a takeaway and a romantic night in.

Well…. I fell asleep in the armchair before 6pm – woke up at 10, very apologetic – warmed up a couple of supermarket takeaway curries and then watched Mr G doze off…. needless to say we have postponed Valentine’s… we are thinking March!

Then came the weekend – now I cannot pass judgement on extending birthdays – I have done it for years… the best, my 21st, 21 days of parties (oh for that stamina now)! We caught up with friends we haven’t seen in a long time (over 12/ 18 months) and had a great day at our local pub.

I slept for 12 hours and the next day had a 3 hour mid-morning nap too! Mr G and I had already declared Sunday as a Duvet Day! I managed to catch up on reading and just relaxed.

I had planned to start working hard yesterday, but slept again until the afternoon, I spent most of the afternoon reading and made it through another novel. I have now started Amy Rainbow’s book and can’t wait to review it for her, it is a great read!

There is so much I need to do!

 So here I am spending an hour writing a blog post!

I need to:

• Write a 52 poem (before Midnight Weds)
• Write some children’s poems or child content friendly ones at least (for Poetry For Lunch, Thursday)
• Learn my set off by heart for Hit the Ode (Thursday)
• Write dance poems for the Gallery opening (Friday) – there are now 15 poets involved, it is going to be a crazy night.
• I also have to get to the library to see the current display as mine is due to go up on the 1st March and no doubt I will need it dropped off before then!
• In addition to this I have an end of February deadline for about 8 pieces I am hoping to submit! And a few more open mic spots booked!

 

Great timing for an impromptu week off!

Here’s to my writing elbow and fingertips…

 

SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge – A Grand Day!

Today has been a wonderfully inspiring mixture of events and coincidences! So much so that I have decided to post this general slice and link the other posts into it.
I have JUST realised it is TUESDAY still – so this qualifies as my SLICE OF LIFE post for this week – I would love to start the ritual of a weekly post again and get time to read other slicers – maybe in the NEW YEAR!

I worked today – I was booked for the morning only – which is a farce because it is always afternoon before you leave. I didn’t get a break and worked through what would have been dinner if I had worked all day – so I did 5.5 hours without food, water or breaks! Small wonder I felt a little aggrieved by the time I left. Not to mention the first lesson was a practical science class and I had no support! The kids were fabulous though and I shouldn’t complain because it is still worlds better than it used to be!

Next came the adventure of collecting my nephew’s birthday gift – which I ordered online on Sunday and was a Click and Collect – ready in store yesterday – but I spent the whole day writing and the evening out at Amy Rainbow’s Book Launch. It took an hour – because I had to go through the store with a basket 1st, there were a few small items I needed to buy including a snood to replace the one I lost last night at the book launch. I collected his gift and had planned to go home via shops in town, but after I had fought the great battle with the self serve tills I had had enough and came home.
I had an hour before another appointment. I spent it online and discovered that Joanna Skelt – the Poet Laureate was organising a Mellow Winter Evening Event at the REP Theatre which started at 5.30pm, I wasn’t sure I would make it in time – but I did.
It was great, a lovely way to break into the evening.

Joanna was fantastic and performed a lot of her jazz inspired/ jazz poetry, Jan Watts (former Laureate) performed her theatrical, funny, less mellow poetry, I had a chance to read a set of my own, Charlie Jordan shared one of hers and other people performed poetry and music, it was a great night.

Afterwards I made my way home via the Frankfurt Christmas Market – I may have some poetry dresses for next year – an inspirational device to make me lose weight! I sampled lots of tasty treats and bought a few gifts before coming home!

A great day and a grand adventure.

PLUS
The Moon tonight was massive and beautiful (I should describe it more poetically) I wanted to snap a picture but was driving on the motorway at the time and couldn’t!

I phoned Recon (venue last night) and THEY HAVE MY SNOOD – it is in lost property… they will keep it safe until I manage to travel over that way – guess I will take my new one back for a refund!

Slice Of Life – Decisions and Observations

Since the beginning of the month I have been trying to enter into the Christmas Spirit. As always I have left everything to the last minute and must start Christmas Shopping and making holiday plans.
I am trying to squeeze as much work in as possible before the fortnight break at the end of the month. We have family birthdays before Christmas Eve and for the first time EVER Mr G and I are having our first Christmas at home together but we are also hosting the Family Christmas Dinner.
To get me into the Christmas Spirit I have started a Countdown on Social Networks trying to find something Christmassy to write about everyday.

Mr G surprised me last week with an Advent Calendar and we had fun filling them up over the weekend. And now we are sharing the fun of opening them.
 I have arranged for my youngest nephew (5) to help decorate the tree and room for Christmas, but we don’t do that until 12 days before Christmas, or a little sooner if I am free.

Today I worked in school (this is where the observations kick in) and as with tradition with most schools the decorations go up for the beginning of December – and come down just after the children leave (taking down decs BEFORE Christmas is so depressing!) It was lovely walking in and seeing the brightly decorated Christmas Trees and knitted Nativity Figures, it made me feel happy.
Of course it just makes the kids hyper and excited – especially as they are also learning Christmas songs and rehearsing Nativity Plays and Christmas shows. We have 3 weeks of this… or at least I would have, if I had stayed in my job.

I miss this time of year in School, the team bonding and the joys of the Season. However, I know I made the right decision when I turned down a 4 week contract (before Christmas, with the excitement, extra activities, my own Christmas Prep, writing, book launches, performances etc – there just wouldn’t be time)!

And this led me to thinking… about listening to the wisdom of your inner voice.
Life is too short for you to ignore your calling or waste your talents.
The greatest gift  we can give ourselves this Christmas is HONESTY.

When was the last time you really threw yourself into something, heart and soul? In our modern culture, we keep ourselves at a distance from the wholeheartedness that is actually so life affirming.

We seem to feel that if we are not judging others, we are being judged. We fear failure and being seen as stupid. But that keeps us small. Wholehearted people are charismatic and magnetic and challenge us to raise our game.

©2013 Finding a Career with Meaning

This was in an email I deleted today whilst sending out my writing business emails. Funny how you sometimes read things at the exact moment you need to see them, isn’t it?

I am still unsure where this new life will take me, but I know I made the right choice.

Merry Christmas Slice #1

Written for SOLC Slice of Life Challenge – On Two Writing Teachers Blog, click the icon and find out more!

SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge

It has been a while since I left a post for the slice of life challenge – this week is mainly a writing week – I have also needed to work – pretty much 4 days this week so far. And I am already feeling so tired. Originally I had writing events Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I am so tired that I have already decided to stay in tonight and tomorrow, get my set ready for Thursday night at SpeakEasy and also write a poem for Friday’s Stanza meeting. I have already emailed Emma with my workshop poem- ‘Cake Man’. It was written as part as PAD CHALLENGE and I look forward to the workshop in Oxford on Saturday, followed by another poetry performance.

I worked all of last week apart from Monday, and I have worked all week this week – so far I just have the end of this week off and hope to catch up with writing.

This month I am completing 3 challenges – National Novel writing month – NaNoWriMo, Picture book challenge PiBoldMo and PAD (Poetry a Day) challenge run by Writer’s Digest. I am also trying to get organised for some events later in the month.

In the past week I missed several poetry events due to tiredness, many are long drives away and by the time I make it in from work, I have no energy.

I did manage to mark Remembrance Sunday by attending Poetry for Peace.

We also had a lovely time celebrating Guy Fawkes with a little fire and some sparklers in the garden along with pumpkin curry and plenty of neighbouring fireworks to watch.

I am loving life and making the most of this giant leap of faith I have made. I have mainly been working for this past fortnight, taking as much as I can before the next holiday in 5 weeks!

SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge

I woke up this morning and thought how strange it was that my birthday was a whole month ago – it feels like I am living a completely different life than that of the summer!

Time is fleeting quickly though and I have so much more I want to achieve this year.

Winter has definitely arrived in the past week, we have gone from flip flops and sun-tops straight to woolly cardigans, coats and boots, it won’t be long until I start wearing my brilliant hat and scarf combo, bought in Poland in February. I would prefer to have an autumn though and acclimatise gradually!

A week ago I got my first call for (possible) work, I had to go for a mini interview and take a class, the contract would mean missing a poetry workshop I have booked onto for part of the Literature Festival, after a quick conversation with Mr G I agree to the challenge, the work will pay the mortgages for October.

I spent half a day preparing resources and plans for Friday. I also managed to get my hands on the latest copy of my writing magazine, fortunately I phoned the newsagents and reserved one – it was there last copy.

I had the interview – and wasn’t picked for the job, this was fortuitous, firstly I can attend my workshop and secondly they have met me and seen me in action now, hopefully more work will come my way. And if it does I will know my route! And after the summer off it got me over that hurdle of ‘can I do this anymore?’ YES! I can and WILL!

Then it was the– every weekend between now and mid October is booked up with events! This weekend saw my old hometown celebrate the Annual SaltFest – a festival of local community and business. Which included a book launch of a poet I only discovered this week – how’s that for timing?!

Mr G and I usually like to potter around the craft and food stalls and soak up the atmosphere of the day (now a whole weekend event) – however, Saturday morning I received an Arts Programme in the post and as I read through the brochure a Writers’ Network Meeting jumped out at me as they had Simon Thirsk (Bloodaxe Books) speaking. It was in Oswestry (Shropshire), close to the Welsh boarder. I have driven through it plenty of times and didn’t think it was too far away!

Well it was … a 2 hour drive, a fantastic afternoon – which you can read all about here and then after the 2 hour drive home I went to an amazing book launch of Sarah James’ second collection. It was a great night. Beyond book launch

By the end of Saturday I had met more writers than I can count on both hands and stumbled/ pushed through two new opportunities, one of which may lead (eventually) to paid employment!

It was such a buzz, surrounding myself with creative individuals.

On Sunday there was another writing event, I decided to give it a miss as I have made my decision to focus on poetry and the other event was more focussed on reading and novel writing.

Besides we had to do all the things I hadn’t done on Saturday as I chose to spend the whole day at events.

We picked sweetcorn, beans, cucumbers and beetroot from the allotment. And last night Mr G and I cooked our first ever allotment grown Winter Squash, a stuffed squash recipe that was gorgeous and we had sweetcorn on the side, I think my tummy has only just gone down!

This week I have more applications and interviews, lots to do on the house, we have finally managed to order a freezer we have been after for a month and so need to get space organised (and painted!)

I have also got some submissions to make, poetry to write and a short story to attempt to write. In addition to this I am still organising INKSPILL (online writing retreat 25- 27th Oct) and hoping for some paid work.

‘Money will flow…’

The estate agents have shown a fair few people around, however the apartment is still waiting for an offer to be made by anybody! That sale will fund my mortgage and help me panic less about money issues!

A fabulous week in which I have felt TRULY alive!

SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge – Two for the Price of One!

Two slices that is…

Grab yourself a coffee (or preferred beverage) and enjoy!

Last Tuesday I promised a slice all about the birthday celebrations – then I didn’t manage to post a slice at all… let’s step back to mid-August – there are many of us now wishing we could step back a few weeks and relive the summer…

I started celebrations on the Friday as I went to a Jazz Festival (my dad’s band ‘Broadband’ were playing) -it was a fantastic night with friends and afterwards I went to spend a bit of time with my Dad. I got home close to 1 a.m and crept to bed.

The next morning I expected to wake late – but I am still like a child with birthday excitement! I was awake at 5 a.m and in Blogland so as to not wake Mr G.

Then we shared a lovely birthday breakfast*. I treated myself to some cereal (chocolate pillows filled with hazelnut chocolate – I am such a big kid!) and croissants and coffee and some special ‘Gooey’ biscuits Mr G had bought!

Then I had a treasure hunt to find presents (told ‘ya… big kid!) it was the first birthday/ any celebration in our new house and I wanted to remember it! I had 8 clues text to my mobile. I had to ask for help on social media… who says it’s for networking?! Eventually I found them all – by this point a friend was over and I had to get ready for a family lunch.

My family lunch was amazing and I enjoyed a lovely meal out in good company! My bro and his partner managed to get there with my nephews… any excuse to play the birthday child! I loved sharing it with a 5 and 8 year old. All their needs met. Excited questions about presents answered eagerly!

I got home in time for a quick outfit change and went out to a local bar for birthday evening drinks with a few friends. We got home for 10ish (incredibly early) but I had been out for almost 10 hours and was exhausted. Our friend who came back with us had the superb idea of ordering a take-away, we finished the night off with a film and a curry. (Oh and some more drinks!)

My birthday continued on the Sunday with a birthday brunch of hash browns, potato waffles, eggs and beans, something there was no time or stomach room to have on my actual birthday.  Oh AND I got a cake with candles… Thanks Mr. G!

This past week I have been relaxing (offline for the Bank Holiday weekend – as Mr G had time off and has completely transformed the garden!) I have had family visit and helped babysit two incredibly cute nephews in their onesies!

Today is the first day I need to get back to ‘work’, organise my future. Which leads me to the banking fiasco of today!

Today… started early as I woke up with a hacking cough sometime just after 6AM and didn’t manage to get back to bed, let alone sleep. (I’ve had the cough for over 3 weeks and due to the PSA adverts got a little worried. Eventually had a Dr appointment last week, airways seem to be clear. So as long as it has gone in 3 weeks (now 2.5 weeks) I should be okay, if not at that point they will order a chest x-ray!) It isn’t as bad as it was – but when I start I can’t stop and lying down is the most likely thing to set it off!)

THE BANKING FIASCO

I decided to ACTION my two main tasks for the day – joining agencies for work this September and activating online banking (having forgotten to transfer bill payment money last week before the Bank Holiday weekend. Eek!)

And so begins my day – it is hard to imagine without an image of Calamity Jane! I am a real techno phobic deep down and am one of the rare species who prefer face to face contact in a local branch. Firstly, I discover I have online banking, last accessed 6 months ago. Of course I have to change all my details as I cannot recall usernames and passwords and all paperwork is still in a ‘I just moved house (this June) box’!

Secondly, I discover that I don’t have the right telephone number logged with them so they cannot verify who I am. I look up a landline number to contact (as I only have mobile access) and wait until after 8 a.m. I eat my last bowl of birthday cereal* and watch some TV.

I phone the bank. I confirm the changed details. I log into my account, online. I process the transaction – incorrectly at first, of course (see note about techno phobic), I try again. The transaction is successful – they will phone to verify.

The phone number is incorrect. I change it. That will take 3 days to process. (As will the financial transaction – the first payments are already going out and there is no overdraft facility!) I look up another alternative telephone contact and phone for assistance. I am told I don’t have telephone banking so they can’t help me. I set up telephone banking so I am never in this farcical scenario again. That will take another 5 days.

An hour later I have to walk into town (close to us) in baking sun (thank goodness we have a few more sunny days at the end of the school holiday to enjoy!) I queue at my bank and get served by a trainee so everything needs to happen twice and be confirmed (we all started somewhere) – but for some UNKNOWN reason my bank cannot transfer the money across to another account of mine in a different bank and so I have to walk the street with cash for all my bill money. Fortunately the banks are all close together and I don’t have far to walk… needless to say I prayed all the way!

I wait in an EXCEPTIONALLY long queue and EVENTUALLY transfer my HARD earned pay into our joint account to pay for Household bills! The total transaction time approx: 3 hours! And they say internet banking makes everything quicker – we will see next month when hopefully it will be up and running! I cannot set a debit as the monthly amount varies before any of you suggest such sensible solutions.

Now I have half a day to sort agencies for the Autumn – and to relax and enjoy the sunshine. We still have boxes to unpack and rooms to sort – but it is sunny and anybody who lives in the UK will tell you, when this happens – you get outside and enjoy it!

 Off to get a big coffee of my own now!

SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge – The Birthday Week!

For my whole life (not surprisingly) my older brother and I have shared the same birthday week (I know technically some years the birth dates fall in two different weeks, not this year though!) – and once (only once – with two Leo children my mother never made the same mistake again!) even a birthday cake was shared.

I should explain it was a gift from an Aunty who was practising the cake decorating craze of the 80’s and as my mum tried to explain the cake half was as big (if not bigger) than a full birthday cake would have been! I should also add that at the time (and again for the only time) mum had booked our summer holiday during the birthday week and we were in a caravan – so there was a certain space storage issue.

Still the jealous little sister in me (of which there was a high percentage!) never got over the fact that on my birthday half a cake was revealed – a half I had already seen 5 days earlier!

 

Okay so after that intro where is this slice heading? The jealousy has subsided – especially as he is closer to 40 than me and this brings me some relief! And also (I hope) I grew up a little bit!
So today is my older brother’s birthday … I don’t know what his plans are but I plan on dropping his card and gift in later so I hope he is in!

This week we are also both seeing Dad (he is a jazz musician) I have arranged for some friends to come to a gig on the Friday night for a pre-birthday outing (I am a LEO – my birthday can last a week! – For my 21st I did 21 days/nights – I no longer have the stamina, time or money for such a feat! I was fresh out of college and enjoying what I thought would be my last free summer… two years before I went back to college as a teacher and got every summer free!) There is another gig on Saturday (my actual birthday that my bro and his family are going to!) Fortunately they can squeeze me and a meal in first!

I have just remembered (now my ego has taken a breath!) that the slices are retrospective of the week past… I will start again and you can wait for next week to hear the birthday instalment!

A week ago my mum came to help me get the house straight – we now have the whole of the downstairs (if I forget the cupboard and lean to) sorted, unpacked, clean and lived in.
I didn’t get up to much last week as I was in recovery after socialising to the max whilst we had our houseguest. I kind of needed a rest!

People came to view my apartment and the estate agents gave me feedback – I spent a while imagining it was sold. And fingers crossed I think that wish is manifesting!

I took mum for an appointment and had lunch with her. It was nice to spend time together. I also caught up with a few friends – had a lovely day in the park and lunch at a friend’s and enjoyed the sunshine.

We had planned to go to the allotment over the weekend – the strawberries of the summer are no more – we are now enjoying cucumber, tomatoes, potatoes, French beans and soon onions too!

We went last night instead as we were both asleep for a great part of Sunday!

Mr G spent a while prepping the summer house as our drying out venue for the veg and we shared a glass in the garden before coming in and cooking our first meal together in the kitchen (it’s the little things!) He found my fridge magnet word set and we had a word battle on the fridge before serving up! The allotment beans and potatoes were GORGEOUS!

I woke up this morning to a social media influx of shooting stars and cosmos based statuses – after all the nights we have spent star gazing (the constellations are so clear) we were inside cooking, eating and sleeping whilst the rest of my friends were watching an amazing meteor shower! Gutted. Although I did see lots of shooting stars the other week.

Anyway another great week and half way through the summer holiday.

 

For all slicers remember the connection theme – go and read someone you have never read before!

SOLC Slice of Life Challenge

This week has flown by. At the beginning of the week we had our houseguest back from France. I finished the DIY on the apartment and FINALLY got it on the market! I socialised with friends. Celebrated a surprise birthday party and another Leo birthday and a wedding and also had friends over to the house at the weekend.

Yesterday my friend started her long journey back to Australia. I was so tired I tried to sort the house but ended up sleeping lots!
Today I asked my mum for help – accepting I needed motivating. I collected Garden furniture from hers and then she helped me unpack the lounge. We shared lunch & then she stayed until teatime helping me LOTS!
Couldn’t have achieved it without her. Also did laundry and other chores. The whole DOWNSTAIRS of the house is now done!
When Mr G came home from work he set up the Wii and we played The Cube (Christmas present)it was fab. Addictive. We played for over an hour. We both beat the Cube, once! Great fun.

Mr G cooked a curry and we watched a film. Now drinking a ginger wine sample (Christmas present) it’s the day for them… Next stop – bed!