I started Monday with a run, and then began work about 8am; it was a busy work day for us both. We finished a bit earlier and went down to Halfords. Mark wanted to look at roof boxes and I was concerned with my bike.
We chatted with a helpful chap about whether to replace the seat post or not and realised that if we did manage to fix the seat and get it to the right height, that the handles would be rather low and so I still wouldn't be in a comfortable riding position. We went over to IKEA for some supper and to mull it over.
When I sit on the girl's shopper bikes (also 19 inch frames), it is much more comfortable as they have the shopper handles. I suggested that we could replace the handles for the Dutch style, change the seat, and generally pimp the thing! Mark was keen. We checked a few things on-line and then that was it - decisions made!
On Tuesday, I had another run and then again, started work about 8am.
It was a difficult and stressful day quite frankly. I have been to the end of my tether a good few times this year with work. And here I was again dangling at it. A meeting I was supposed to have with my boss to discuss what was next had been postponed to Wednesday but I was ready to quit if it wasn't good news.
Mark was off in the Overmoor office and it was just generally a bit of a miserable day. But he was home a little before I finished at 5:30pm. We walked straight down to Mokka where we had a table booked.
We didn't talk about work, we talked about bikes and roof boxes and holidays and all the other fun stuff, so it was a nice evening. The food was good and we finished with churros and then cocktails.
We had also received some photo updates of what the girls were up to. That certainly cheered my day. It looked like they were having a brilliant time in Dorchester:
It looked like everyone was having a great time
And then at Langham Lakes
On Wednesday morning I decided to go for some yoga. I did a 40 minute session. It was a bit hard on the abs!
The postponed meeting with by boss happened and it was good news. All the bits of the work I find so draining and anxiety inducing will be with Ellen when she returns and I get to carry on running the Carbon Management team with the autonomy to set the direction of that team and what we do! That with 4 days a week, I couldn't have hoped for better. My boss was also really complimentary and saying how vital he found my point of view and how invaluable I was. So that was nice.
Mark went out running. Unfortunately he fell over and scraped his arm really badly so was in a bit of a bad mood when he returned.
However, Nancy had brought over some crumble, as she had made 2 batches. It was yummy for pudding!
We had our lunch out at the baggin' bench on Thursday. There wasn't much in, so we went for cup a soup which was pretty urgh.
More pictures received...😍
I had a significant internal presentation to give on Internal Carbon Pricing in the afternoon. Mark went out so he wouldn't take up any bandwidth. He went to get groceries and to go see Jason to plan for their epic trip.
They had planned to go off early on Friday morning to run/hike the Brecon Beacons way. It is 99km across the Brecon Beacons national park East to West (or visa versa...they were planning Versa). It takes 8 days to hike. They were going to do it in 3, while carrying all their supplies.
Meanwhile, the girls were having a great time.
Ben came over for tea. It was a nice evening for sitting out.
We opened some prosecco to celebrate my good news and the 3 of us sat out to eat. Including finishing off the crumble.
Mark was then busy with final packing decisions.
Ben and I got on with playing some new songs.
Despite feeling the need to celebrate, I still felt a bit off as I had had my big internal presentation and I just didn't know how it had gone. Sometimes I think it would be easier to sit in a quiet garden and interact with no-one! Easier, but I guess eventually I wouldn't like it.
Anyway, it was still nice to chat and play.
When Ben left at about 8pm, Mark and I went around to Nancy and Peter's where we had been invited for coffee. It was really nice to chat and catch up. I did have to drag us away by 10 though as I knew Mark needed to be up early...4am alarm!
We got an update that they were pitching camp and heading off to sleep for the night.
Mark and Jason had pitched again for the night.
We got home about 9:30pm. The girls helped me unpack the car and then went off to bed. I wasn't far behind them.
Sunday morning, another update from the guys...
I was awake fairly early, but read in bed and finished my book.
When the girls were up we dressed and went for brunch in the park.
We then walked to Tescos to buy some groceries. When we got back, Woo went to cut the grass and pick more beans.
Bunnykins made a cake for when daddy got home.
I put the tea in the slow cooker and then blanched and froze quite an amount of beans. I then did a bit of gardening and a few chores before settling down with blogging and then my book under the pergola.
Mark arrived back about 7pm. We were all eager to see him. We sat outside and had tea, while he told us all about their adventure. They didn't quite make the full 99miles, they missed out a bit on the last day as they would have been walking until it was dark. But they did walk ridiculously far!
Bunnykins brought out the cake she had made which was a chocolate and nut loaf cake. It was topped off nicely with some mint choc chip ice cream.
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