It's funny how, over the last few weeks, even though I have felt that not much has been going on beyond the interminable porridge of life...there have still been clear headings that come to mind for each week's post. Each week there has been at least one thing worthy of a highlight. As I write this (Saturday morning) I am not sure what it would be. But anyway, let's proceed regardless....
I have managed to get into a rhythm with work where I can just about manage to keep one step ahead of "the man", if only run fast enough....cardio...it's the answer.
Ha, that reminds me of an aside...Mark and I have loads of little quotes from films and things that are in-jokes with us. A favourite one from Mark is from the film Zombieland...
Rule #1 for surviving disaster or just life itself...cardio. Well the girls have picked this up and last night (Friday) while watching Men in Black with the girls, after the scene where J chases down the alien at the start then is invited to the institute, Mark asked - why did Will Smith get picked to be an agent? And the girls in unison replied...cardio.
So proud.
😂
Anyway, yes, I have managed to understand what I can and should say "no" to at work and am just about managing my time to get everything done. I still hardly move from my desk during the morning, and after lunch. I still typically don't finish at 5:30 as I always have just one or two more urgent things to clear up. But I am getting there.
So on Monday I was able to join the UkuleleLand practice, which was nice, and I felt fairly relaxed being there...which was nicer!
The week carried on much the same...just busy.
I spoke to John on Tuesday evening. He has had his vaccination now, which is great.
On Wednesday, while we were walking at lunch, Bunnykins asked if she could do some baking in the afternoon. I said I didn't mind but she needed to ask Mark as he would be the one supervising, or dealing with any issues she had (he sits in the workroom next to the kitchen). He agreed. But he was super impressed with how well she just got on. She only gave him a call when dealing with the oven.
It was the highlight of my afternoon to see Bunnykins arrive at my study with a warm, freshly baked cookie 😍.
In the evening, we had our games night which was fantastic. It's just such a nice atmosphere. The girls are chatty and such great company. It makes such a difference to have that mid-week. It's such a highlight.
On Thursday evening I had my ukulele session with Ben. We ended up chinwagging through most of it, though we did play a few great songs. I am really loving "Hit the road Jack" and "Feeling good".
Work is so busy, but it helps that the people I work with are really great. We have a Friday session for half an hour which is just chatting, and doing things like sporkle quizzes. The one we did this week was fiendish. I only got 26% after so many rounds of trying. I gave up!
I managed to finish work just before 6pm. Which was OK because we had ordered pizza from the hatch! The bean tree cafe were doing a Friday night "pop-up pizza" thing and we had pre-ordered 3 pizzas, plus cakes, for collection at 6:10pm. Woo and Mark went out to get them while Bunnykins and I set the table.
There was also some other excitement. Woo had had her school report for the term
It made me cry, I was so proud of her. Her behaviour for learning in all classes was incredible. Mastery means that you could teach other kids on how to learn. I know how much she struggles, but that she still shows up and tries hard, it means the world. She does want to take triple science at GCSE, so she was worried about only getting "approaching" in all her sciences. But I know she will keep doing her best. We need to think about how to support her more, and clearly it is something I already feel guilty over. But we all just need to keep trying.
Saturday morning I got up and had breakfast. Bunnykins has been making an art gallery and shop that my Lego character will get to work in. I asked if I could change my hair to look a little more like me. Bunnykins let me have a hair that was in the same blond shade as currently but that was a bit more like my shape. She was happy for me to have a go at painting it, so I got on with that.
Bunnykins let me take some photos of the shop.
Mine and Mark's room is on the first floor (with a balcony)
though we can also use the roof garden.
I had been chatting with Hannah about what clothes we had bought recently and sending each other some pictures. Hannah has got quite a lot of dresses. I had too (the 5 below).
But actually most of my stuff was exercise gear.
Bunnykins and M had arranged for a Challis-Dickson call at 2pm, so we got lined up for that
We had a chat and did a couple of sporkle quizzes. It has been a while since we've talked - it was New Year's eve I think!
Then Woo and I sat down to watch the final of the Matrix films. After tea we all watch Men in Black 2.
Mark was up early on Sunday to run with Jason. Their plan was to be up Kelston Round Hill for sunrise. They didn't quite get there in time, but it did look beautiful.
As he was getting back, the girls and I were just heading out for a walk.
We walked down through Britannia woods, to Lincombe Barn woods, then along the river to Vassals park. The path was very muddy, but our boots all held out well. It wasn't so bad on the way out for busyness. But on the way back it was getting like Piccadilly Circus, so we peeled off to take a more direct route back through the streets.
I know it isn't helpful just to gripe about other people, but there were so many people out in large groups, that really were not likely to be bubbles - though indeed sure - Bristol is the place for co-parenting communes more than anywhere else. Anyway!
When we got back home, Mark had lunch ready for us. It was also just starting to snow, though it is very difficult to see from this picture:
Maybe it's easier to see from Bear's excitement....
Woo wanted her hair trimming a bit more, so we sat and did that in the workroom as Mark was busy in the kitchen making pizza dough for tea.
I'm sat writing this and the snow is falling in lumps as big as feathers. It's meditative to watch.
It didn't settle. But it wasn't forecast to.
In the evening, I had a call with the Mummies. It was so lovely to speak to them all again. It's been far too long.
