TeamChallis: Week 79 - Cobbler-bobs and DIY

On Monday, Mark was in the office, and then went to pick Bunnykins up from netball. Mark and I are both expecting to be in the office a bit more now. I am planning to try and cycle in 2 days a week. I'll have Friday off, and then there will be 2 days at home. If I am home but Mark isn't - it'll be my job to put the tea on.

We didn't have much veg in, but we had a lot of potatoes. I decided to make Spanish Potato Bake. It turned out pretty nice...

I made a version for Bunnykins without mushrooms.

Tuesday I cycled in, it was the chance to try out my new seat. It needed a bit more adjustment, but it was so much more comfy.

It was a busy day in the office, there were quite a lot of people in. In the afternoon, there was the "Global Town Hall" which is a meeting for the whole organisation (not just the UK). Before the meeting there is a chance to nominate fellow staff for the Global Spirit Award. One is awarded from each region. I was sitting listening, but also messing around trying to link my Fitbit with Strava for some other work initiative where we are trying to collectively cycle or walk to COP26. Anyway, when they got to the UK, I nearly shot out of my seat when they said my name...

(I videoed this a few days later from the recording). When it was announced on the Tuesday, I gave a little squeak of surprise, which had some of my colleagues smiling.

On Wednesday, Mark and I were both home, but hardly saw each other as we both had a day full of meetings.

I took Bunnykins to Netball. Well actually she took a different bus more direct to Netball and I met her off the bus, it worked really well and I was super impressed at how brave she was.

I talked to John while sat in the car, it was a good way to pass the time. We talked about books and music and politics.

On Thursday I cycled back into the office. I met up with Ben at lunch and took him to St Nicolas Market to show him my usual lunch haunt: Eat-a-pitta. Thing is, I think I need to explore and find something lighter. Even the small pitta is just too big!

I finished at 5pm, and met Ben outside the office. He had stored his bike in the basement, then gone to teach at the Folk House, and so was waiting ready to ride home with me. It was nice to have the company, though we did have a few hairy moments with Ben's occasional lack of coordination. I had got an instruction a bit wrong at a busy junction (I had said turn right and take the first left - when I meant second left), he was following me, but the next thing I saw was him cutting straight across infront of me to take the erroneous 1st left. Anyway, we didn't die, so that's the main thing!

It was a nice evening to sit out and play.

We had a go at Golden Slumbers among other things.

On Friday morning I went for a run first thing.

Then got a shower and got dressed for the day.

I had a strategy session online with my team in the afternoon - Mark was making quite a racket, but a good deal of progress getting started on the front room with his half day.

We're still able to sit in there in the evening, but no curtains now, so that is a bit funny.

Saturday. The passionflower is thriving in it's spot by the shed.

This weekend we were in full DIY mode. Mark had moved most things out of the front room.

I had lots of work to do in the front garden. I wanted to finish clearing out the cranesbill and some of the Shasta Daisies.

Mark was working in the front room. His aim was to get the ceiling all battened, ready for putting up plasterboard.

Woo was keen to help, and being taller than me was much more of an asset to him than I would be!

Woo and I nipped out to the garden center to get some soil conditioner for the front beds. Well basically well rotted manure! I also wanted to see about picking up Bunnykins' uniform - I had heard that a PE top was available from our order. We went the wrong way around really - getting the smelly stuff first and then heading to the uniform shop! The chap was trying to get us to wait at the door, but Woo was also after a PE top so I convinced him to let us in and see if there was one available. The chap went off to check our order and I found a whole load of stuff on the shelves in the same size as I had ordered. He came back with the PE tops and jumpers but saying there was no blazer or swimsuit. I showed him the items on the shelf that should make the rest of the order. It is a bit shambolic that they would have sent us away still waiting for a blazer to arrive when there was one right there. But then as Mark said - we've already paid so our money is in their bank - if they sell the blazer to someone else - they are quids in!.

Anyway we got the smelly stuff home and had some lunch. I finished clearing the beds, then got the soil conditioner in. I was then able to get some plants in.

Tamoo seemed to be having a nice time enjoying the roses.

We all got tidied up and I ordered a takeaway as neither of us felt like cooking, we'd both been working flat out all day. But we had got our jobs done.

Bunnykins had been working hard too. She had sorted out laundry for us and had also made an apple and rhubarb cobbler...now known as a cobbler-bobs. It was a yummy cobbler-bobs.

She was then busying herself with some drawing, she is making an incredibly detailed plan for her future island, it is fantastic.

I took a bit of an opportunity to read in my favourite spot.

Sunday was a lovely morning.

I did a bit more gardening. I had received some bulbs but not my full order. It isn't wise to start planting bulbs until you have the full lot as you just end up digging into what you have already planted. I got the ones I received organised though which felt good. Then had some other bits of planting to do and some cuttings to take.