TeamChallis: Week 20 - More National Trust Outings

Week 20 - More National Trust Outings

Monday

Morning started out as fairly usual. I tried running, but was really not up for it, so had a brisk walk instead. I then tend to go back home for 8am. Fill up a couple of water bottles for the girls and go wake them up. They then take ages getting up, dressed and breakfasted. Meanwhile I go on my PC and blog, check e-mails and sort out online stuff (all while having my breakfast smoothie). The time can often just disappear. At 10am there is Karen's zumba session. But I am finding that now it is an hour long that I just can't quite fit it in. I should just join for shorter - but somehow I struggle with scheduling that. I did my yoga, sorted out the laundry and watered my pots. And by then it was lunch. Mark was really busy with work so grabbed himself some leftovers from the fridge. I said to the girls we could go for lunch in the park.

The queue was quite long, it does take a while.

The girls had found us a space, so we just hung out a while which was nice.

I had the Persian salad, which was tasty but didn't sit well with me the rest of the day.

Back home, Bunnykins wanted some darning doing on her jeans, so I got on with that - determined to achieve something visible with my day...

The afternoon whizzed by with cleaning jobs and then making tea. I was still feeling sluggish so decided that going to UkeleleLand practice on my bike might be a good idea. Mark lent me his panniers so I could take my stand and music books. I decided to take Bob, my Waterman ukulele. He is a rather more robust soprano that lives in the boot of the car. He is plastic, so isn't affected by damp or heat. He still has a decent sound and is in a hard case so if I did take a tumble, he'd be OK.

It was a nice ride out there. It is along the Bath to Bristol cycle path pretty much all the way. It is flat, no cars, tree lined and very pretty especially in the late afternoon light.

I got to Oldland Station and was surprised to find that Ben (who was coming from just around the corner - really like 2 minutes away... was late!) I had made good time and was spot on when I said I would be. Anyway, he arrived to show me the way from there to Kevan's.

Naomi is away for the summer so it was just four of us. It was a really nice evening; just having a go at some of the newer songs and working out some of the rough bits.

At 8pm I was pretty swiftly on my way as the sun was setting and I didn't fancy the cycle path in the dark...vampires 👿👀...no the cycle track is pretty well used and pretty safe - but there are incidents and I didn't want to chance my luck in the dark.

Tuesday

Did my walking workout. Got the girls up, then settled down for breakfast at my desk. I needed to start working on the holiday meal plan. I'm not the sort to just let that kind of thing be spontaneous at the best of times, never mind mid-pandemic. I get panic attacks and funnily they are most often associated to choosing places to eat! I know that sounds pretty weird. I remember having one in London, there was one in Bath, one in France; in each case we had to choose somewhere to eat. (There have been other non food ones). I felt the pressure of being the one making the decision. I felt everyone looking to me to decide. I didn't know the areas. My mind was flipping through all the different things that the diners needed: dietary requirements and general fussiness, budget, being able to get a nice table, time taken to be served, cleanliness and general facilities. There was this spreadsheet in my head compiling all these needs and it was just buffering with the effort of trying to find a solution to the algorithm. I feel everyone looking at me, my heart is pounding and I don't want to look at anyone - I don't want to see any faces. I didn't want to spend any mental energy acknowledging that these other people are there (regardless of how much I love them). I didn't want to understand their minds any more, I didn't want to have their needs roaming about in there wanting me to coral and solve it all. I couldn't do any more interpreting. I look at the floor, so I can feel like I am surrounded by a cloudy glass bubble. I can't get words out, I can't answer. Mark has got good at knowing what to do - the first time - he kept asking me to confirm the decisions. I couldn't even do that. I just need to be told "it's OK, we're doing this thing" or "we're going here".

So yeah, I need to plan meals as best I can. It isn't straightforward. Alot of restaurants and cafes are closed. I was looking up supermarkets, takeaways, finding places that do nice food that you re-heat yourself. Thinking about what would make the holiday feel special. Hopefully we will have one night out at a restaurant... fingers crossed.

Did my yoga, sorted out the laundry. Woo helped with the plants. Then I grabbed a shower and sorted lunch. After lunch we were booked into Dyrham Park, another National Trust property not far from here. We started with a walk around the parkland that surrounds the house. It's a couple of km, not much but beautiful views.

This photo below makes me laugh. Woo doesn't like being in pictures - she generally has to be cajoled now. But she was in a very playful mood as we walked. She was trying to always be in the middle, so there was playful wrestling and running about and then she was pulling her cute little baby face when she didn't succeed. Bunnykins asked for a picture on this log, which I was very happy to oblige her with. Then Woo started messing around in the background - I'm sure it's obvious...but she is being a manga character from Totoro...walking around with an umbrella...😜😂

We carried on around to the front of the house.

We went first to queue up for drinks and cakes. There was an archway through the wall and the queue was nearly to it on the other side. So we hesitated and stepped back to let a couple out with their drinks. This pair of mums with a huge gaggle of kids just went "oh thanks!" and walked past us, pushed past the couple and squeezed themselves into the queue! I was of course entirely British about it and made only a few snide and quiet comments as we joined the queue behind them. Woo on the other hand was not quiet. She doesn't like rudeness. She wasn't loud or rude herself, but she wouldn't stop talking about them, or how their kids weren't social distancing or how they just didn't care. In the end I did have to say she should probably keep her judgement a bit quieter (even though I had enjoyed the thought they could hear her). We eventually got served; the girls were keen to try ginger beer - even though it was quite a fiery one. We wandered around the orchard and found a nice spot by the formal water gardens.

It was really lovely on our picnic rug, but the girls then wanted to sit in a wall seat. Woo was persuaded into more pictures, particularly with us playing with the stickers.

Very appropriate for Dyrham Park:

This one made me crack up, we chose the filter, then you open your mouth and the fish appears - Bunnykins suddenly yelled...I can't have this! I'm a vegetarian!

We carried on around the formal gardens. The girls do really get along and it is lovely to see. I started singing the song "Sisters" from White Christmas. Woo picked up the tune and knew the lyrics pretty well "Caring, sharing...every little thing that we are wearing" and "I'm here to keep my eye on her!".

She was wandering around with Bunnykin's arm in hers singing this and doing little kicks. I had to laugh and say they should learn the routine.

Along this path, Woo was still doing the sisters thing, but didn't see a couple sat on a bench hidden by flowers, they did give some surprised looks but don't think they were too troubled by the entertainment. Woo thought it was hilarious - I love seeing her in such a giddy mood. I think here she is pretending she is on a bench!...

Then it was time to walk back to the car.

We didn't get home until about 5.30 so were a bit late with tea. Mark went off to get the shopping and I had a call with John at 7pm. He's going in to see Mum next week so we'll see how that goes. We talked about A House Through Time from Bristol. Talked about family stuff and upcoming holidays. It is always nice to chat with him.

Wednesday

Did my run and got the whole way round, which was good. Then normal stuff: breakfast, blog, laundry and yoga. Bunnykins joined me for Karen's zoom session - it's now zoom and a room...she was at Winterbourne Community Center with a live class while also streaming on zoom. It's now an hour long session - I was impressed with Bunnykins who made it 3/4 of the way through. Got the tea sorted in the slow cooker and then went for a shower. I was feeling pretty bushed by 12noon. Mark made the lunch, which I was grateful of as I felt I needed to recover some energy for the afternoon.

Earlier in the week, Hannah had said she couldn't meet up due to a busy week work wise. I suggested we could have M over here for the afternoon to help out. It was much easier to do that pre-covid as you wouldn't have to worry about the weather - the girls could happily entertain themselves squirreled away in Bunnykin's room on a rainy day. But, the weather looked good and we were free. M loves crafting, so I had planned that I would help her and Bunnykins make a dream catcher. Woo also joined us to work on her current dream catcher project. It worked out really well, as M can be a bundle of energy, but as I say - loves crafting and was so lovely and polite and patient. She enjoyed the process and it was really nice to have her with us.

The rain came on a bit, but I had set up the parasol at the table and we managed to stay dry and carry on crafting until just after 3pm - I was really impressed with their staying power - even when it got fiddly.

We decided it was time for a run around the park. It was quiet there after the rain, so there were no queues for getting the girls a hot chocolate each.

Hannah picked up M at 4pm. I tidied round and helped Bunnykins a little. We had our tea and I managed to finish my latest book while Mark went off for a cycle ride. I have been reading Natives: Race & Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala. It was very good, more personal than "Why I am no longer talking to white people about race", but incredibly well referenced and thought through. Again, a challenging read in places, but warm and articulate and really worthwhile.

I think that a particularly interesting section, for me, talked about Britain's attitude to South Africa, apartheid and Mandela. I worked out in South Africa for a year, via the Overseas Training Project, back when I was at university. It was an incredible year that taught me so much about myself and changed me for the better certainly. Last week on Wednesday (before I read this particular chapter) Ursula had been asking me about South Africa and what the atmosphere was. I had reflected that when I was there (Mandela was still president), there had been a very calm and hopeful atmosphere. In the big towns it was sometimes uncomfortable though. I had a really wonderful friendship with a white South African lady who looked after me and Mark (even having us stay with her at Christmas). She was embracing this new world, nevertheless, looking back I don't see that things changed massively for her. She still had a black cleaner and gardener. Her house was palatial. A huge single story bungalow with a veranda all around in large grounds, a pool and a pool house (where Mark and I stayed). They thought of themselves as very ordinary - no different to you or I over here - but the standard of living they enjoyed was way beyond what most of us would be able to achieve. And it was far far greater than most black South Africans. What the book talks about is that, while having the upmost respect for Mandela and what he did achieve, there was very little in the way of reparation. The reason that so many white British people (including many right wingers) adore Mandela is because he didn't disrupt the status quo. This is a difficult and challenging idea when you are in that white group. Reparation does not need to mean a complete turning of tables - but to have almost none - when so much was taken - can't be right. I think just the main thing was for me to question why I (like so many white people) have this glowing hero worship for Mandela and to realise it is probably not for such lofty reasons as I might think.

Thursday

Did a 30 minute boosted walking workout, had my breakfast and then grabbed an early shower. I got the slow cooker on for tea and made up a pack-up. I am not one for a finely crafted pack-up...it was 3 cheesy bean pasties, crisps, choc bars and a tub each of salad things (carrots, cucumber, salad leaves and french beans).

I found the girls watching the "Sisters" youtube clip...funny little beans! 😍

Mark was off in the mama-sting (our lemon coloured car) getting it fixed before our holiday (a rodent had nibbled some cable related to brake sensors). He arrived back just in time for us to take the car to our booked slot at Tyntsfield.

The forecast had been for it to be overcast but warm. Just as we set off the drizzle started. It drizzled with a morose intensity for most of the way round. We did the long walking route that goes up into the hills behind the house. It's only 3 to 4km, but has a bit of a climb.

Excellent pointing work from Woo:

We took a detour into the end of the play trail as it was quiet. The start of the trail had been full of the sound of shrieking kids.

Woo was getting really hungry and therefore annoyed that we were walking around the walled garden, but I love this bit. I am a big fan of dahlias - shame they are such a faff to grow.

These leaves were spectacular also, I should have taken note of what they are. They just looked like the bed was on fire in the rain. I loved it.

We walked back round to the lawn in front of the house and got a lucky break in the weather. The drizzle stopped long enough for us to lay out the picnic blanket and have our gourmet lunch.

With entertainment laid on...the girls found a couple of fallen branches that could make fans for their "Sisters" routine. I love this photo so much - so much joy 😍😍💖💖😃😃

The girls had a bit of a run around to explore nearby trees and the lake. I just hung out a little enjoying the calm.

Then we packed up to head back, with just a little drizzle starting up again.

Back home I sorted round a few things, had a bit of a lie down for 20 minutes (I was feeling pretty bushed). Then got things set up outside for Ben coming over.

I noticed these jewels of rain on my bleeding hearts.

It was a beautiful evening to be sitting out, the temperature was lovely. I think I say it every week, but I just love my Thursday evenings with Ben. We chat alot about all kinds of deep and personal stuff. We laugh and are silly. We play music of course; sometimes I'm learning a new song and working on technique; sometimes we are both working out the details of how a riff should be or what strum or how to end it. I tend to be quite dominant with that - even though Ben is the professional - but I really like that I have an ear for how I want things to sound. Sometimes we are just playing old easy favourites and enjoying them. I tend to play Emily on a Thursday evening and she has such a beautiful sound. I could sit just playing a round of 4 chords. The four chords in Back to Black are ones I just love to go over. They are so mellow and almost hypnotic going round and round.

We played quite a few Amy Winehouse songs and Ben had brought over music for Kirsty MacColl's "In these shoes".

Friday

The day started hot, so I decided against a run and did a boosted walk instead. We had Rachael from the other end of the road down again. She has been in and out of our garden several times over this week looking for their cat Snowy. Snowy has gone AWOL, but he does like to spend quite a bit of time in our garden. Mark had spotted him sleeping on the deck. I will be glad when Snowy is back home - though I am not sure how they are planning to keep him there when they get him. But anyway.

The main bathroom upstairs is pretty much the girl's bathroom. There is always a bit of a tussle between them at bedtimes and in the morning about who goes in first. Bunnykins told me that she had moved out...I went in to check and saw that a "shrine" had been created in remembrance of her...she does crack me up 😂

It was a warm old day. We had lunch outside. It has been a while since it felt this warm and calm - it's funny as I was thinking back fondly to the good old days at the start of lockdown, when the weather was so nice....Anyway, we sat outside with our veggie hot dogs 👍

The girls wanted to play game of life. Mark went back to work and we set up. I did later protest about the retirement age being 100 and we got to retire at 70. When we play, the girls always go straight for careers and try to get film star or pop star, then they head to the city to make as much money as possible. I am always playing it by my principles...I choose a college career and then head to one of the nice islands to take it easy 😂...which apparently makes me a looser at the game of life...I'll take it.

It started to rain; Woo and I ran off to get the washing while Bunnykins moved the board. We finished the game under the umbrella.

I joined Ben's Friday Skype group, then had a few other chores and things to run round with. I had put tea in the slow cooker that morning, so had an opportunity to sit and read my book. I am back to my David Whyte book - Consolations. It is a slow book to read. It is wordy, but more than that, you really need to take time to absorb each micro essay and take it in.

After tea, we went across to the park for some Frisbee golf.

There is a handicap of adding your shoe size to your score, which works pretty well, though I think I get a good deal from it given how big the girl's feet are. Bunnykins invented a game along the avenue of trees. You have 10 shots and you have to hit each tree (excluding the two sapplings with supports) - the aim is to see who gets the farthest. This plays straight into my skill set. I was 10 for 10! and the winner by miles. In your face everyone else 😜😝😛😀😄😂😀

A sharp shower sent us home. I sat by the back door and read a bit more. It was such a beautiful evening. So calm and quiet. The sensory elements of the evening were quite overwhelming - everything was so clear and perfect and still.

This section on crisis was really interesting. I messaged Ben about it and we chatted on WhatApp a while. I really liked the image about it being about the meeting of two storms - the inner storm of our flaws and weaknesses and the outer storm of external events. Ben was talking about how in crisis we can't control either of these storms and that is what makes it a crisis rather than a "bad day". I agree entirely. It is a time to learn more about ourselves and experience the luminosity of these intense experiences. If we accept crisis as something we will all experience, and when it comes - do our best to navigate it with honesty....then we can gain from life rather than just feeling victimised by it.

The sky as the girls went to bed was spectacular. This photo does it no justice at all.

I liked my outfit for the day, there is no other reason for this picture....😀

Saturday

Bunnykins has been desparate to pack for her holidays. I said that the guys she takes need to fit into a box I supply (though she can carry them however). I documented the agreed guys (Roo Roo and Big Rabbit were also in there).

I gave the back of Mark's hair a tidy up as I don't think I had done a good job of that when I first cut it. I am not sure if it is a bit too "blocky" but I am doing my best to learn and improve!

Mark got the suitcases down and I went out to do a bit of weeding and collect up the fallen apples. It was already hot hot hot.

Woo's lampshade for her room arrived and Mark put it in place. I think it looks good. She was pleased - as much as she loved the disco light - it is a bit impractical when you are trying to get dressed. I believe this now finishes the revamp of her room.✅

Started a bit of packing myself then got myself showered and dressed. Note to self - clean the blessed mirror!!

When I came downstairs, Bunnykins told me that me and Great Grandma were having a walk by the train tracks...which was nice. I told Bunnykins how Great Grandma's favourite place to walk was a graveyard... Bunnykins doesn't want a graveyard in lego town - which is fair enough.

At lunch I was talking about the David Whyte book. I read one of the essays to the girls. They both really picked up on the meanings. We talked about how in a book things happen more like in real time but that in something like this or a poem - there is so much more conveyed in a short number of words. Woo described it like being a bomb - a poetry bomb - which I thought was an incredible description.

I read the snippet above about anger. Bunnykins said that it sounded like something Pippa would say - which I also thought was really perceptive as David Whyte is a favourite poet of Pippa's. I let Pippa know as I was sure she would be pleased to be so immediately associated with his writings.

At about 3.30pm the Dicksons came over for a BBQ. They had picked up some meat and veggy stuff this time. It was lovely to sit and chat. Even lovelier when Mark and Jason took the kids off to the park for a while and left Hannah and I to tidy away the prosecco.

They left about 7pm. I had a little lie down and just chilled in the slight breeze coming through the door.

Sunday

It had been a hot night. I tossed and turned lots and ended up waking properly at about 9am which is super late for me. Mark made us pancakes and then I read for a bit.

Bunnykins has today, by her own description, been "living the dream". She has been knitting a blanket for her Lottie, she has read her books, done a walking workout and yoga and drunk plenty of milk!

I also did some yoga. Tried a slightly longer one which I did enjoy - was a bit challenging at the end, but had some of my favourite forward folds in it. Did a bit of packing. Then after lunch I sat down by the back door to re-paint my toe nails.

Woo and Bunnykins were already sat down there. Woo was making a dress and accessories for Woo. Bunnykins was knitting and helping Big Rabbit play with the ribbon box.

I read some more of my book.

Mark made tea and we ate outside. It was a lovely temperature. He brought me out a cider, and I grabbed my book in order to make the most of the last of the sunshine.

Finished with a call with the Mummies, which ended up being just me and Mush. It was lovely to catch up. I always enjoy talking and laughing with her.

I went to say goodnight to the girls. Lottie was tucked in with her new blanket (though I am not sure how she will sleep with the Sullvanian babies messing around in her room...