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. 

I sat out a while in the sun and read my book. It is a peaceful corner here. 

Mark made lunch and we had some of our corn on the cob...sweeeeeeet corn!

Week 78 - What Would Claire Do?

On Monday this week, Bunnykins tried out after school netball. She really enjoyed it. I'm pleased, and hope it helps her get to know some more of her school mates. 

Wednesday was also a netball evening - this time at Bradley Stoke Netball Club. I knew the logistics of getting there were going to be tight, as in her first week it was past 5pm when she got home on the bus and practice started at 5:15pm. To add to the fun, Woo was going to a park after school with friends - one of whom was celebrating her birthday. Some of the other girls who Woo normally travels with were really kind and waited for Bunnykins to come out so she could travel home with them. 

In the end we weren't too late to practice, but I think we need a better plan for next week. 

As we drove up Park Road we could see a balloon low overhead. Bunnykins was almost jumping out of the car in excitement. We parked up and both ran over to the park to see it go over. Balloons have landed in the park before, not this evening though.

In the evening, we started some clearing of the front room. We are planning to get the room re-plastered and then build in some shelving before re-decorating.

Mark and I went out at lunch to the hatch on Thursday and dropped off some books to their free library shelves.

Ben was over for practice in the afternoon. He was early, I spotted him sitting out in the sunshine. 

It was a lovely evening. Quite a few balloons came over, at least 4. 

We loves a balloon!

In the evening, Mark was out at Frisbee. They had started at indoors practice, which is a bit later. I watched some rubbish TV and had a go at a little project I wanted to do ahead of the weekend... 

Ben was back at the park on Friday. I walked out to say hello. It was nice to get a break as I had spent 3 straight hours at my computer, fully engaged in my task. 

Mark and I had lunch and then had a nice walk out around the park. 

It was a lovely evening and a real pleasure to be sat out eating with my TeamChallis. 

In the evening I finished off the bracelets ready for the morning. 

What Would Claire Do?

This was something that had come up several years back. Hannah and I had been talking about something she was struggling with and I said "What Would Claire Do?". This is because Claire is such a font of knowledge on things like Therapeutic Parenting and psychology and she is always trying so hard to find the right thing to do in any moment - she is on it 100% - to super human levels. Hannah had agreed and said that she needed that on a bracelet. I duly made her a WWCD bead bracelet and one for myself. I felt it was time to have an updated Gold Edition version for Hannah and myself, and to make a WWCAHD version - What Would Charlotte And Hannah Do? Because sometimes, Claire also needs to either - think scientifically, or go shopping and drink prosecco. 

On Saturday, the plan was to go to Bath with Claire and Hannah. Claire is 50 this year. I had tried to organise a Samba drumming session - but failed. Another time maybe! The alternative plan we made was to get to Bath early and get in for a 2hr session at the Bath Spa, followed by lunch out. 

Mark dropped us at Landsdown Park and Ride and we got into Bath before much was open. We did find a coffee shop for a bit of breakfast.

Meanwhile, Mark and Jason had taken Clevedon Marine Lake. They had a great time with the paddle boards. 

We had a lovely time at the spa, just generally floating around and chatting. We did try the steam rooms, but our favourite bit was the ice room where you could rub ice all over yourself (or put it down the cossie of your friend. 

I had booked us in to a place down the road for lunch. It wasn't as posh as I had hoped - in terms of being a bit fancy. But actually it was lovely. The staff were really nice. We yummed down the food and enjoyed singing along with the music. 

The bracelets!

It was just so wonderful to spend time with them both; a real mix of deep conversation and then hilarity. Love these ladies.

Possibly one of the worst pictures of me ever, but I love it so much for Claire's face 😂.

The plan had been to head back after this as Claire was keen not to leave Scott too long alone with the kids. But we were all so happy that we decided to wander back and have "one for the road". We walked back towards where the theatres are and ordered a drink at a Thai place. My Kokoro gin was delicious, though Hannah was less pleased with her half measure of prosecco. 

Still not feeling quite finished...Claire was keen for olives...she remembered that there was a tapas place she and I had visited years back when we had gone to a Flamenco night in Bath. It was only across the road, I knew exactly the place. 

We got in a bottle of prosecco and I ordered some tapas for us.

...including manchego cheese with honey and some amazing meat lollipops that were cheese and dates, wrapped in ham and fried...incredible!

On Sunday morning I started with a bit of gardening, then Mark and I did a bit more clearing of the front room. Soon we will be moving the big stuff out, but it was good to get all the little things like books, dvds, photos and ornaments all packaged up.