TeamChallis: Week 81 - Bunnykins is 12! + 4 day week, and Bo-Mo

It's been such a busy week, that I can't recall how it started, but I do have this picture of my sedum plants and how their roots are growing...

On Tuesday, Mark went to get the groceries after work and then picked up Bunnykin's new bunny.

She is called August and is made from Bunnykins' old school jumper and ties. Her various house point badges are sewn on with room for the Prefect badge to be proudly displayed.

She said hello to her cousin...

With badge...

Wednesday was Bunnykins' birthday!

We measured both girls' heights; Bunnykins is 5'10" and Woo 6' 1/2".

We had wrapped and set out the presents the night before and Mark had bought things for a birthday breakfast.

There was enough time to open presents before school, including a cool new phone case from Granny and Grandpa.

A fantastic dolls house kit to make a library. This will be a great resource for the Lotties and Sulvanians.

We had gotten her a few things for RooRoo, Frasier and Big Rabbit.

A t-shirt she was after...

a case for her tablet and a netball post...

She also got a lovely Luna badge for her blazer from Andrew and Grace.

During the day, a present arrived for me...cheeese!

It was from the analyst team to say thanks for doing the resourcing role this year...

It was really kind of them. For this week, I was still doing a lot of the resourcing, so I didn't feel like much had changed...I just had more cheese in my life! But that is no bad thing 😄

On Thursday I went to work in the office. The Bristol office social was that evening which was going to be Stand Up Paddle boarding in the harbour. I went in on the bus so that I could carry all the extra stuff like my wetsuit and also so that I could go out for a drink after.

I was a bit trepidatious about it all, which tbh is pretty standard when I don't know exactly what I need for an event or I just haven't done it before. I like to have it all clear in my head. I was also concerned about falling in in the harbour, as the water quality is a bit questionable. It isn't too bad, but the council test weekly and the e-coli levels had increased, mainly due to the extra rain and therefore run-off.

Anyway, all that said. I set off with the others from the office at about 4pm. It was a beautiful evening.

It couldn't have been any more Bristolian, with balloons overhead, colourful houses on the hillside, paddling past the SS Great Britain, and then being passed by the Matthew!

The Matthew is a replica of the original boat that John Cabot sailed in in 1497. You can visit it and have a roam about for free when it is moored up (done so with the kids many many times) and then it does tours. It is always a lovely sight.

The weather was so calm, it was just perfect.

I had a great time just taking in the surroundings, chatting to people and just paddling around.

We came out after an hour and got changed, then met up infront of a pub next door - the Cottage Inn.

It was a lovely evening and was nice to get to know a few of my colleagues a bit better.

And have some tasty fish and chips, and a beer.

Friday was my first Anthesis "non-working day", the start of working 4 days a week. I got up with everyone else and helped get everyone out the door. Another present had arrived for Bunnykins, which was a Ravenclaw tin of sweets from Andrew and Grace.

I dropped the girls at the bus stop, then came back and tidied up the kitchen - like with proper scrubbing and everything. Then I had my breakfast and went out to do some work in the garden.

I planted bulbs in the new bed in the back garden. There were a lot of bulbs!!

Mark came out after lunch and helped me clear away the old tomato plants and cut the wildflower bed back.

I went and had a shower and then read a short while. It was lovely to have that time. I must admit that I did worry about work, wondering what might be happening, fretting that I may have forgotten something. But particularly with gardening I was able to get into my task mindfully and forget about all that.

On Saturday we were all up fairly early. Woo was going off for her practice DofE expedition and had got all packed up the night before.

She certainly looked very professional with her walking trousers and boots and all the kit packed up in her bag.

Mark got back and then dropped Bunnykins and I off at the station. The plan was that we would take the train down to Bo-Mo. We would be there early, but we could have a wander about and get food so as not to be rushing before the big race. Mark would pick up Woo about 4:30 and then it was a 2hr drive down to Bo-Mo to start the 5k race at 7pm...all a little tighter.

Our train was already at the station, so we got settled in. We changed in Southampton, but for this first train journey (about 2hrs) we were both very happy just to sit and read.

We changed and then had another half an hour to Bournemouth.

We walked down to the race area and had a snack while we considered our options.

We decided to go for some cray-cray golf.

It was great fun. I told Bunnykins, at every hole, that I would probably get a hole in one.

I didn't...

Bunnykins was a bit slap dash. But on a hole called the Ant Hill - which was a bit fiendish and the group ahead had taken ages - she miss-hit her shot, but it turned out perfectly balanced and she bagged the first hole in one.

I finally managed a hole-in one on this one with the bridge.

We had an early tea, then a walk down to the beach and along the pier. It was so lovely with the sun going down. Bunnykins is great company and I really enjoyed spending the time together.

We then went to the Obscura café where we have traditionally congregated before the races. This year Vicki and Phil (and A&W) couldn't make it due to not feeling well just before the event. Also the upstairs was shut, so it certainly wasn't like old times.

But we met Woo and Mark there along with Granny and Grandpa who had just arrived back from Ireland. We got our day-glo on.

And then wandered down to the start.

The girls and I were all starting in the same pen, though I knew they wouldn't stay running with me. That is fine though. They had their phones with them so we could see where they were and get in touch, Mark was going to meet them at the end, and I was bringing up the rear.

It was a great atmosphere to the start. The girls really enjoyed the night run.

Woo did it in 29minutes 55seconds. Bunnykins was 36 minutes and 27 seconds and I came in at 40 minutes and 41 seconds. I was happy with that.

I ran solidly all the way around. When I got to the pier, I picked up my pace and was certainly running at an edge. And then when Macklemore came on my headset with Can't Hold Us, then I was just flat out to the finish! I shed a little tear as I crossed the line, feeling really pleased with how I had done (and enjoying the tunes!)

We all met up for some pictures before heading back to Granny and Grandpa's.

On Sunday, Mark was running the half marathon. Deirdre, the girls, and I, drove him to near the start at Hengistbury Head. Again, it was a mild calm morning so he didn't need anything with him but what he was running in.

We then drove to Bournemouth and parked up. There wasn't much open, but we spotted a surf themed café called South Coast. Woo was immediately drawn in by the boards on the wall.

The girls both ordered smoothie bowls, which was a mix of granola, nuts, seeds, fruit smoothie, and fruit. Bunnykins shared hers with me and it was yummy.

We then walked up the East Coastal Path which takes you up above the beach towards Boscombe.

We waited near the top of a zig zag path that would take us back down towards the beach promenade when we had seen Mark pass.

Once we had cheered him there, we went straight down the connecting path to the beach and waited only a few minutes before he was running back in the other direction.

He was then running out to Boscombe pier and back towards Bournemouth. He had a few km to do, while we just had to stroll back to town.

We found a spot near the finish to do our final bit of yelling and cheering...

Then as we turned, we realised we could see him going down the pier and back on the other side. He is visible in the photo below...

On the other side, I waited to cheer and get some pictures, the girls went to the finish funnel, just around the corner. Here he is, giving us a cheery wave.

We all met up and I bought churros for the girls, I had promised them to Bunnykins the day before. They shared with Mark and I.

We went back to Deirdre's for a lovely lunch, then Mark had a snooze while the girls caught up with some homework. I drove us home.

When we arrived back there was still some homework to be done, including a bit of soldering for Bunnykins who wanted to make a model of a plant cell with glowing nucleus.