My little life

First week of Advent

Had a wonderful day last Sunday with our dear friend Jane, so lovely to have a proper cooked meal and sit to eat at a table! Fingers crossed not too long to wait now!

First day of advent and I ordered a wax melt calendar from the @thewildwaxmeltscompany.

It’s been a busy week with meetings, contract negotiations, choosing all sorts of things for the house, small changes and the SLT night out followed by afternoon tea at Harrods. Quite frankly I’m exhausted, but yesterday was so much fun with my beautiful daughter and we spoiled ourselves a little too 😉

With the house remodelling I’ve started a separate insta account and delighted that that now has…..

Another busy week ahead with major changes as the kitchen will be delivered on Tuesday! We all can’t wait 😊

As we approach December

After a swift but delicious breakfast last week we said goodbye to Elaine and spent the rest of the day sort of tidying up, well as much as we can.

Ruby decided to leave her Mark for future residents to find!

Sunday was busy with some family time and Sunday roast at the Bear Inn Stock. It’s so nice to sit down and eat lovely food, and hopefully not too long until we do again in our home.

We made a trip to Maldon and lights were purchased with a flurry on amazon – so with delivery in the coming week we are ready for them to be installed!

We also had Sky installed on Monday and spent a convivial evening with food and choices.

Deliveries Tuesday were exciting after a busy day at work

I was saddened to hear of Gary Rhodes’s passing; a real hero of mine in all things culinary. At 59 he lived to the full, and his family and friends will feel his loss immensely.

The tiling started after my concerns on the colour but this was overcome by reassurances by Stuart.

Thursday and a colleagues birthday and a gift purchased from @pourdiaroma was wrapped and given. It smelled divine so I hope they will be enjoyed!

Friday was a busy day with a long to do list, which I managed to complete apart from the ironing. One circuit keeps tripping out so it’s a major thing to do washing and drying as it’s a complex operation of juggling plugs and extension leads!

Choices again to made and then an early night to be up at three am 😱 for the school trip to Lille Christmas Market.

The weather was lovely, sunny but crisp, the students were great and Lille resplendent, although the market was fairly small.

We arrived home at 9:00 pm I was absolutely shattered, so another early night! I’d love to try another venue next year maybe in Germany!

Getting plastered!

Another full week of work, journeys, and decisions.

Saturday was a trip to Twickenham to see Fiji v Barbarians, a slow burner but an exciting finish.

Sunday was a trip to look at flooring options with the decision in the balance

I made a few cards: my first foray into Christmas!

Door choice was the next decision followed by a few late nights and dodgy dinner choices

A beautiful Wednesday morning meant a journey to work filled with the frisson of things getting done. On my return home a parcel of my wax melt advent calendar from the wild wax melt company

Delicious and I can wait for the 1st!

Thursday and the bifolds went in, a momentous day. A trip to London to see old work chums at the pitcher and piano in Cornhill. Great company, food and looking forward to April’s next meet.

I did get a little tipsy and very sleepy when we got home!

Friday and GDPR beckoned, a shorter working day, nails and then home to find the plastering of the remodelled area in progress!

A damp evening ensued with a fuse tripping every few seconds. My sister came up from Brighton and we enjoyed a Chinese takeaway with a bottle of white.

No telly so we talked in the cramped dining room, surrounded by boxes and other detritus!

Acupuncture this morning then breakfast in town!

A window, a kitchen and exciting times ahead

Another full on week with much time spent in getting a kitchen sorted. Thanks to Wren and our builders we should, fingers crossed, have it installed before Christmas. I still have to sort out the flooring though!

Georgina met Oliver and is besotted. She also met her friend’s new puppy and similarly besotted too!

We spoke to Andrew and Lis celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary! It’s gone so quickly too.

The week has flown by. A trip to the nurse, tiara wearing, a half a day update course re being the EVC ( educational visit coordinator) at work, trips to kitchen suppliers, food, made Christmas gin and also a leak!

Friday was spent liaising with the plumber and the builder, send off for flooring samples.

Yesterday was a welcome break and a trip to Twickenham. It wasn’t raining and the match was good with an exciting flourish at the end.

There was also another anniversary with Kevin’s mum and he husband celebrating 45 years – sapphire, anniversary.

Today will involve the usual tasks, although cleaning isn’t one of them!

I will also make a few cards. All the instagrams showing trees and decorations going up make me envious as it is unlikely that I will do that this year well at least not until Christmas Eve probably.

Progress report

Another full week has seen ups and downs but excitement too.

We met Oliver and what an adorable wee man he is.

Proud great auntie and uncle moment!

Georgina walked up Snowdon and loved it; so glad to see her challenging herself.

Work has been manic with meetings after school and challenges that really have pushed the boundaries

Progress with the remodelling. Joseph challenging himself too

Memories from 2 years ago and our stopover in Hong Kong airport.

Ruby has been enjoying her new surroundings

We’ve gained and lost a window!

My nails are on point and today saw a frenzy of activity with all things house related, after a Cinderella facial!

So home to make dinner on the hot plates: spaghetti with blue cheese and broccoli followed by apple strudel!

Head spinning with all the decisions, but such a buzz!

Remodelling take 3

Another busy week which entailed work, canopies, trip to the financial advisor and the remodelling began on our home.

This will be the third time: our first one was in 1994, the next in 2008.

I have been toying with the idea for some time, and we finally made the decision to go ahead.

One of the things that came to light was a section of the wall that my sister stencilled/painted in 1994.

Thursday saw a trip up to London to see BIG, pressie lunch at Bills, followed by 9to5 at the savoy theatre!

Great shows, great company and a fab time, and a distraction from dust.

A visit on Friday from a kitchen company, in fact two. Now just to see the cost.

Today was an early start to watch RWC final, unfortunately RSA didn’t read the script for an England win, and after such a superb tournament England lost to the better team.

A visit to the kitchen showroom and a bit of VR, next a darkened room for Kevin to lie down in.

With limited cooking/kitchen facilities I rustled up dinner and cooked a few meals for next week, after that we will have to wait, as I have sold the cooker and hood!

We watched the fireworks from inside, with the fur babies safely inside.

I’m sure next week will provide some interesting times, as well as the return to work.

More Rugby, meetings and a new arrival….

A bit later this week for my blog, but as I have a few minutes before making dinner, so hope I can fit everything in!

Firstly the joyous news that Victoria and Andy we’re safely delivered of their son Oliver Arthur. Welcome little man, you will be loved and cherished I know for sure.

After watching England beat Australia in RWC World Cup quarters we made our way to family in Surrey and then onto Brighton.

Always good to catch up and Elaine and Jane did their usual fabulous spread: Cajun prawns, monkfish tacos and blueberry cheesecake.

Breakfast the next morning was eaten whilst watching Wales play France. It was close but Wales just nudged it.

The week was full of meetings at work, two very late nights, a face pack, an OH referral, a crucial school appointment and financial wizardry!

To be honest by Friday I was exhausted. I left work early and did some housework, made a summer pudding then got ready to travel to London to meet Kevin and friends Bev and Neil.

I’d booked Frog by Adam Handling and we were looking forward to it. We settled on the 9 course meal with matching wines. It was brilliant, a real taste sensation and a sense of theatre with every course! I loved every moment, great to catch up too.

We were late home and had an early start to watch England play the all blacks for a place in the final. It started well but I had to listen to the second half whilst getting my nails done!

After that a quick turnaround to travel to Crawley to visit my cousin Jo and her husband Jules.

We enjoyed great food that was a homage to our late grandmother Valentina who died 50 years ago on Wednesday. It was delicious and plentiful. A game of gogglebox afterwards was entertaining and another late night but with the clocks going back we had a cheeky extra hour.

Wales were playing South Africa for a place in the final so an early hot tub with Buck’s Fizz started the day off. We watched the rugby and enjoyed a hearty breakfast, but South Africa brutally beat Wales, although only just.

Once home we had plenty to keep us busy, more will follow over the coming weeks of remodelling of our home-must be mad!

A new framework

A whirlwind week after a wonderful weekend, where we saw the Waitress and dined with dear friends. We hadn’t seen Colin and Sarah since March, and it was great to catch up. The waitress was fab too: risqué, funny and tear jerking at times, just as in real life.

On Sunday we watched a thrilling rugby match in the RWC. Japan v Scotland, a must win for Scotland, but not to be. A disappointment for me as a Scot, but Japan were stratospheric.

Monday was as usual , but on Tuesday we got the call from Ofsted. It was to be a deep dive inspection and Tom’s first as head. Suffice to say the challenge was on, meetings and an inspirational rallying call.

Wednesday and Thursday were very long days, with the sixth form open evening for added stretch and challenge 🙃

It was rigorous and robust and students, staff and governors played their part.

We have to wait for two weeks for the final judgement, which we will share with all stakeholders.

We had a staff breakfast on Friday and the school atmosphere remained calm with only a week to go to half term.

Busy weekend visiting family, with Rugby quarterfinals to watch with three home nations still in with a chance!

Stoptober

I don’t smoke so the title is a bit misleading. I’ve had such a week, mostly with all things GDPR and HR whilst having to do all the other elements of my job and prepare for Governor meetings.

The reason for choosing the title is I’ve taken control of how I handle people, situations and how I feel about myself. I will stop being so hard on myself, stop striving to please everyone, stop taking on more and more.

Now that all seems negative: another thing I have to stop, so I’ll switch it round.

I will be kinder to myself, please myself more and be honest about what I can do and when I can do it, there is always tomorrow and only 24 hours in my day, the same as everyone else.

Time is precious and better served spent with those we love and care for.

Last weekend we went to see ‘a day in the death of joe egg’ a really poignant black comedy. Travelling there was a challenge as my lovely hubby hadn’t realised there was no district of circle line running!

Whilst in the theatre a notification popped up from my friend Debbie, in the same theatre seeing something else. An impromptu catch up arranged swiftly, which was great.

Sunday and a chance to chill, although I hinched for most of it! Georgina made a veggie curry which was superb. I do love her cooking on a Sunday and choosing dishes that Joe can share with us!

Monday and a beautiful start to the day.

The rest of the week was peppered with Rugby and a great win for Scotland against Russia, but a typhoon may knock them out rather than the Japan team 😞😞

As I alluded to earlier, the week has presented so many work challenges, some I have had to face head on, some prioritised to another day.

We had the year 7 welcome mass on Thursday evening and I found myself singing the chosen hymns with gusto. Not sure those near me were quite as enthralled with me, but it sparked a memory and a fond one at that!

And so it was Friday, a blur really, going from meeting to meeting, but it’s the freakin weekend and a day seeing dear friends in London beckons.

See you next week! 🤗

Three quarters of 2019

Such a busy week, starting with our niece’s baby shower. A good journey over after an early rugby match watched.

Viv did Victoria proud, a delightful afternoon tea with games, laughter and love. Hopefully we will know when, what etc and that all goes well

Sunday was catch up although very little was achieved. Monday and the return to work whilst listening the the Scotland rugby match: a must win.

The challenges of catching up at work with the internal audit definitely stretched me, but I also realised that I’m actually very good at my job and on occasion I forget this, so this buoyed me immensely.

A very large, beautiful bouquet from Kevin for our anniversary also did the trick!

Thursday was so busy and open evening at school. It always reminds me of the first time I walked through the door 21 years ago. Seems like yesterday.

Friday was INSET so I was able to catch up and I will do my best to keep up straight!

An early start to watch England play today then a train trip up to london to see ‘ a day in the death of joe egg’, a black comedy with a fantastic cast. Whilst there found out Debbie was at th same theatre watching the fisherman so we caught up over a coffee.

On the way home now with more to look forward to next week!

There’s no place like home…..

It seems longer than a week since my last post, probably because it was so eventful. There’s been a few tears, and laughter but so pleased to be home.

Last Saturday Nina and I enjoyed a massage, another day at the pool relaxing, enjoying the knee popping DJ ‘s tunes and just after the set finished we heard toe curling screams from the beach behind us. A distraught women in a bikini screaming as it appeared her husband had been drawn under in the water. We watched events unfold as he was pulled under, the waves increasingly torrid. People could see what appeared to be his lifeless body being moved towards a rocky outcrop, but he was pulled under again.

The services were called, and there were 3 boats with searchlights out that night, but to no avail.

This was a chilling reminder to Georgina and I on how fragile life is, and how things can change in an instant. We talked about how the loss would have a ripple effect on so many people not least his wife and family. We also wondered how she was faring. I felt very keenly being apart from my loved ones too, no contact since last Tuesday when I needed the reassurance that they were ok.

On the Sunday we were fairly somber reflecting on the events from last night. I visited the little onsite chapel and lit a candle and said a prayer.

The pool beckoned and whilst the thoughts lingered we continued to relax and enjoy our holiday.

Monday and an early start as we were to visit Spinalonga a leper colony until the late fifties, made famous by the Victoria Hislop book The Island.

A coach trip to Elounda, a boat out to the island with a great commentary really brought the book to life.

We embarked on the boat for the return trip, had lunch some free time then on to Aghios Nickolas.

Georgina and I opted for a walk round the lake, then had an iced coffee and something to eat before the coach back to the hotel.

I was so pleased when Georgina said she’d had a lovely day and it was good to get out and about, although once again we reflected on the randomness of someone losing their life.

Dinner that evening was Indian themed and we enjoyed the ambience of the hotel entertainment.

It was also the day we heard that Thomas Cook had gone into administration, but our TUI rep was blasé that we would be fine for getting home, and we checked the CAA website for flight details, so all seemed fine.

Tuesday and Wednesday were chilled days, very hot but we made the most of it.

Wednesday we weren’t due to fly till 10:15 do we enjoyed another pool day, had dinner and collected to transfer to the airport. All seemed fine!

We also had news from Kilimanjaro, Kevin had to come down after 3 days, Joe had oedema on the brain, and few more minutes if he hadn’t descended he would have died! Andrew though made it. This was gutting news, but I knew Kevin would rationalise it all and agree that the journey was the important thing. I was also so proud of them all to even attempt it.

Suffice to say all did not go as planned at the airport. We were on standby and had to be transferred to a nearby establishment – hotel.

The CAA staff had a difficult task and we were upset by TUI’s lack of assistance, guidance, support for us.

The highlight the following morning was ‘Rico’ the tabby kitten. Georgina wanted to adopt him but it was a no from me.

We had three calls: you’re flying to Geneva; no you’re not; you’re flying to Athens, then onto Heathrow – all in the space of 25 minutes.

It was a fraught time but after 30 hours and a wonderful service from Stuart Armstrong cars, we arrived home.

Straight to bed to sleep. Friday morning and I got up, collected some bits, did some washing then waited for the intrepid trekkers return.

A phone call from Kevin whereby he regaled me with the stories of his helicopter rescue due to ‘jelly legs’. Joseph’s close shave and they great time they all had bonding and sharing which must have been wonderful for them all. What a memory for them all! Just hope the Insurance covers the cost!

I returned to work in the afternoon and had a lovely evening out at a Turkish restaurant with the leadership team bolstered by are two fantastic new colleagues.

Home after 11:00 pm, shattered but pleased to be home and surrounded by family. I appreciate all I have and cherish every moment: good, bad and indifferent. Xxxxxx

💕💕💕💕💕💕

Mountains out of mole hills

What a week! Sunday saw us visit a new build property, just to gain a few ideas, but this has given me further cause to see this as a viable opportunity

Monday was one of two work days this week. I had been looking to go away, but couldn’t get myself together at all to get something sorted, but my wonderful husband and daughter did just that for me! Work was manic, trying to do all I could!

The boys prep for Kilimanjaro was all things last minute: snacks,jabs,packing and I dropped them off at Gatwick , with a few tears.

Basically no contact from them until next Thursday, with everything crossed for them for a successful ascent. What an awesome adventure for my husband and sons; what a memory for them to share. I’m so proud of them all!

So Georgina and I had a leisurely morning and it was back to Gatwick.

The flight was delayed for 2 hours and a late arrival in the dark to our hotel was delaying the delights of it.

Our first morning and we awoke to the upgraded sea view, after breakfast we found a spot by the pool and relaxed. Perfect!

Even put on a fireworks display in the evening for us!

Next morning another spot by the pool and fact finding re trips.

We opted for Spinalonga and a boat trip then enjoyed the rest of our day and evening. After dinner we were entertained by ‘me Julie’ and even took part in some Greek dancing-great fun, although I did manage to almost fall over!

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Unfortunately the boat trip has been cancelled due to bad weather; it will be very windy over the next couple of days. Luckily we have a spa treatment to look forward today and I have a new book to get stuck into, The Choice by Jakub Trpis.

No rest for the wicked, so I must have been really bad in a previous life……

A week full of challenge and trying to view things differently: not always successfully. I have been so busy at work that I’ve taken less photos and believe it or not interacting less on social media.

Last Sunday was another declutter day, with trips to the local tip and a tidy of the garage.

A real sense of achievement for me, and Kevin sorted for the council to take away an old mattress and freezer #tidyhomegoals

The rest of the week has meant early mornings and late nights, difficult tasks to be completed and trying to eat more healthily.

Not always successfully but I won’t be deterred by this as it will be better for me to accept that it’s just a blip rather than a failure.

There has been list ticking in preparation for the boys trip to Kilimanjaro and by Tuesday the spare bedroom will be that once again and not like a North Face pop up store!

I read a blog last week by a peer and friend about how resilience is featured in a survey on School business managers/leaders as the 2nd attribute required, after financial acumen.

This highlights, IMO, that the role has changed in so many ways, but perhaps not the recognition. It is different for every establishment as are the people within it but it’s hard to have to keep bouncing back quickly only to be knocked down again, just as quickly☹️

Friends, family and colleagues are there for me, and there has been much laughter this week. The weather has been warming which we need to take advantage of as autumn descends with its hazes and mists, the shedding of leaves and colour changes, all part of the cycle so the trees can take stock, recharge and prepare for spring and new growth.

I watched a documentary ‘odd one out’ about a celebrity who was trolled and it provoked an emotional reaction and once again brings back those memories of seeking acceptance and not feeling good enough or worthy. I am 58, loved, employed and have so much to be thankful for, so I need to banish these thoughts, accept me for who I am and get on with living, loving my life. 💕

I ordered these melts and they smell so beautiful, especially bedtime baby bath, so evocative of those special times when the kiddiewinks were babies. Smell, taste, music and colours can lift my mood and these melts will certainly be fully used to that effect in the coming weeks. Perhaps I should use autumn to take stock, recharge and prepare myself for new growth too🤗😘