Week 30

Monday

Not much to say, did the usual stuff: Run, chores, preparation for interview, Ukers

Tuesday

Also pretty same-y kind of day. Did a bit of work out in the garden. I have got so much pleasure out of my begonias this year. One plant had certainly gone over and was ready for digging up for overwintering. Chatted with John in the evening, which is always good.

Wednesday

Bunnykins doing some of her TTRockstars (TimesTables thing) in the morning:

I had the first interview for the Bristol job on Wednesday. It was at 10am, so I ran home from taking Bunnykins, had a shower, did my hair and got dressed.

It was an interview on Microsoft Teams. A few people had asked me in a puzzled way what I was planning to wear. I decided to wear what I would have worn if it were an interview in the flesh. I didn't bother with shoes or a jacket, but otherwise I went for a crisp smart shirt (with a pattern obvs) and my favourite smart skirt. I love this skirt, it has a really smart classic shape. It is a boiled wool, like a channel suit or something. But it is bright lime green. That is my work dressing thing...smart shapes...bright colours...patterns.

I went for this because, it is better to be overdressed than under in an interview and because dressing like this gives me confidence too. Look good, feel good. 

The interview went really well. There was a glitch at the start when the interview invite sent didn't have a link to a teams meeting in it. I only realised at 9:58am. But fortunately I knew I was connected on LinkedIn to the guy interviewing so I quickly messaged him (rather than the HR person who had set up the meeting a few days before). He then was able to send me an invite and as the call started he said "thanks so much for sorting that out!" as he had been flustered by it also. We had a really good conversation and I felt very positive from it. 

Later in the afternoon, my mood crashed somewhat as Mark came out full of glee saying that Verco had won consultancy of the year and the place I was applying for was an "also-ran". He was just excited for Verco, which I get. I felt like sH*£ however. It's on me not to be so bothered by this stuff, well I will feel those feelings, but then I can be mindful and rational and not be controlled by them. I spent some time chilling out with my book.

When Woo got home, she and Bunnykins were working together on some lego which was really nice.

And a late present for Bunnykins had turned up which she was chuffed with.

Thursday

Not much to say about Thursday day. But in the afternoon Ben came over. We were wrapped up and sat outside. We were working on a version of Green Garden by Laura Mvula. It is a song I really love at the moment, but the chords are an arse. We got the verse OK, but we were going all over the place trying to get the chorus right. 

I like to take pictures of Benjamin. He does alot of social media stuff and I always think it is nice for him to have pictures of him doing his thing. The light was lovely though, so I just took loads, also I did it because it was starting to freak him out, then make him laugh. I was quite pleased with a few of them...

(This was him suggesting I had taken too many 😄)

It was a still night. My begonias look beautiful in the candlelight too...I will be sad when their season is over. 

Friday

I ran home from the school drop off. I have changed my running playlist and I don't know if it is related, but I was really enjoying listening and I was actually enjoying the run. I felt much better than I have done recently so when I got back to our road I decided to keep going around the park. 

I had my shower and sorted out a few things. I heard from the Bristol job, they wanted a second interview with me and the feedback from the first was really positive. A  second interview was scheduled for next week. 

I went over to the park for lunch and met Helen. It was nice, we chatted about all sorts. We tried to keep it off work as I don't think it is comfortable for either of us yet. But it was really nice to see her.

I got back intending to join Ben's Friday Skype group but a load of plants that I had been waiting for had just turned up and I needed to get them watered and planted. Especially in the pots by the front door that have been waiting several weeks now for plants. 

After tea, Claire came over. It feels like ages since I have seen her. I set up the two rocking chairs outside (including the one from Bunnykin's room). It worked really well as the cushions are nice and thick and we didn't put them out until we were sat out there so they were great insulators. We both curled up our feet on our chairs and I brought out two thick blankets. It was a lovely atmosphere out there, especially as the night was so still. It was chilly but we hardly noticed it. 

Woo joined us for a while before going off to bed. 

Claire and I carried on talking and talking. We didn't cover alot of subjects, but as usual we went deep. We always go deep. That is what I love about talking with Claire, she loves to get stuck into the detail and is really thoughtful about her responses and her view of the world. Eventually one of us looked at our watch and realised it was nearly midnight! We hadn't even stopped to have another drink. The time had just flown and there were so many other things I wanted to ask her and talk to her about. But I knew it was too dangerous to ask another question or we would be there until morning 😂.

Saturday

I had been reading the Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuinn. I had really enjoyed it. I kind of guessed the end, but I loved it all the more for that. The whole philosophy of the end and of the moral of the book is so aligned with my head. You have to accept your dark and your light, be aware of all parts of you and realise that this is what makes a complete human.

It was a quiet day, and cold. In the late afternoon, Mark got the fire going in the front room. We watched Avatar which went down really well. We had smores.

And then were just in time for the launch show of Strictly...perfect. 

Sunday

Mark and Woo went off to Frisbee. Bunnykins and I made a start on her massive 3D Hogwarts jigsaw. 

Ben stopped by briefly for a cup of tea on his way to see his mum. I got lunch ready for Mark and Woo's return. 

Woo was looking a bit peaky. She had blurry vision, a numb face and hand. Bunnykins mentioned it first but it seemed the most likely culprit was migraine. She has had a few in the past including one really scary one in Bath where her face was so numb she could hardly speak. We dosed her up with Calpol and set her down to rest. The headache didn't quite materialise however and so she convinced us to let her watch 1917 which is just out on Amazon Prime. I sat with her. It was an incredible film. Very moving and the detail was something else. I wouldn't have chosen it as a relaxing film...I spent most of it with my shoulders up by my ears expecting things to blow up suddenly. When that had finished she was persuaded to go with a more classic sick bed film...Room with a view. I went back to the jigsaw and left her to it.